London Fashion Kick Serves up Italian Style

I had a great night attending London Fashion Kick's fashion show at Rumour, photo courtesy of Hasan Chowdhury

             Most Londoners balk at the idea of traveling to any zones past four on the Underground. However, I ventured to Bromley in zone five very happily on a cool March evening, all in the name of fashion.  In an Italian takeover, London Fashion Kick hosted a fashion show at the bar Rumour, complete with Italian brands and Italian food afterwards. The mini arancini, or rice balls, were to die for! The company itself offers the necessary “kick” that designers need to launch their brands to a wider audience through organizing fashion shows and events, while also offering management and PR services.

             Bloggers, journalists, photographers and creatives alike gathered at the venue. I arrived early to scope it out, which allowed me to easily slide my way into a front row seat and choose the artistically designed goodie bag of my choice. I knew I had to grab one with a “BLACK IS BACK” pin, especially as someone who wears black probably far too often. Although, you saw my spring-appropriate skirt above, right?! The bag also contained an assortment of leaflets and discounts for the brands that would appear later in the fashion show, some Faby nail polishes in poppy colors, a Bohemian Jewellery Tattoos collection, a bag charm from Luna Storta, and two more pins from Tiziana Mancarella: “KEEP ON SHINING” and “PINK’S NOT DEAD.”

Goodie bags galore!

             My American accent was clearly discernible amongst the infectious Italian, but I soon was chatting with the lovely Brits Darel and Grace of Bohemian Jewellery Tattoos (watch this space for an upcoming product review). Perfect for the warmer months when it’s time to shown some skin, the metallic patterns are temporary tattoos for grown-ups. Naturally, I had to try out a glittering tribal band on my arm and for someone who’s far too faddy, it was just the right amount of commitment without getting cold feet. Check out the brand here. 

With Darel and Grace of Bohemian Jewellery Tattoos, sporting one of the brand's tribal designs, photo courtesy of Hasan Chowdhury

             The long-legged model beauties soon made an appearance and all eyes were on them for the main event. Tiziana Mancarella was the first and possibly my favorite brand of the night. Reminiscent of The Pink Ladies from the film Grease, the models rocked the slogans “Black is Back,” “Keep on shining,” and “Pink's not dead” on the back of fringed jackets, which were decorated with the same pins that were gifted to the guests. Elements of punk rock and street style were injected into the collection, while leather and chrome provided the ultimate lesson in “cool girl” chic. Check out the brand here.        

Tiziana Mancarella, photos courtesy of Domingo Nardulli

             Cauchemar, which means nightmare, was born out of an insomnia-riddled night. With motifs such as the cross, heart, skull, and anchor as the driving forces behind the brand, it's devoted to creating clothes that embody youthful, urban comfort.

Cauchemar, photos courtesy of Nunzio Prenna

             Aurora Potenti remained true to its Italian roots, with the sun, sea, and bright colors of Tuscany seascapes finding their place in the designs. Models emerged in an eclectic assortment of styles: geometric prints, military-style buttons, or woolen pantsuits. On one end of the color spectrum were baby blues and pinks, while the olive greens and grays made for a contrasting yet complementary aesthetic. Check out the brand here.  

Aurora Potenti, photos courtesy of Domingo Nardulli and Nunzio Prenna 

             All of Luna Storta’s products start and end with the hard work of Italian artisans in the country itself. This is to ensure the genuine high quality of Luna Storta’s handbags. The brand boasts its versatility in creating bags that cater to women’s practical, everyday needs and bags that add the finishing touch to any outfit. While handbags need to be functional, that doesn’t mean they must forgo style and Luna Storta have managed to strike the tricky balance between the two. Check out the brand here.

Luna Storta, photos courtesy of Domingo Nardulli and Nunzio Prenna 

             De’Hart’s funky furs playfully closed the fashion show and nothing was off limits. Leopard print, vertical and horizontal stripes (at the same time!), cutesy hearts, camouflage, and the peace symbol represented a clear allegiance to the arts, music, and pop culture. In “notice-me” shades, De’Hart’s coats make it impossible to blend into the crowd and possible for the extrovert within all of us to come out and play. Check out the brand here.  

De'Hart, photos courtesy of Domingo Nardulli 

             London Fashion Kick might not have been London Fashion Week, but it wasn’t trying to be. The fashion show’s unique Italian flair was charming. It’s important to be well versed in fashion trends and designers from different countries, because inspiration can be derived from anywhere and everywhere.

             In other words, fashion matters and applies to everyone. Designs on the catwalks, as outlandish as they might appear at first, always have a way of trickling down to the masses in a toned-down form. London is the fashion hub in which I live, but having been educated more in Italian brands on the rise, I can now incorporate a sense of la dolce vita into my daily style.

             You can learn more about London Fashion Kick on the company's website here. 

Mike Bartlett Ups His Game at the Almeida Theatre

Are you game?, photo courtesy of Visit London

            I almost didn’t recognize the Almeida Theatre as I made my way, not to a particular seat, but to a zone for Mike Bartlett’s play, Game. Each audience member was allocated to a different zone with its own unique vantage point. I was handed a set of headphones and entered a confined space decked out in camouflage. A cushioned seat and three television screens greeted me, along with my fellow viewers, who sat a little too close for comfort. I would soon learn that grazing arms with the person next to me would not be the most invasive encounter of the evening.

             The shutters previously obscuring my view opened and introduced a couple in their new home. With my headphones nestled securely to my head, I tuned in to the voices of Carly (Jodie McNee) and Ashley (Mike Noble). Suddenly, I was no longer an avid audience member, but a voyeur in the most Hitchcock way imaginable. The set, or should I say house, was very cleverly devised. It had all of the elements of a “dream house:” a kitchen that spilled into the living room, a spiral staircase, a hot tub, and lots of open space.

             Meanwhile, my headphones were picking up sounds from elsewhere, sounds that synchronized with what the television sets were broadcasting. It became apparent that I was looking at audience members seated in separate zones, while the actors made their rounds to each one. Not only were we watching then, but we were also being watched by unseen strangers, veiled under a cloak of camouflage.

 Carly (Jodie McNee) and Ashley (Mike Noble) move into their "dream house," photo courtesy of Keith Pattison

             Before I viewed Game, there was an air of mystery surrounding it, because I like to approach the theatre by keeping myself in the dark. That’s not to say that I don’t do my research before attending a production, but I tend to restrict my amount of knowledge pertaining to the play. Reading other reviews only clouds my own judgment and I like to enter the theatre with an open mind. I have to say, Game was not what I was expecting at all.

             Encased in their glass “cage,” Carly and Ashley became subhuman, as if I were watching animals in a zoo. As they engaged in mundane tasks like putting away groceries or more intimate exchanges such as arguments, I felt overwhelmingly uncomfortable. Most unnerving of all to witness was perhaps the sex, because I was invading this couple’s privacy, along with all of the other wide-eyed peeping Toms surrounding me. To put it bluntly, we all watched their child’s moment of conception.

             You’re probably wondering what’s the catch. Well, whenever things seem too good to be true, they probably are. Carly and Ashley were afforded their dream house in a housing crisis under one condition: they had to agree to be “game.” Paying customers would take shots at them with tranquilizer darts as they pleased, but the couple would never be forewarned as to when the shots would come. When their son was born, he was placed on the market and he dropped to the floor just like his parents, but with even more ease.

The voyeur's view, photo courtesy of Keith Pattison

             In my zone, a group of girls stumbled in during drunken mid-birthday celebrations. They thought it would be fun to take aim at Carly over and over again. Their complete lack of empathy was jarring, but it made me think of something. When humans hunt animal “game,” this same callousness and complete disregard for life is also present. Only when confronted with the reality of the human equivalent do we see the barbarity of something like trophy hunting.

             When we watch animals having sex, fighting, or with their young, we find it amusing. Yet, people have also become “game,” open to public consumption. Take the example of television series Big Brother, where people tune in to watch the lives of others in an enclosed house. I’ve never been able to grasp why this constitutes entertainment, but then we all have our own ideas of fun.

             I began to feel a bit claustrophobic, a bit panicked, as Game neared its impactful end. That was the point when conscience and ethics tag teamed and made their appearance in the play. Carly and Ashley decided that they needed to leave the “dream” behind, because the risk was becoming greater than the reward. David (Kevin Harvey), the man responsible for manning the station with the tranquilizer gun, entered the house for the first time. Carly and Ashley’s son didn’t want to leave and he was quivering underneath a cardboard box.

Photo courtesy of Keith Pattison

             The little boy had become very fond of a solider game on a handheld electronic device, so David managed to coax him out by giving him instructions and addressing him as "Soldier." Haunting, ghostly images of real military soldiers were suddenly projected onto the walls of the house and the static in my headphones became too much to bear. As a military brat, I felt overcome with emotion. The play’s program featured an article with a newspaper headline reading: “More British soldiers commit suicide than die in battle, figures suggest.” When David was left alone, presumably a former solider himself, he turned the tranquilizer gun on himself as we watched him die. Game over.

             Most of us are familiar with the character Jigsaw from the Saw horror movie franchise. He is often quoted as chillingly asking his victims, “Would you like to play a game?” before they either die or manage to survive one of his sadistic tasks. That’s what life is all about: survival. Bartlett forces the issue out into the open with his thought-provoking play.

             The “game” is really referring to the game of life, which is also the name of a board game. Again, we can play pretend in a make-believe world for a while, imitating ourselves. The board game mimics real life, with options such as a career, college, marriage, and children. Let’s not forget one of my personal favorites either, The Sims. War-based video game Call of Duty is not in fact the real deal, the real battlefield. We don’t have multiple lives or do-overs in reality. If you can make it through each day, if you can learn how to play the real game of life, you’ll come out on top as a winner.

             Game finishes its run at the Almeida Theatre today, April 4^th. Book your last minute tickets here. 

Photo courtesy of Keith Pattison

Earn Your Fashion Stripes with Farfetch

Recreate these looks and get inspired on the Farfetch website here, infographic courtesy of Farfetch

             Although most Londoners were left a little underwhelmed during yesterday’s solar eclipse due to some unwanted clouds, March 20^th also signaled the first day of spring. I don’t know about you, but I’ve already started preparing for the spring by ditching my dark ensembles and revamping my outfits with pops of color. The weather might be unpredictable, but one timeless trend that we can count on to accompany the arrival of spring is stripes. Spring/Summer 2015 looks to be no different with this tried and tested design.

             The versatility of stripes makes it very difficult to have a wardrobe malfunction. Indeed, they are a staple in my own closet. Vertical stripes conjure up the image of a crisp, collared shirt ironed to perfection for a job interview. Navy blue and white horizontal stripes are the classic embodiment of Parisian chic. Who could resist a young-faced Johnny Depp in his black and white striped prison uniform in the 90’s film Cry Baby? Going to jail never looked so good…Then there’s fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, who has made sailor stripes his trademark across his 40-year career and not once have they looked out of place on the catwalk or on the shelves. This really is quite the sartorial achievement, especially considering that the fast turnover of the fashion industry means most trends are “out” before they are even “in.”

             Even the unsavory Freddy Krueger made a style statement in his chunky knit red and green striped sweater. We could go so far as to argue that the comic strip character Dennis the Menace is the original 2D mascot for stripes. To ensure you don’t channel either of these less than desirable characters, look no further than the Farfetch infographic provided above. Whether Françoise Hardy, Cyndi Lauper, or Audrey Hepburn is your style icon, you too can earn your fashion stripes.

             To prove the lasting power of stripes, I needed to look no further than my style blog, A Stitch in Time. In May 2014, my outfit post consisted of a striped sweater and denim short dungarees. When I was shopping this weekend, what lined the racks of the stores? Dungarees and stripes, stripes, and more stripes.

Diamonds might be forever, but so are stripes. View my full outfit post here.