FA S H I O N EDITION 1
EPIPHANY OF FASHION
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Welcome
to our 1st official Voir - The Living Fashion Magazine. The Magazine which communicates primarily through the visual sphere, through image-making, through expression. Our mantra is to bring to you some feeling, emotion, excitement. An interpretation of fashion, an illustration of how we express fashion. This is fashion and beauty through the eyes of Voir. Our intention is not to just sell the clothes and accessories, we want to take you on a visual journey and enhance your dreams. We gravitate towards visionaries, those of you who dare to be different, unique, inspiring..........and tired of the ordinary. You’re excited about something new, and you’re hungry for change. As fashion evolves and grows, our role is to interpret that change, whilst bringing to you a new way to see. Team Voir.
YOuR OnE STOp DESTInATIOn fOR UniqUe Fashion AnD GiFts
LEEDS, THE LIGHT, HEADROW W W W.JOY T H E S T OR E .COM
contents
fashion
may 2013
Trend Mania - This season’s hottest looks All things Bright and Beautiful - Vivid colours of Spring Fade to Grey - Black and White - Be careful how you mix Director’s Cut - Tales of fashion, fashionable tales In Designer - A Fashion Designer’s world Express Yourself - When you’ve got something to say
beauty
Swinging Sixties - Looks that are Retro-Modern Nars-issist - Homage to all things NARS Beauty Tips - Expert Insights from our Head of Beauty Art Foundation - Make-Up as you’ve never seen before Locks Luxe - Spring Summer 2013 Hottest Hair Style Lounge - Identify your look Steam Pod - The Steamiest thing in Hair
living
Retail Chic - Trinity : A Retail Soul Haute Spot - Boutiques under the spotlight Aired - Domanska+Bracken - Inside the world of this Design duo Aired - Vergi - Entering the world of music, dance and style Aired - C Grand London - Accessories Heaven.
Editor’s Letter jm@voirfashion.co.uk twitter : @voir3
Welcome
to the wonderful world of VOIR! Our very first edition of VOIR Fashion Magazine! Wow. That actually brings a tear to my eye when I say it. What a journey this past year has been for us! We began as a duo; myself, Jyoti Matoo, and Luke Walwyn (Art Director) and here we are now with an incredible team behind us. A huge thank you to that amazing dream team - this issue would not have been possible without all your hard work, dedication and, most importantly, your faith in us and the magazine. Stacy Borg, Kymberley Jefferson, Joe Dryden and Michael Buckley – it is an honour to have each and every one of you on board. A big thank you as well to our writers; Kirsty Buttle, Lauren Canning, Karen and Charles Dodds @ CRC, Rosita De Souza and our very own VOIR MUA Stacy Borg giving you the lowdown on how to create Spring/Summer perfection with all things NARS. I would be lying to you if I told you that putting this Magazine together has been a smooth journey. Let’s face it, putting together a Spring/ Summer issue in this crazy British weather was always going to be a challenge. Every time we planned a shoot, it either snowed or rained. The weather has been so treacherous that at one point we had to cancel a photo shoot altogether! However, we did fly out to the wonderful ‘La Cellar’ (lol). We have been tested at each and every moment of putting this issue together, but here at VOIR Fashion we love what we do and wouldn’t have it any other way! There have been moments where I had to think fast and react even faster, but as a team, we have overcome all hurdles and are now delivering our first beautiful issue to you!
This Spring/Summer edition is jam-packed with fashion, trends, beauty, bargains and inspiration for all you fabulous fashionistas who are just beginning your runway walk through life. And of course, all of you sophisticated veterans who have seen fashion styles come and go and repeat themselves over. Romance is in bloom for Spring! Designers captured the essence of floral patterns, bright solids, eccentric prints, those ever-so-shiny metallics – for all you gorgeous magpies – and my personal favourite, the monochrome trend. I have sourced some fabulous clothes for our fashion features and painstakingly handcrafted the trend reports especially for you! If that’s not enough, we have the fabulous CRC covering our Locks Luxe feature keeping you up-todate on those all-important hair trends for your summer holidays. Also for this edition, we have had the privilege of speaking with some seriously inspirational women. Look out for unmissable interviews with Vergi Rodriguez, Charlene Grand, Karen Dodds, Morgan Clare and Alexandra Bersan. Finally, we got ourselves down to the grand opening of the fab Trinity centre to bring you latest from Leeds’ brand new shopping hotspot and we dipped into the Harvey Nichols Spring/Summer fashion show to look over the newest designer must-haves! All very exciting, I’m sure you’ll agree…not forgetting team VOIR’S favourite fashion spread - Directors Cut! ‘What’s that?’ I hear you ask. Well, you will just have to wait and see! Now it’s time for you to be well and truly ‘VOIRed’. Enjoy!
J yoti Xx
SEE WHAT YOU’RE MISSING
ashion
TR E A I N N A MD Much-awaited Spring is finally upon us and with it comes a chance to update that Winter wardrobe. It’s time to shake off those wellies and get that spring back into your step!
Trend Mania is your fashion forecaster for 2013, brought to you by our very own Editor. Of course it’s up to you to choose and adapt the looks for your personal style but we’re bringing you the hottest themes. This Spring, choose from brights to black & whites, charming romantic prints or shine in statement metallics!
Metal Mania
Print Material
Mono Magic
VOIR PROMOTION
Harvey Nichols Leeds SS13 Fashion Show Overview
SHOW-STOPPING
harveynichols.com
SPRING/SUMMER 2013 COLLECTION
ALLTHINGS
BRIGHT& BEAUTIFUL You can chose any colour you like, so long as it’s bright. This Spring-Summer Season sees the celebration of vibrant retro prints, acid tones and striking colour. Styling and Photography by Voir, Hair by Kymberley at CRC, MakeUp by Stacey Borg. Models Sophie and Rebecca from Nemesis. Anisha from VR. The Voir team travelled to the resort of La Cellar and stayed at the Villa Sous le Nez.
Maxi dress by Matthew Williamson available at Flannels Leeds ÂŁ650
Printemps
3/4 length floral pants ÂŁ95, Aqua-Marine floral corset ÂŁ85 both by Alexandra Bersan. See online for availability.
vi brant
Rebecca wears greenblock-print Kevin John dress ÂŁ240, Sophie wears matching bronze & metallic dress. Both available at Accent Clothing.
ci trus
Anisha wears lime green dress with nude collar by Finders Keepers available at Accent Clothing. ÂŁ85
Printed dress with orange sequined low v-neck by Roberto Cavalli available at Flannels ÂŁ845
Sul try
refreshing
Sophie wears Red Swimsuit from a selection at River Island £25 and 60s leopardprint chic shades £10
Scarlet and royal blue hand-crafted suits by Alexandra Bersan. Jacket ÂŁ240, Trousers ÂŁ180 available online Made to order.
Just Cavalli leaf-green and black animal printed Kaftan available at Flannels ÂŁ415
S triking
http://shop.sophiagrace.co.uk
GER FADE
Y TO
Black and White prints are a huge success on the catwalks this season, just be careful how you mix them or you may as well just fade to grey. Concept, styling and photography - Voir MakeUp - Stacey Borg, Hair - Cutting Room Creative
Jenny wears black and white blouse from Zara £39.99, Finders Keepers ‘Hinding My Heart’ Shorts £75 available at Accent Clothing.
Hannah wears black cropped blouse £65, white skirt £55 both from Kendelle online. Matt & Nat Handbag £99 avalable at Accent accessories.
Jenny wears Finders Keepers ‘Fools Gold’ Dress £95 availble at Accent clothing.
Hannah wears Finders Keepers ‘You Send Me’ Dress £145 from Accent
Jenny wears Hunt No More ‘Tribal Elegance’ Dress £95 available at Accent
Black jewelled Jacket by Domanska+Bracken £110, White Blouse D+B £91, available online. Hunt No More ‘Runway Spark’ Mini Skirt £65 from Accent.
VOIR PROMOTION
Bird Shell Ladies Vintage Couture Hire or Buy & Dress Agency Service
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www.kendelle.com info@kendelle.com T : +44 [0] 1924 669 089
DIR ecT oR’s T U C Tales of Fashion, Fashionable Tales, Images of Expression or Expression with Image.
or ere’s no comfort to th d an on ad he u yo s hit er ng When da Face of Fashion. e th in g yin Fl t ge to e tim it’s s, ar your fe g by Voir.
Concept, photography and stylin
inting by keUp by Stacey Borg. Body Pa Hair by Kymberley Jefferson, Ma Industry People, Hannah Tarpey. Models Beth from pact. Jack from Nemesis, Laura from Im
mortal combat
sensation of flight
Beth wears Red Blouse with Gold sequinedCross £80, Red razonrcut Skirt £120 available at Bo Carter Boutique
let hope emerge through melancholy
worst thinking - done in turmoil.
Laura wears Vintage Dress by Birdshell available at Birds Yard Boutique
dance in your blood, dance when you’re perfectly free
Girls wear a selection of Vintage Dresses by Birdshell available at Birds Yard
rules of engagement prior to victory
elegance and grace, precursors to flight.....
Laura wears skirt and blouse from Birdshell available at Birds Yard Beth wears Gold metallic Dress by Bo Carter ÂŁ260
Beth wears Highwaisted Hotpants by Birdshell at Birds Yard, Leather sleeved blouse by Bo Carter ÂŁ45 A selection of jewellery from Belles Bejewelled. Available from the Belles Bejewelled online store.
the fashion of pure fear
Laura wears Sheer Transparent Polka Dot blouse by Birdshell at Birds Yard. Gold Cuffs and Gold Rings by Belles Bejewelled, Made to Order.
and the anquish of beauty!
t : +44 (0) 7801 992 287 e : jm@voirfashion.co.uk
PERSONAL SHOPPING BESPOKE STYLING W A R D R O B E R E VA M P SPECIAL OCCASIONS B E A U T Y C O N S U LTAT I O N
www.bocarter.co.uk
g
g e ds in er IN
Who is cutting their way to the top in the world of fashion? In-Designer focuses the attention on what is new and different.
ALESS ANDRA
BERSAN Designer of the Year 2012 but has this Cuban-inspired Italian Designer got what it takes? Lauren Canning goes to find out.
When Alessandra Bersan was crowned Leeds Fashion Show’s ‘Designer of the Year’ in 2012 for her rich and Cuban inspired collection, it seemed that this wealth of talent had come out of nowhere on her very first appearance at the show. But in reality, this Italian born designer has been steadily working on her trade on a global scale… Firstly, congratulations on your Designer of the Year award, how did that recognition make you feel and has it boosted your profile? I feel so lucky, honoured and grateful to the amazing people attached to the show, who gave me the chance to challenge myself as a designer and most of all as a person. I’ve since been in contact with so many interesting people and we’re starting growing into the business. It feels so good and fulfilling! Thanks to Leeds fashion Show team and Accent Clothing, you are absolutely fantastic! You have lived and worked all over the world, in your native Italy, China and Hong Kong, did any country in particular spark inspiration for you?
Parts of each country, and its influence on me, are in my creations, my designs, and in everything I do artistically, but I have to say that China has been my biggest and my most lasting influence to date. There’s such energy and drive in the Far East with so many creative nuances in every corner and a way for each person to express oneself that may seem strange in other cultures. The lifestyle itself is a journey, learning to adapt, develop and thrive within an area that at first seems quite alien. The city itself is a great source of inspiration to me, not just visually living within its unique structures, but roaming around its bustling and colourful streets, experiencing the local flavours, noises and the elements in everyday life that would ordinarily just shock you. Nanjing holds a place in my heart and I’m sure my adventure with it isn’t over yet.
The fashion industry is notoriously a hard one to crack, have you ever had moments when you’ve doubted this career path? Any sane designer always has various doubts, it’s natural. But I never had doubts concerning my career and my choice of vocation, I sometimes doubt about my themes and my projects at times, as the industry is becoming ultra-competitive it’s so important to create something that is relevant. When I do have these moments though,
I have my methods to bring myself back into focus by just listening to some damn good rock music and reminding myself that this is what I want and what I’m supposed to do, and so I go on and I push myself even harder to achieve better results. I also think there is always opportunity for people who work honestly and hard and I believe our time will arrive, for myself and our new company ‘Mayors’ (co-founded with my partner John-Paul). And even if you have what you always wanted and you reach all your goals, well, we will always have to face challenges in our lives. Your most recent womenswear features beautiful feminine silhouettes and floral
prints, with structured suits softened with lace. Is this a style evolution for you or have you always been centred around femininity? The most recent collection was one I’ve wanted to develop for what seems like an age. I really wanted to work on a structured, feminine, soft and sexy silhouette and ideology collection for ladies (as the one presented at LFS 2012). The result of this Spring Summer Signature Collection 2013 for Mayors is an evolution of moods, tastes and concepts about Cuba and the cutting freshness of the colours in the flower prints that I wanted to showcase for next season. I’m also currently branching out into another area which encompasses my second passion; a lingerie line, which although is a future project, the opportunity to design within that realm it keeps me excited. You have previously worked for Class Cavalli and Dolce & Gabbana; did designing for these large, household brands change how you work and gain inspiration? The work done for those companies taught me all the basics in the industry, which is all invaluable experience at any level. I’ve learned a big part of the business working and developing with them and I’m very grateful. They taught me the rules, methods and processes which we use in our everyday working routine and some awesome tips as well! And when you work
BERSAN
for companies like those, you live, sleep and dream within a creative mind pool of talent, it’s a wonderful profession to be in! We look at everything and anything to gain our inspiration: travelling, local music, current affairs, childhood themes, concerts, shops, cuisine, furniture, objects. Anything. Some will be good ideas and some won’t be, but it’s all useful information in helping to mould your ideas into what you do and don’t want when developing your collection. It can be disappointing and discouraging process at times but in the end it always worth it! What’s on the horizon for you this year? There’s going to be so much more blood, sweat and tears involved to achieve my end goals but we currently investigating new possible interesting connections for online retail, whilst working and developing my next collection for autumn winter and also our lingerie line. For now everything on our horizon looks positive and rosy, and as long as I keep my ideals and keep pushing for my collections to be seen and I can continue to develop my creations in a world that wants to constantly transform and change you, then for me that will be my greatest accomplishment. With a new website launching soon and plans for her next collection in the pipeline, Alessandra Bersan is most definitely one to watch.
“Finally Exhaled� SS13 by Dancing Dolls UK. Out April 29th 2013 www.dancingdollsuk.com www.facebook.com/dancingdollsuk www.twitter.com/dancingdollsuk Instagram: DancingDollsUK Photography -Talia White. Hair/make up - Sumi. Model - Charlotte Wagstaff
NEW SINGLE ‘uglybeautiful’ is out now. available to download on itunes find voxe on itunes twitter- @WeAreVoxe
Telephone : +44 [0] 7516 617 087 lovestormcakes@hotmail.co.uk
freelance make-up artist
High Fashion Editorial Runway Available privately for Bridal Make-up tuition Skincare Brow shaping Telephone : 07931 092 606 Twitter : @stazmake_up Facebook : Stacey Borg Freelance Makeup Artist
eauty
0 6
0
The swinging Sixties are back!! It was all about those statement eyes throughout all the International Fashion Shows. We saw lots of coloured eyeliner in true sixties style by the likes off Gucci in Milan, Christopher Kane in London, Chanel and Dior got glitzy in Paris. There were lots of jewelled eyelids and extra long lashes. We love this era, there is something for everyone. If you are not someone who likes to get too adventurous with your eyes don’t worry, a lot of the designers got lippy with bold bright shades for the lips which were a stand-out trend for SpringSummer 2013. Keeping the eyes very nude and letting the lips do the talking gives that pop of colour to those fab monochrome trends we saw all over the catwalks. Holy Fulton got quirky with a bright neon shade that was used just on the centre of the lips, which really stood out on the Runway!
NARS t s i iss
The Beauty of NARS cosmetics. By Stacey Borg
‘What interests me is Character. I’ve always been attracted to faces with personality, strength and a unique quality. That is beauty.’ This quote from François Nars himself totally encapsulates the cosmetics brand, the ethos of the man, and the essence of any makeup artist utilising the products. So why NARS? What is so great about the brand? Well this independent luxury brand which was first founded in the early 90’s by iconic make-up artist & photographer François Nars, has the most beautiful array of high-pigmented colours & textures around today. It is no accident that the insatiable demand for his products has reached a global scale amongst the fashion fraternity, given the fact that Nars grew up in the uber-stylish South of France against a backdrop of Vogue magazines. This, in addition to classic Hollywood and European cinema, the inspiration of Yves Saint Laurent, the allure of fashion photographer Guy Bourdin and the glamour of the likes of Catherine Deneuve, a potent cocktail to inspire the man to firmly stamp his signature onto the world of Fashion and Beauty, and become one of the most sought-after names in the industry today.
Nars’ signature was his ability to use makeup to explore the depths and nuances of individual character. His looks were so iconic they engaged in compelling dialogue with the designs of Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld and Versace. They also successfully captured a woman’s individuality, complexity and mystique. Launching NARS, François quite simply revolutionized the cosmetics industry. His cult beauty collection which debuted at Barneys New York with 12 lipsticks in essential, highly pigmented colours, immediately captured the imagination of women with its beautifully designed packaging and rich colour palette. His campaigns promote strong, unique faces and ethnic diversity, a stance which has helped to transform industry standards by challenging and expanding traditional definitions of beauty.
So what excites me about the NARS brand and its products? Well the array of highly pigmented colours, sleek & glam shades & beautiful textures make the products easy to wear & apply. I love that the ethos is not to mask the face but more to enhance the natural beauty of the wearer. Fun brights that can be mixed together make this brand playful, and the foundations don’t suffocate the skin.
My NARS in my opinion provide some of the best cosmetics on the market today, lasting years if looked after. The brand is head & shoulders above many when it comes to skin care too. Having used their foam cleanser and brightening serum for years, I personally wouldn’t opt for anything else. As a freelance make-up artist at the helm of advertising and editorial high fashion photoshoots,
I demand products which can withstand the scrutiny of strong lighting whilst achieving almost flawless coverage of the skin. NARS products do just that, allowing me to use them in confidence, and achieve the finish for high end use. The look & feel of the products scream
‘luxury’ and it is no accident that NARS was the exclusive brand of choice used on the set of ‘Sex & the City’. It is also loved by the likes of Madonna & Victoria Beckham to name just a few. The products famously have provocative & naughty names like ‘Orgasm’ ‘Deep Throat’ & ‘Striptease’...as well as cinema inspired ones such as Dolce Vita, Strada or Belle de Jour. The brand also sell a beautiful selection of skin care & prides itself on years of extensive research. I personally adore the products, brushes and skin care & my kit is full of its wonderful delights. ‘Find your own way, have an open spirit and believe in your own beauty’ Francois Nars. The writer is a professional makeup artist.
Pro S/S ‘13 Tips with NARS cosmetics. This summer is all about Bolds... Bright lips, bold thick brows and full lashes. Think 60’s glamour brought up-to-date with a matt pink or orange lip. Brows should be defined with powder and not over plucked. For our 60s Revamped look we exclusively used Nars products. Tzarine Duo was applied to the eye lids, Schiap to the lips and Deep Throat blusher to contour the cheeks.
Metallics are also huge this season, both on the catwalk and in the city. Gold or silver shimmer on the eyes should be worn slightly blended with a little black liner and mascara. We used Key Largo duo and Cordura duo. On the lips we applied Barbarella and contoured with Orgasm blusher.
Pro tip - always wear an SPF. Even on an overcast day UV rays can penetrate through clouds and glass. So when you’re sitting in the car your chest is exposed. Most foundations, moisturisers and primers contain at least SPF 20. The sun is the very first thing to affect your skin causing signs of ageing, pigment spots and of course skin cancer.
Another tip - to stop eyeshadow creasing wear a shadow primer. Most brands sell them. Most people’s eyelids tend to become oily making shadow crease on the lids. If you haven’t got a primer a basic cream eyeshadow or concealer can be used as a base & gives powder something to stick to.
Luxury Brass Rings Founded by Claudia Woolston.
Wool&Brass’ focus is on chunkier, fiercer, and more desirable rings. Each design is unique and individual, and tells its own story. Our classic range features an Alice in Wonderland tea party ring as well as the 1920’s Gatsby ring. Brass, whilst being beautiful to wear, was lauded for its healing properties in classical times. Whether inspired by bohemia, have reference to Art Deco designs, or display a flare of the Orient, each piece is striking and modern with its own unparalleled twist. Every order is sent with a beautiful hand-made box, kept flat so as to reach you in perfect condition. For more information visit marketplace.asos.com/seller/woolandbrass or www.etsy.com/shop/woolandbrass
www.facebook.com/woolandbrass • www.twitter.com/woolandbrass
HANDSTANNED THE BEAUTY LOOK OF SUMMER FACIALS TANNING MANICURE MASSAGE NAIL ART THREADING EYES LASHES
www.handstanned.co.uk
ART FOUND ATION
THE ART OF COSMETICS OR COSMETIC ART Photography & Concept by Voir Assisted by Thea W.
S K c o l 3
E X U L
ning glory, our highly ow cr at th ir, ha to es m co it n he W just about all there is to ow kn o du e dg -e ng tti cu e tiv ea cr give us the long and the s dd Do n re Ka d an les ar Ch . ow kn us on a journey through ke ta d an , rls cu d an ts cu of t or sh all genres of style. fferson at CRC.
Photomontage by Kymberley Je
In Association with Cutting Room Creative
MANE STRE
A M COLO UR
Charles an dK from the 19 aren take us on an e vo 5 Dye Ombre 0s Rock n Roll to the lution of Hair Trends Colour toda highly requ ested Dip Hair by CR y . P h otography C Art Team and s tyling by Vo
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Hair; the crowning glory, the fashion accessory that you never take off, the one defining element of your total look. The lament of most of us at some time or other which has caused us to cry, despair and then, when it goes right, to actually sparkle!! The evolution of hair trends over the past sixty years is quite remarkable.
1950’s
In the hair was set, usually weekly, rock and roll style. It was the set and lashings of heavy duty hairspray (brands such as ‘Belaire’ in squeezy sticky bottles) that gave the hair its shape. Cutting was only employed to shorten the hair not style it. As a child I remember seeing hairdressers set the hair in rollers, bake dry in an overhead dryer, then cut a half an inch from each roller section once it was dry! - eek! The revolution of this era was the invention of the first aerosol hairspray by L’Oreal Paris. Now known as ‘Elnett’ it has been a staple for half a century.
1960’s
1970’s
The saw the invention of the so-called ‘poodle perm’ for men as well as women, rock stars and mere mortals were seen to take the wash and wear look to another level (thank goodness that came and went, perhaps the least said about this particular trend the better).
1980’s
hairdressing was all new wave and punk. There was still a lot of permed hair but the fashion-conscious also favoured more structured cuts with shorter sides and longer curls appeared on the scene, remember Adam Ant?
In the it was the revolution of the cut, aka Vidal Sassoon, against the background of women’s liberation. Suddenly it was all about hair moving and the setting products of the 50’s were too strong for this more natural look. This era saw the first blow dry lotion enter the market, for salon use only (although essentially it was a watered down setting lotion) Oh how things have changed!
1990’s
The was the age of the icons Diana Princess of Wales and Rachel from Friends were the two most-requested hair styles of this decade. Oh and how bored hairdressers became cutting those two styles day in day out!
Noughties
The saw a little bit of everything shape wise but the big revolution in hair was colour. From white blondes to bright, bright reds and purples - maximum vibrant colour was the real message here. Today, cutting hair is as important as it has ever been, and hair needs to look beautiful, glossy and well maintained whatever its length.
But what has really come through in the last ten years or so is creative colour.
With so many techniques at your finertips, colour has become an ever-more important way for us to express our own personality. It’s all about great colour placement working with the cut to create light catching hues in the hair. Our current philosophy is all about creating tonal lights and hidden depths in a subtle understated way to create interest, movement and beauty without having to consider the dreaded ‘Lili Savage’ re-growth problem.
Spring/summer 2013 the dip dye has evolved into a much softer look and has been renamed ‘ombre’.
The trend is for a more subtle contrast between the mid lengths to the ends creating a lighter look. Tonal values too are softer and much gentler and stylists are using products such as the new ‘Reflect’ range, just launched by L’Oreal ‘Inoa, which is ammonia-free colour in mocha So what’s next? tones. The brighter colours, electric blue, Here are CRC’s colour and finishing prestrong reds and deep purples are givdictions for the new season - illustrated ing way to pastels such as delicate blue, on the next few pages by our models. baby soft pink, and barely-there mauve, reflecting the florals in London Fashion Week collections - think Helen Mirren at the Baftas!
Colour will continue to be huge and a fantastic cut is as vital as ever, but what is interesting now is the return to beautiful styling, both in the salon and at home. This past autumn/winter season saw the emergence of the ‘dip dye’ just about everywhere. Going from dark to light ends it was a very visible colour trend worn by the likes of Jessie J, who sported a bright red dip dye, Caroline Flack who went for a slightly softer blonde and Stacey Solomon who wore darker roots and bright, bright blonde ends.
With more and more women wearing their hair long, styling is more natural this season. Gone are the perfect waves of last season and hair is worn in looser styles, giving the undone /done look whether up or down. We’re talking low-slung messy buns and ponytails; loose waves and big blow-dries. Gone are the full-height ‘Amy Winehouse’ beehives, instead those topknots are smaller and confined to the crown area. Dual texture will be a key trend, with slicked root areas going into fuller lengths or slicked front sections going into a beehive or low ponytail.
resurgence of ‘Blow Dry Bars’ as more and more women are ditching the homedo in favour of the professional touch. With their wands, straighteners and revolutionary ‘O’ heated rollers at the Choose the perfect product for your ready, blow-dry stylists could be your look - the key to nailing the current answer to that bad hair day dilemma. trends is right here. The firm-hold product you use to create a full on beehive is not going to help you achieve the sleek low slung messy bun you crave. With the vast array of styling products now available, choosing the right tool for your art can be a daunting task, and that is where your hairdresser comes in. and the Blow Dry Bar concept helps As an expert hair artist, he or she should everyone to access this by offering be able to analyse your hair, look at the quick and beautiful straight blow dries, finish you want to achieve and advise quick hair up, ponytails, topknots, low the type of product needed. Whether slung buns or soft tumbling curls in a its a volumising root spray such as the half hour slot. Usually there is a menu ‘Volumetry’ volume spray from L’Oreal of fast blow-dry styles, at a great price, Serie Expert Range; a sleek styling oil often carried out by the first level of such as ‘Mythic Oil’; or a texturiser such stylists to keep the price down (although as ‘Tecni Art Texture Dust;’ it’s all about at top salons all stytlists will offer this getting the right one for the job. service). It’s great to see this once-great hairdressing trend has returned and it means you can achieve beautifullyfinished shining hair in minutes, ready to hit the shops, the bars or simply to look amazing all day. Retro glamour is still there with big, big blow-dries but with a more natural fall to the hair and less ‘Downton Abbey’ waves.
A great blow-dry by a well trained stylist can last days longer than a d.i.y finish.......
Blow dries and finishing have become big business in London and New York.........
Since the fifties women regularly had their hair blow-dried or styled and finished in a salon, but that service had all but dissappeared by the late 1980’s. Now it is returning with the massive
CRC Leeds offer a menu of blow-dry and fininshing looks, from £20 and available from all stylists, in collaboration with Cloud Nine.
Y STE L
LOU NG E
Can Personality-Type affect the way you look? Karen Dodds introduces us to the Style Lounge. How many of you have been out on a shopping spree, bought some great outfits, (or so you thought) and when you get home they just don’t feel right at all? I know I have! That is until I learned some valuable lessons on my personal style. Over many years I have researched what makes us individuals with regards to hair and clothes. Why does one thing suit your friend and look terrible on you? It’s all to do with skin tone, eyes, body architecture, face shape and yes your core personality type. Sounds a bit ‘airy fairy’? Yes it does, but, it is remarkably accurate as the many guests who have enrolled for the Style Lounge Consultation can testify. Let’s take a look at personality. Most people have a main personality type that is the front presenting view that everyone sees but often there will be a second (or in the more complex of us a third) supporting personality which either enhances or tempers that main personality. It’s this combination which makes each of us unique.
Every season at the fashion collection there are at least 6 or 7 storyboards which can be equated to each of the personality types therefore ensuring that we can all be comfortable, look good and still be right up to the minute fashion-wise. It’s all about cherry picking the look and pieces which are YOU. Lets take a quick overview of the six personality types I work with. The Romantic : a grown up all woman type of person. Loves to be indulged and pampered, needs an open dÊcolletage area in clothing, body hugging and figure showing shapes, with very feminine sexy hair that moves. A real flirt! The Dramatic : a renegade who likes to stand out from the masses, likes to be bold and different, a real chameleon who likes to have a different look for every day and enjoys creating a shock factor in both clothing and hair! The IngÊnue : is fun but demure, loves vintage, Victoriana, is quite introverted and needs to be pretty in all things, a girly girl!
The Gamine : the tomboy of the pack, like figure hugging stretchy clothes that move and give freedom as this person usually has lots of energy. Needs no space between clothes and body, is more at home in trousers than a skirt especially with lots of buckles zips and belts and hair is usually shorter neater and not at all fussy or frivolous! The Natural : is an organic, free spirited, and relaxed personality. Needing comfort, softness and freedom of restraint and to have space between her body and clothing. Hair is natural and definitely not high maintenance the typical wash and go! And lastly, The Classic : neat, ordered, precise and contained this personality likes to present a very exacting image, coordinated and perfect in both clothing and hair. Not a thing out of place at any time! Recognise yourself in any of the brief descriptions here? Its taking the personality alongside the other factors already mentioned that gives you your personal style. Fashions come and go but Style, now that is a constant!
POD
Reviewed by Charles and Karen Dodds
VOIR PROMOTION
CRC says Every Girl needs a Steam Pod by L’Oreal. All of us have probably got plenty of electrical appliances, brushes, products in our ‘Hair Cupboard’ at home. In this article each issue we will look at what’s new on the market, the old favourites and the tried and tested to help take away the blues over what to buy. This issue we introduce the Steam Pod, which, although similar to a hair straightener, uses steam to help to rehydrate the hair as it straightens. We all know that mis or over-use of any electrical appliance is dire for the condition of the hair. Also, that we should ALWAYS use a heat resistant product to protect those delicate tresses, but now we have a new weapon in the battle! The Steam Pod actually steams keratin (the stuff that hair is made from) into the hair to supplement the condition and shine. There is a particular product that can be used with it or some of the more nourishing/ strengthening products in the L’Oreal range work very well too. An added bonus with the steam pod is its support for relaxation on afro hair. Used in conjunction with Mizani products [the brand innovator for afro hair in relaxing and aftercare], the Steam pod produces a smoother kink-free finish to previously relaxed hair seemingly to ‘seal’ the relaxer, especially when used with the Thermasmooth range. Nicknamed ‘The three day blow dry’ the steam pod really does live up to its name by helping to prolong the finish on all hair types. So whether you want to achieve that smoothing sleek frizz free finish or large tumbling movement, the steam pod will help to ensure you are not damaging your style! Retails at £120 or £130 with specialist nourishing cream
leedsfashionshow.co.uk
A NE W B E GI NNI NG
Domanska+Bracken www.domanskabracken.co.uk
www.normanbar.co.uk
living
TRINITY LEEDS
After the long-awaited launch of Leeds’ Trinity centre this month, high street shopping has been transformed into a chic retail experience. Words by Samta Rayit, Photography by Joe Dryden
here was a buzz in the air as Trinity Leeds, the UK’s largest retail development built since the start of the recession, recently opened its doors to an eagerly anticipating public. Boasting over 120 stores, this beautiful domeroofed centre includes the first Victoria’s Secret boutique outside of London, the UK’s largest Superdry and Leeds’ very own successful jeweller Phillip Stoner. The spectacular opening ceremony, witnessed and appreciated by over 130,000 people was curated by British fashion designer Henry Holland. It consisted of a Cirque Du Soleil-esque gymnast angelically ascending towards the glass ceiling wearing the world’s longest dress - a beautiful House of Holland creation specifically designed for the occasion. Along with the retailers mentioned above, Trinity Leeds is home to British brands such as Topshop, Topman, H&M & Coast, and American brands such as Armani Exchange, Hollister, Fossil and Urban Outfitters. There is something here for everyone, no matter what their age or budget. One truly innovative feature that more shopping centres ought to implement, was the licensed busking spots dotted around the mall. We spotted no fewer than five talented musicians who had amassed audiences of their own, creating their unique retail theatre.
Despite not all of the shops being complete, there is excitement in the air in anticipation of the arrival of Oasis, Boutique by Goldsmiths, The Perfume Shop, and Primark. There was even mention of a One Direction store...... Trinity Leeds is the ideal place for retail therapy, with multiple options for aprèsshop dining or taking coffee with friends. Boasting a fantastic food court located on the upper mall, cuisine from across the globe can be experienced in true style. Chic cafes and bars are also dotted throughout the complex to alleviate the rigours of shopping, and it has been outlined that pop-up shops, performances and art installations are in the pepeline to further enhance that retail experience. With late night opening every night, ardent shoppers will get in over 400 more buying hours each year. That, coupled with experienced personal shoppers on hand in many of the stores, even the most indecisive of you will have no problem when looking for the perfect little black dress, or ensuring you remain on-point with the latest trends. So in short, with clothing retailers, jewellers, restaurants and entertainment all under one exquisitely-designed glass roof, Trinity Leeds is the only place in the city you will want to be.
A H U T T P S O E The coolest cafe, the hottest hang-out, the stylish salon or the hippest hideaway. Voir reveals what’s in.
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The atmosphere on my arrival was warm and hospitable as the buzz of conversation was heard from across the salon floor. The place was alive with energy, and I felt welcomed immediately. Everyone appeared to be working in sync, each member of the well-groomed team, both girls and guys, rocking a contemporary look. The salon at Cutting Room Creative is spaced out across two stunning floors and the atmosphere is electric. Natural light is in abundance, and the neutral décor provides the perfect backdrop for creating hair masterpieces. The entire team oozed creativity, which radiated to every corner of the building. ‘You should see it on a busy day!’ exclaims Karen, auburn hair perfectly framing her face as she warmly offers me a seat away from the fast-paced atmosphere of the floor. Karen Dodds is one half of the
partnership behind Cutting Room Creative and it is clear that her enthusiastic attitude has rubbed off on the entire team. Charles [the other half] met Karen at the age of eighteen, and the pair trained together in London salons to gain the experience the industry demands. Twenty-six years later, they ventured into the market in their own right, opening their very own salon, in the Leeds suburb of Chapel Allerton. After a rapid rise to success, the business was ‘bursting at the seams’ and once a second salon had opened in the heart of the city some 3 years later, the interest of L’Oreal was aroused. CRC is now in collaboration with the industry giant, working together to deliver the ultimate salon experience;
‘Loreal’s vision to create ontrend beautiful hair, coincided with CRC’s very own ethos, so we wanted to get them on board.’ Explains Karen.
I notice many photographs and awards covering the walls of the office as Karen comments ‘It was such a shock to win!’ One image in particular seemed to capture a precision echoed throughout the salon. With accolades from Winner of the British Hairdressing Award - competing against the likes of Tony and Guy, an entrance in the Hairdressing Hall of Fame, and the Mizani award to name just 3, I got a true sense that I was in the company of stylists at the very pinnacle of their game. ‘Our work extends beyond the salon’ continues Karen as she points out the larger-than-life fashionable stills, artistically suspended in the giant windows.
‘We see our work heading down the runway or in print, and it is utterly spinetingling!’ The desire to create beautiful hair does not end there, the couple also collaborate with two charities, The Teenage Cancer Trust and My New Hair. Both organisations raise money to help people with serious conditions such as alopecia or those
undergoing chemotherapy. Charles visits clients at hospitals, offering consultations to determine the shape and style of hairpiece or wigs most suitable. A bespoke fitting and cutting service ensures as natural and realistic a look as possible is achieved, restoring confidence or self esteem that they may have otherwise been lost. The rewards are priceless. CRC place customer experience high on the agenda of their salons, and the aim is to deliver the highest-level possible to everyone, on every visit. ‘All our staff embark on an in-store customer care scheme when they join us. This involves a thorough, in depth look at how to create the ultimate salon experience. The CRC experience doesn’t just start when you walk in, it commences the moment you call to book your appointment.’ Their training scheme involves role-play, whereby staff try and emmulate the ‘perfect client journey’. ‘Staff tell us how different scenarios make them feel, and in the event of a negative experience, we highlight this to everyone to eliminate it.’ Alongside this, client feedback is welcomed, and the mystery shopper program ensures the highest standards are maintained 100% of the time. Intrigued and wanting Karen to divulge
key salon secrets, I pry for some tips on how this works for colour consultations; ‘The best advice I can give is be honest with your hairdresser! Say what you want, but also say what you don’t want. Inform them what you have had done to your hair in the past. They need to know if there is any form of colour or if your hair is treated in any way, to ensure the correct analysis and treatment is performed to achieve your desired outcome.’ ‘Here at CRC a consultation for a cut isn’t compulsory’ Karen goes on to add, ‘but if you are having your hair coloured a skin test is mandatory 48 hours prior. Assessing the hair is the most important part of the process, as it allows the colourist to establish whether they can meet clients’ expectations.’ Further to this extensive knowledge of hair, there is talk that Karen is the secret Gok Wan of the North..... She runs a highlydeveloped ‘Style Lounge’ - a sleek and sophisticated room away from the salon floor which offers one-to-one styling; ‘After I completed my colour specialist degree in 1998 I actually started thinking in colour. I began seeing which colours complimented skin tones, and which colours looked good on different people.’ Sessions last 2 hours in which knowledge is shared on how to dress confidently in
relation to individual body type, skin tone, hair style, age, and most importantly, own personal taste. And as Karen comments ‘I aim to empower the women I meet.’ The CRC salon is also home to the only Shu Uemeura ceremony chamber in Leeds and I was delighted to experience this for myself. Without giving too much away, the products felt and smelt amazing, lulling me into a blissful trance in the massage chair. Surrounded by an elegant lacquered crimson screen, oriental music floated through my personal ceremony, dulling the buzz of the salon floor and allowing private pampering at the highest level. As if things couldn’t get any better, I was directed downstairs to see session stylist, Sam who outlined the latest London ‘blow wave craze’ being introduced in the North of England. Taking just 30 minutes to style your hair just the way you like it, the idea is to help busy women/men on the go who want to look their best on limited time. The whole process is fast and effective. I opted for a sleek curly style with Loreal products selected to add volume and shine. Even battling through the wind and rain on my way home, if I say so myself, the style looked incredible. In short, my visit to CRC was one of the best hair experiences I have ever had.
Everything from the initial greeting to the friendly way advice was offered was perfect. The whole team are ambassadors for a highly professional salon. So what does Karen see as the next step for CRC? ‘Ultimately we want to remain as market leader, never losing sight of our origins despite how far we expand. We especially enjoy being part of introducing new talent into the industry via our apprenticeship scheme, and will consistently work hard to help others to learn.’
STo Re’ SLIMIT Spice up your life with a shopping experience of a lifetime. Voir eeks out some of the finest boutiques for you to indulge in.
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CLARE Harrogate was recently voted the happiest place to live in Britain. Factors which determined people’s choices included the friendliness of the neighbourhood. A place that coincides with this perfectly is the beautifully British boutique, Morgan Clare. Words - Kirsty Buttle.
Situated in the heart of the northern spa town, Morgan Clare first opened it’s doors to the fashion public in 1997. Originally focusing on British designers, they were renowned for their fresh approach to making the biggest names and labels accessible.
The ability to do this lead them to winning the Best New Store award. A demand for more popular brands led the company to broaden out onto the international horizon. Welcoming international labels into the store quickly saw Morgan Clare bag another award, for Best Designer Store. Upon my visit, I quickly saw why they had racked up so many prestigous awards in such a short stretch of time. The shop floor was gorgeous! Spread across two floors, each one was open plan, spacious and complimented by perfectly placed lighting. All combined together it created a stunning shopping atmosphere. The shopfloor was divided by brand, each sitting together in current collections. Great care is taken into the visual merchandising of Morgan Clare. The shopfloor undergoes a move every week and the windows changed accordingly. It felt exclusive, like I was part of a secret fashion club. I felt like part of the Morgan Clare team. The shop assistants looked bang on trend, sporting this seasons hottest trends from the best designers, right on the shop floor. It was like being at London Fashion Week. They all looked so glamourous, yet it seemed effortless.
Customer service I could tell was of vital importance at Morgan Clare. When I first walked through the door, I was met by Emma who has the dream job at MC, she was head of buying. Coming in from the frosty exterior into the warm and friendly boutique, I was met with a smile and a handshake. I was offered a hot drink, which to my relief I accepted with haste. Slightly quiter as I visited in the morning, we were able to walk around the shop freely. The grand tour revealed that the fashion frenzy was spread across two floors, with the third only accessible to staff as an admin area. ‘I don’t think we have a typical day here!’ Emma explains as she walks me around the shoe section. At this point Im trying to close my eyes, I know that I’m going to get my purse in trouble if not. We have days where its quite relaxed and mellow, we usually spend these rearranging the collections or changing the windows.
We like to use the quiter times to ensure that the shopfloor standards are to the highest level. We like to make sure that the store always looks fresh and inviting.
Other days it can be manic, we don’t stop! We never really know what it’s going to be like until we get to work, but that’s what we all love about it.’ It was clear to me right away that Morgan Clare, although they are surrounded by beautiful and luxurious pieces, it is about the customer. People who were popping in were acknowledged with a smile and a greeting. The whole place exuded a relaxed atmosphere, there was no pressure to buy. People could look, and are able to touch the gorgeous fabrics and are heavily encouraged to try things on. There is a dark cloud that appears to hang over stores like these. That they are a place only for those with fortune and wealth. Morgan Clare is suitable for all ages and budgets. It is a designer boutique, but it focuses on giving you an experience rather than a purchase. Even if you leave with nothing, as long as you’re wearing a smile that’s all that counts. ‘We get a lot of positive feedback from our customers, saying that we rival many competitors who are based in London. We are renowned for providing a service that is on par with the best of the best. We are proud that we can bring that service outside of London. It shouldn’t be exclusive to down there,
we give our customers that same treatment up here and they admire that.’ This combined, led Morgan Clare to win another prestigious award.
They were recognised as being one of the best boutiques in Britain by Vogue magazine in 2010. ‘It felt amazing to win and be up there with some of the best providers of designer labels. The fact that Vogue itself is such a recognised publication, it was an honour to be featured.’ Harrogate was the chosen location of the store as it is a prosperous town, with many possibilities. ‘We chose Harrogate as it is quite low key, everyone seems to know each other and get on in one big community, something we strive to achieve here at Morgan Clare. It fits in perfectly with the brand’s ethos.’ It is also a good place to engage in social activity. We regularly host preview evenings, or mini fashion events at the store. We like to treat our customers, and so we provide nibbles and a glass of bubbly whilst people are
able to browse the new collections.’ They recently held a make up masterclass hosted by the beautifully stylish Louise Redknapp. She was accompanied by international make up artist Kim Jacobs. The pair offered expert advice in both fields of fashion and cosmetics. Women were encourage to pop in store to receive a free makeover from Kim and a style consultation from Louise. The whole day was lovely and they received some great feedback. Morgan Clare were also involved in the recent fashion show at the White Cloth Gallery in Leeds. The proceeds from the evening were donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care. ‘We really enjoyed being part of that, it was for such a good cause and we will always aim to help raise money for charities. The whole evening was such a success and it is a good association to have.’ Photos from the evening can be seen on the Morgan Clare blog, found on the website. Meeting with Emma, who is the buyer for the company, was a great experience as I was able to ask questions about what happens behind the scenes. Her role is shopping for designer labels for
a living, make no wonder she’s so happy! I was intrigued to find out the process of sourcing and stocking designer brands. ‘My job heavily relies on me staying ahead of the game.
I have to keep a look out for emerging designers and if I feel they are going to do well, look at what we can do to stock them in store. We want to have the freshest names under our belt. I look for upcoming brands constantly, in magazines, online, from trend reports at fashion shows, all are vital sources of research. We have over 10 new brands for this season including Mary Katrantzou, Pedro Garcia and Peter Pilotto. We are really excited to see how they go down with our customers.’ A full list of stock information can be seen on the Morgan Clare website. Best sellers were also of interest to myself, my retail roots bursting out to my aid.
‘Here in Harrogate our most popular brands are Isabel Marant, Helmut Lang and Acne. But to our surprise it varies by country. When we introduced international shipping, a correlation between certain countries and designers heavily emerged. It was interesting to see what names were popular in certain areas of the world. We regularly ship out to Japan, Australia and New Zealand.’ So what does the future hold for one of Britain’s best boutiques? ‘Essentially we want to keep ahead of the game and still be known for stocking the most sought after brands. We want to remain at the highest standard, offering the best service possible no matter how big we grow or far we expand. We want to keep giving our customers the Morgan Clare experience. Who knows about expansion! We’ll see, watch this space!’ •
Behind every great brand, product, service or performance lies a hidden face helping to make it happen. Voir pushes the boundaries to get the low down on what makes them tick.
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“A Mix of sophistication, luxury and cool. Timeless, multi-functional fashion for the woman of tomorrow” If this sumptuous description of the brand Domanska+Bracken is anything to go by, expect to see an emporium coming to a high street near you before long. Domanska+Bracken is a dream-like fashion collaboration between two creatives; Ewa Domanska “Designer of the Year 2011”, and her mentor and friend, fashion stylist Aga GalatBracken. Their ethos is simple as Bracken explains: We want to create collections which will be timeless without following trends. Our customer has no defined age. She can mix and match the pieces depending on her mood and the places she is going. She is confident and demanding so her clothes have to be functional and practical, some of them can be worn in two different ways making it even more desirable for busy women of today. We believe in simplicity. Our clothes are handmade rather than mass produced. From the perspective of my stylist background I think its important to think about the customer and wearability of the garments in the collection. We get a true sense their collective talent was meant to collide: ED: I read about Aga and saw her editorials in various magazines and Aga heard about me through her friend who spotted me at a charity fashion show. Aga is a fashion stylist and make-up artist, I am a designer with experience in pattern-making. I come from family of great Polish tailors and I was introduced to fashion in early age. In Poland I studied fashion and textiles and I was making clothes for my friends, family and myself. Aga and I both love fashion but we see it in a different way.
It was important for me therefore to have Aga as a mentor. After winning my first title “Designer of the Year” in 2011 with her support, I had a feeling that we should collaborate and create a new label. Winning another award in 2012 for Domanska+Bracken makes me believe we did the right thing.
Working as a stylist and makeup artist, I always had a vision of the final product. I was creating a certain look of a woman or a theme for a story. Starting Domanska+Bracken has not been any different, I knew it had to be something I wanted to wear myself.
Aga :
Aga: My journey into fashion started when I was working as an extra on Polish productions, I was amazed by observing creatives at work and stylists in particular seemed to be the epitome of cool. One day I made a conscious decision to do everything I could to become one of this elite group. I worked hard to build up my portfolio and contacts and a period spent as an intern at
Polish Elle magazine was a real catalyst for everything I have become. I still keep in contact with some of the people I met there, who had a significant influence on the way I see fashion and beauty.
The first Domanska+Bracken collection is a celebration of contemporary glamour, signature vintage lace prints and rich styling. The mood is easy luxe inspired by the effortless way that modern women dress around the world. It is a fusion of craftsmanship and attention to detail, underpinned by the use of quality fabrics, faux leather, sequins and beads. AB: We first imagined the type of person we would want to dress. We asked ourselves what kind of woman is going to want our designs and why? We then developed our collection by bouncing thoughts and ideas off each other until we were both satisfied with the resulting designs. Domanska+Bracken‘s line is a creation of handmade, affordable and ageless pieces that can be worn for many seasons. Very practical and comfortable
clothes are designed to enhance the personality and body shape, and to bring something new to the wardrobe of busy and demanding customers of today. One can clearly feel the passion which exudes from their veins, and when asked about fashion as a viewpoint, they returned the same energy : Ewa: .....An art form, and the best possible way to express myself. It is my escape from everyday life and the best excuse to play with my big imagination. Aga: ......A very powerful tool. It is a fantasy which sometimes feels real. And what of the Parisian connection?
We have used her oversized pieces as inspiration when creating a look book for our collection. Reflecting on their journey to date, Ewa and Aga set their sights high for the future... We would love to become ”the brand” for stylists who are looking to get the perfect piece for their clients or photo shoots. We would like to be one of the leading independent brands and have the best “creatives” working with us and customers who are coming to us because they want to be the woman from our editorials. Expanding into jewellery or other accessories would be a dream. It is also very important to believe in what you do because if you don’t believe yourself, then nobody else will. Do not underestimate the power of detail! As one of my favourite artists Labrinth sings: “Whatever you do,
At the moment I am in love with Parisian women like Isabel Marant,Carine Roitfeld or Emmanuelle Alt. This inspires me. do it good”. I also look at vintage pieces for inspiration. It can be a coat or a piece of jewellery, which can trigger an idea for something I am working on. Ewa: The ‘Belles Bejewelled’ brand really caught our attention at the Leeds Fashion Show, Rebecca is creating powerful leather and perspex jewellery.
And finally your most defining moment? Without a doubt hearing the crowd as we walked to the end of the runway to take a bow after being successfully awarded the much coveted Fashion Catalyst Award at the Leeds Fashion Show 2012. Winning was the icing on the cake.
VEVIR T RGUO S I O
Renowned dancer, choreographer, and now songstress, Vergi Rodriguez lets Voir into Planet V and shows us some ‘Vergi Luv’
By Rosita De Souza
So, how did it all start? The destiny of Rodriguez began as a childhood dream in her early years. As far back as she can remember, Vergi recalls vivid memories of dancing around the house. But it wasn’t long before she decided to turn that dream into a reality. “It was around seven years old that I decided I wanted to do it for the rest of my life.”
At just the tender age of seven, Vergi started her career in entertainment as part of a children’s theatre company doing shows Off-Broadway in New York City. In an industry that is notoriously difficult to crack, the journey towards becoming a world-star performer is rarely a smooth one, but Vergi tells Voir how hard work, dedication and passion for her art paid off. She continued with dance and theatrical training, as well as auditioning, and persevered…, “…because I knew that what I loved to do was to perform, I made sure I kept that in mind and stayed focussed on that goal”. Having worked with some of the biggest names in the business, there is no doubting the credibility of Vergi’s experience in dance and choreography. A-listers Vergi has worked with include: Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Diddy, Britney Spears, Jay Z and Shaggy…to name a few.
But what is it really like to share the stage with celebrities who are household names and who working alongside would epitomise the pinnacle of most dancers’ aspirations? Being as professional as would be expected, Vergi didn’t claim to have a favourite celebrity – but of course we asked! “It’s really hard to just pick one. They all have had unique stories and experiences that I shared with them. But I think the most memorable was working with Prince.” Even when at the top of her game, Vergi Rodriguez realised new goals to set her sights on.
“To me, [Prince] is one of those artists who is so talented and so admired by not only his fans, but other artists too, that being able to work with him was a milestone for me in my career as well as an accomplishment, in my eyes.” With limitless heights of aspiration and an unshakable dedication and commitment to reach her goals, Vergi cites her mother as her main inspiration and role model. “Her strength, wisdom and perseverance has been the template that I do my best at modelling my life after. There are artists and entrepreneurs who I also admire but
I would have to say that my mom has always been that person who I have aspired to be.” Working in the volatile entertainment world seems a brutal and lonely place for many striving performers. We go deep and ask Vergi if there are moments when she wanted to give up. How does such a strikingly positive and upbeat person, like Vergi, deal with the negativity and inevitable rejection of the entertainment industry? “This business is hard and you have to build up a resistance to rejection. I have had been told all kinds of things but that did not stop me from pursuing my passion of performing. If I listened to what everyone else had to say about me I don’t think I would have ever accomplished anything. Having a supportive mother helped me as well. There were plenty of times that I asked myself, ‘Why am I doing this?’ or, ‘Why don’t I just give this whole thing up?’ But I soon realized that I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. Even if it’s another aspect of the industry, I think I will always be involved in the entertainment industry. Creating and performing are just a part of who I am on every level.” It is clear that being an entertainer runs through her veins –Vergi Rodriguez was
born to perform and nothing was going to stop her. But that’s not to say she didn’t come up against her share of challenges along the way. When times get tough, we see Vergi’s sheer strength and determination come into play. Admitting that there are potential hardships on a daily basis in the entertainment industry, Vergi reminds Voir of how she coped through staying disciplined and not losing sight of her goals.
“…the main thing for me is that you have to constantly remind yourself to stay focussed on what your goal is and just go for it…strive to be a better person in everything you do.” Such successes, as those achieved by the world’s top performers, do not come without sacrifice. Vergi identifies that she too has had to make sacrifices in her rise to fame and recognition within the upper echelons of dance and choreography. “There are sacrifices people make everyday, from just having to put food on the table, to following
their dreams…to specifically pick one as being harder than the others is just kind of impossible... but, yes, I did make tons of sacrifices including the ones my mother made as well.” When it comes to sharing her expertise with others, Vergi Rodriguez is wellrehearsed and happily offers aspiring dancers her words of wisdom and advice with clear instruction, listen up Voir readers! “Stay focused, keep your eyes on the prize… don’t be afraid to be yourself and ask those that inspire you what motivates them. Always be eager to learn. Be goal oriented. Aspire to achieve whatever goals you set your mind to. It IS possible! No matter how daunting it may seem at first. Learning never stops especially if you are looking at evolving as an artist. The best artistry I’ve experience has been through change and growth.” Never one to shy away from a new venture, Vergi Rodriguez is now on the horizon of her latest endeavour, singing – making her the ultimate triple threat. Vergi is currently spending time in the studio writing and working on new songs as she plans to release her latest singles
this coming year. Vergi, where can we find your music? “Everyone can find links to my music on my website, VergiLuv.com” You can also check out her music using the following links: Facebook facebook.com/PlanetVProductions iTunes: “Lonely Nights” “Make Me Feel” (Electro Edition) “Make Me Feel” (Hands Up Edition) Soundcloud soundcloud.com/vergiluv SnoopDogg’s Soundcloud Page: soundcloud.com/snoopdogg/suga-4u-by-vergiluv?in=snoopdogg/sets/blepresents-loose-joints
DESIGNS Luxury Leather accessories designer Charlene Grandison aka C Grand London is taking contemporary design to a whole new level. With both retro and modern fused, it’s no wonder the fashion buying world is taking notice. words Marianne Tupelo
C Grand London
is exciting and fresh, specializing in unique leather accessories. Already international, this new ‘London Born’ designer label, boasts an individually-made selection of energetically designed leather belts & bags, whilst also offering a limited line of covetable clothing ranges. After a recent appearance at London Fashion Week, Charlene spoke to us about her involvement. “It is important as an up and coming independent designer to try your best to be involved and gain attention during these peak seasons. There are some central london venues who would love to also be involved and gain more custom, and luxury venue ‘Aura’ in Mayfair, gave myself and another label ‘Gingham Dolls’ the use of their space, and
the opportunity to create a buzz of our own during London fashion week. Aptly pushing the event as the alternative, off schedule LFW closing Party for an evening of fashion and talent, we jumped at the chance, began the leg work, e.g. inviting press, bloggers & customers, whilst they agreed to supply refreshments. We created a vibrant atmosphere and had a blast!” Despite the event being high pressure, Charlene goes on to say that it was a gratifying experience as you want everything to be just right!
Fashion clearly oozes from her bones, but is it partly about being in the right environment? :“I was raised near the famously known portobello market and would always be inspired by what I saw, vintage fashions, handmade fashions and fabric or trims for sale. As a child, I remember from a very young age being creative and very imaginative, you would often find me tucked way, sketching bowls of fruit or designing fancy dresses and colouring them in. I believe it is also innate as my mother would make me dresses and knitwear, and my grandmother would also make clothes. During my college years at Harrow Weald I was propelled into design, however only really focused on fashion at Middlesex university, where I took a course in Applied Arts with fashion, and it was then that I found my medium, accessories.” Tell us a bit about the C Grand journey. Mid 2010, having left university “I set about looking for work experience, and found it difficult to acquire, given my mixed academic background was mostly art. Working part time, I began making hand bags, perfecting my craft and building skills, researching into business ownership, and starting up funding as a
whole. Confidence grew, and after a short stint of small local fashion competitions between 2008 and 2009, I tried out my first event the ‘East London Design Show’ and won the New Designers Award. The Princes Trust gave me the support I needed, leading to a funded test trading in Earls Court’s at Clothes Show London. It was shortly after that I set up officially in mid 2010.” It all sounds quite smooth, but what were the main set-backs along the way? “Funding is usually the main set back, and finding the help for production can be a challenge. Also it can be hard to get buyers, or even noticed by main press during busier or peak times of the buying season. Fashion we know is not for the feint -hearted, so we came outright and asked Charlene whether she ever felt like giving up. “There have been a few moments, where I felt it’s a very competitive career choice, however I’ve been blessed with a fighting spirit of determination and I passionately want to own and run a successful label that will grow.” And the sacrifices? “In terms of time and money yes.
I have loans with the Princes Trust, and have even been to Japan during Tokyo fashion week for a trade show - all financial risks for a business in the early stages.” And what about role models in this industry, who inspires you? “There are too many! but I admire Vivienne Westwood as she too came from a dress making familiy, and an art- based background. I love her highspirited and rebellious nature. Another I need to mention is Versace for their decadence. A very Italian bold and brassy, yet risky label!” Charlene has clearly taken risks and is reaping the rewards, so we asked her what advice she would give to any young aspiring designers out there.
“Research Research Research, and if you can gain as much experiences as possible. The British Fashion Council has a wealth of knowledge for big dreamers, and those wishing to progress.” So what does the future hold for C Grand London? “We have been awarded a studio space, and a new mentor via Cockpit Arts and the Princes Trust, funded by the prestigious Drapers, so we are currently working towards building a successful new label. We are going through some major rebranding, but vow to resurface with a new name, but the same hard-working ethos that has brought us this far”
For contact and further information visit www.cockpitarts.com/designers/c-grand-london or www.cgrandlondon.com JAPAN - www.rosebud-web.com LONDON - Love KR boutique www.lovekr.co.uk We will also be taking a place at the following Markets during Summer Portobello / Camden / Thames festival (September)
Voir - The Living Fashion Magazine is an online publication issued on a bi-monthly basis. This edition has been brought to you by the following Jyoti Matoo Editor-In-Chief Luke Walwyn Art Director/Photographer Joe Dryden Photographer Michael Buckley Cinematographer Stacey Borg Head of Beauty Kymberley Jefferson Head Hair Stylist CUTTING ROOM CREATIVE Charles Dodds Karen Dodds Jamie Joyson Ryan Thompson Ashleigh Ruttledge Alex Watson PRESS LOANS FLANNELS HEAD OFFICE BIRDS SHELL@BIRDS YARD BO CARTER ACCENT CLOTHING DOMANSKA+BRACKEN KENDELLE STANLEY BELLES BEJEWLLWED ALEXANDRA BERSAN FEATURES Lauren Canning @ TheStyleTag Kirsty Buttle Roista de Souza @ Claro Proof Reading Vergi Rodriguez Morgan Clare Charlene Grandison Nemesis Model Agency Industry People SW1 Model Management PHA Models
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