Team Courteen...

Well, my first music post has to be on my favourite band right?

I could never pin point my favourite teener song.. so what? They are all bloody fabulous

From, Not Nineteen Forever, Fallowfield Hillbilly, aftershow, if it wasn't for me to Cross My Heart and Hope To Die, Revolver, You Over Did it, Doll and Sychophant and Fray covering Laura Marling's New Romantic and a Sugababes track, Frays voice will never disappoint

Ask me who my favourite bands are and i'll tell you one. The Courteeners. Known as Manchester's gobbiest,I have followed them for two years with my ipod barely ever leaving their playlist. For of their gigs i have been to, small or big, they have never disappointed. Ending 2009 by playing the biggest gig of their career so far was a large gesture from the the band with only one album to their name. The band hadn't released or been heard of in a while, but when all 10,00 tickets sold out in just five days, it was clear the fans were still supporting. The gig was a triumph and i will personally remember it as a highlight of the year. Liam Fray, the bands frontman and songwriter, launched into his set with a track from the soon to be released album FALCON. Soon as he sang, i remembered just how unbelievable they are live. New tracks such as You Overdid It, Doll and Will It Be This Way Forever were shared for the first time, which the audience welcomed with open arms. A recent release and comeback single from the band 'Cross My Heart and Hope To Fly' was played and chanted by the crowd like an instant classic. Initially this track worried me, wondering if this was a little too different for them, maybe a little too arena. It took me a few listens to get used to, but i'm glad i did. In time for the December Manchester Central gig, i knew it word for word, as did the other 9,999. As always the lyrics are great, as if you'd expect anything less from such a talented song writer. The chorus is pretty solid and a great singalong opportunity, and damn did it work, the arena erupted. Ending the night on a very high note, playing crowed pleaser NOT NINETEEN FOREVER, the band let the crowd know, that their rockn'roll days have anything but disappeared.

Its often Frays homely accented lyrics which the fans identify with. At any gig i've been to, the crowds have know every track word for word. St Jude is jammed full of tracks that the audience can relate to but years on and the front man is writing about experiences his fellow Mancunian fans are less likely to relate to : many songs on the soon to be released album FALCON looked to be that way, But after listening to a few demos and leaks, it still some how connects. Perhaps it it due to his homely broad accent and his choice of wording, or maybe his cockiness and humility, which makes all the new tracks believable.

But it isn't all just about Fray, The Courteeners, sound more like a band than ever before. Liam has ditched the onstage booze ups and is drinking water, whilst his home town are drowning themselves in alcohol and showing their love right back.


See you at King Georges guys, how the hell your going to top the GMEX gig i don't know!

In a nutshell

Blazer-Zara, Lace blouse-Topshop, Skirt-Topshop

Top-Topshop

After saying a number of times that i'm going to upload photos of myself and my fashion, i realise i have failed, and well i haven't. But frankly i haven't had time, i do have piles of college work you know (hoorah!) and i spent yesterday updating you on the trends of our forthcoming spring (which i do love). So... as you know NOTHING about me, i'm going to try my best to get some photos. For now... here are my FAQ and the odd photo so you know i'm not a silhouette with a tattoo stamped across my forehead saying 'add photo here'



Dress -Vintage, Shoes-ALDO,Waist belt-Topshop

1. Height/Weight: I am 5.8 and would like to not disclose my weight as it's kind of a personal matter. I can honestly say that I do not exercise, although try to, but many times when i have been on the way to the gym a coffee shop and Vogue have distracted me. I eat lots of sweets and sugar and lots of unhealthy things, but i am good. Those are my treats, where as i spend my week cooking my own meals at home with lots of vegetables and protein.

2. Favorite food: I am a huge foodie and will try anything once and trust me I have tried a lot of "weird" stuff, doesn't mean i liked it, probably hated it in fact. I cant travel to places like France, Germany, Jamaica, Japan and other exotic places and stick to a burger and fries can i? I love Chinese, especially peaking duck, that is a once a month treat. Italian is definitely my favourite.

3. Favorite junk food: Anything with copious amounts of sugar, cupcakes and irresistible iced treats and many many many bags of kettle chips.

4. Hair : I don't get my hair done a lot because its expensive, but i do easily get bored. The colour has changed many many times. My natural colour is blonde, my hair now is a dark brown after going through phases of black, blonde, red and brown. When i decided to get my hair done i try to fit in my friends cute salon with reasonable prices. My hair always looks the same, brown, long and boring. I love it, so it doesn't really matter

5. Education: I left school wanting to follow in my mothers footsteps and become an architect. Scratch that. College has help me rediscover myself and remind me how fabulous i am at English (not boasting, i am actually rather modest). I study Graphics, Media and English.

6. Me 10 years from now: Ideally I would love to have a career in fashion. Visiting fashion weeks as a fashion critic or columnist. I would love to be living in London, Paris or NYC, on my own or with friends. I don't necessarily want a partner as i'm to independent and bossy. Things could change as i mature though, i wouldn't rule out anything.

7. A place I would love to visit: Aside from all of Europe, I would love to visit Japan again. I have a fascination with their food, architecture, and fashion.

8. Why I blog: I only started blogging in the new year, and i can't see myself talking about anything else but fashion. Combining two of my loves, English and Fashion just takes my mind off the stress off College studies.

9. My favourite Piece: My ZARA blazer. For £60 i think this is my favourite piece, it stands out in a subtle way. The tailoring and cut of it is perfect for my body shape. I have worn it on a cold day with black skinnies at a vest top, on a warm day with a pretty summer dress and knee highs and evenings? Well it looks best i think in the evenings with a gorgeous cocktail dress.

10. A recent fashion trend I don't like: Florals...I've been noticing them all over the place recently and they have stuck around season after season. Disappear please. I am sorry, but under no circumstances are flowers plastered all over beautiful cutouts and flowing materials tolerable to me.

11. Trends and my wardrobe: I usually buy what I like. If it happens to be trendy so be it, if it's the sickening to everyone else I'll still buy it. So what? Rule? Never have to many 'trends' going on at once.

11. How I afford my wardrobe: I live on a very tight budget, i have barely any money, so most of my items are highstreet but carefully chosen. Brands like H&M, Zara and American Apparel are what i live for, and thank goodness for vintage! I'm fabulous at finding deals and sales, on the look out constantly for stylish pieces with the right price. I don't own anything designer, i can't afford it. But if i ever do, at my ages, they will either be gifted or bought second hand. I can only do the best with what i have. One day i may be able to buy those pieces brand new, but until that day... I don't believe you need piles of money to dress well? All you need is a creative mind and a smile. Check.

Queen McQueen

Two weeks before London Fashion week, his home and where he belonged, the very much loved Alexander McQueen, aged 40, passed away at his London home. I was a lover of McQueens eccentric, quirky creations, which made the news of his death even more devastating. In a way i always saw Alexander as a last man stating type of man. I always assumed he could cope with any extreme situation he placed him self in. Losing his mother the previous week was obviously like cutting of his supply to support. If peace was what he was searching for then one can only hope he has found it. Even his most theatrical designs were an inspiration to us all, influencing generations of designers in the industry. Known for his unconventional and outrageous runway shows McQueen was loved and his power will stay alive. His work always created emotional reactions- big ones, his audiences were one minute shredding tears of frustration of his wrong choice of venue, the next, tears of joy over both the clothes and the staging. "Enfant terrible" followed his name constantly. Yet, despite the perennial label he always collected the big and important awards from London. His power and influences will never die.

Long live Lee McQueen.

A BRIGHTER NOTE

LEFT RIGHT LEFT

Statement shoulders, stylish skinny combats, buckled boots, tailored army jackets will be swamping out streets by March. Even though i see many, maybe to many taking to the military boot trend, which i willingly admit to adopting myself, pairing them with absolutely everything... they just go right? Alexander Wang and Phillip Lim, love following and creating new military loves whilst Bess NYC encrusted their designs in pyramid studds, Pierre Balmain even introduced Cheryl Cole to looking like a soldier, the military ensemble was given the designer treatment with slit Harem pants from the fashion house that has seen a revived popularity among the celebrity fashion pack recently.

This doesn't need to be as boyish as you think girls, dedsigners like Aquilano Rimondie at buttery shaded leathers with girly skirts. Nanette Lepore and Haider Ackermann add the feminine touch by adding draping skirts and dresses to their collection. With this trend the possibilities really are endless.

CLEAN AND PRISTINE

Wanting to start the new season with a new slate? Here's the perfect opportunity. Tailoring is at its hottest and designers have finally realised less is ALWAYS more, BUT this is not mannish minimalism of the 1990's i'm talking about.Soft materialised pieces of body architecture have had a revamp with a feminine twist, with pleats, twists, hidden kinks and frills.

Thanks to Micheal Kors being good with the scissors 'cutouts' are becoming a huge trend and thanks to Hussein Chalayan's thigh-high slits we are seeing a lot more skin around here. Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, Max Azria, Zero + Maria Cornejo and Maria Grachvogel have all joined the feminine tailoring gang designing gorgeous shift dresses and floating but subtle maxis.

PASTEL PERFECT
Fairgrounds with a stick of candyfloss, or a weekend picnic in the park surrounded by cupcakes all resemble the sweet tooth. This up coming season i was rather scared of, my body isn't a coathanger, i don't look fabulous in those floaty blouses and light colours. I always thought pastels were not my colour and belonged to pretty skinny blonde's. Lagerfield went country at Chanel, pinafore dresses at Bottega Veneta, and homespun luxe embroideries courtesy of Oscar de la Renta. This summer is defiantly going to be a sweet one.

KISSKATCH
Forget playing volleyball on the beach summer, cause balls is not what people will be throwing at you with designers adopting active influences for spring. With Alexander Wang's American football collection will look even better when broken down into its individual components, he is no doubt the captain of this trend; Pucci's Peter Dundas has combined business with pleasure, as we all like to do secretly, turning out sexy dresses inspired by his love of scuba; and Proenza Schouler has taken two well-worn references surfing and skateboarding and made them even more chicer than imagined

We’re not talking basketball shorts and football kits here girls. Derek Lam gives this boyish trend a feminine kick with marine-coloured sequin dresses, while Hermès make unsexy, well.. very god damn sexy.

Watercolours and a pencil = A fashion bible

As i am becoming a really rubbish blogger before i have even started i thought id share today with you...I was sat in Rhode Island today, a cute little coffee shop (you really should visit) and it came to mind how much work i had to have in for this morning. Graphics is really becoming a drag. I had my designs finished and ready to print, but found myself questioning myself... am i actually doing what i love anymore? The answer is, umm... no I'm not. Graphics used to be a love of mine, and thanks to the pathetic teacher its not anymore, but I'm happy to be concentrating a lot more on fashion. So i sipped my 'scrumptious hot chocolate' and scratched my designs and come up with a better idea for my final piece. I pulled out my sketch book and attempted, maybe failed some fashion illustrations. Yes, they are pretty horrendous (so please don't laugh) its only a mock... Ive never attempted to sketch before, apart from pretty hilarious doodles which i find myself resorting to in every English exam.

I just picked up a pencil and sketched some ideas from my head. Their most likely not in fashion now, or overly wearable... but like i said, don't laugh. I'm basically going to use the designs as a front cover of a book i'm creating for my final project, 'The Fashion Bible'. Ill post my designs on here and pretty please comment as my blog is looking pretty bare with out you all. I don't want to give up either (shrugs) and in return i shall eventually, soon post some photos of my outfits as i realise until i do that, i really am a rubbish blogger!

A spring/summer evening and day dress. Layered with Under netting. A see-through netted chest.

An underwear outwear garment in nude pastel shade with deep deep pink boning.

Puff ball skirt made up of roses (which i couldn't have drawn even if attempted)

Casual wear, a beige/nude cashmere cardigan, with duffel buttons, blue round neck polo, white

blouse and blue high wasted denim shorts

I know they are all pretty awful, but this is the most unfinished, i couldn't decide on colour or anything. So... there you go, let me know what you think and i'll upload the finished design soon.