The Brit School, has become a phenomenon over the past 10 years. But I have never stopped to think about the real dominance and influence the Brit school has in music history. Over the past 5 years, a number of exceptionally gifted artists have emerged from this prestigious school, they include X factor winner Leona Lewis, Adele, Jessie J, the late Amy Winehouse and most recently Rizzle kicks. By far the most successful out of those mentioned is Adele. Since her debut album 19, she has gone from strength to strength, recently winning six Grammys at the Grammy Awards. She has found fame on both sides of the pond and in Europe too.
This surge of talented 20 somethings is down to the Brit School situated in croydon. The alumni is endless, and i would be glad to part of it. My main concern is that these are the musicians that are making the most waves on the British charts. I think we should just forget the Endless number of talent show competitions on TV ( The Voice, starting on 24th march on BBC one, the notorious X factor on ITV, Britains got talent and Must be the music on Sky 1) and select youngsters from Brit school to audition instead. I will not be surprised if a Brit school documentary or reality tv show emerges very soon. I salute them.
The ootd craze has been very popular on you tube. We are now in a generation of how do i do this. Thanks to websites like ehow, where you can find how to pretty much do anything, even the most ridiculous and simple, common sense things. But thats the problem, we do not seek help from real people, like family members and friends or colleagues, we do not challenge our minds through trial and error. Why? well because the internet has all the answers, and its all on a click of a button. There are some things people are too embarressed to talk about or curiously ask their friends, so i can understand if the internet is the first point of call.
But what worries me is that we are turning into a generation so reliant on the internet to solve all our problems and give us answers, it makes us lazy and also effects communication skills, social skills and can even be a problem academically, in regards to plagiarism. But the main focus is out fit of the day. This title, which i first found baffling relates to people , mostly young women and teenagers posting videos of their outfits for a certain day on you tube. These videos show you how to dress like them, im sorry, but i do not need someone to tell me how to dress. But on the otherhand i must admit it is quite entertaining. And if i do see an outfit i like, i will try to find it, but i wouldnt want to get the entire outfit, maybe a few things like the accessories or shoes. Just imagine bumping into the person who posted the video and she recognises what you are wearing and asks if you have been watching her posts online. Thats a bit embarressing.
One of my friends has just started her ootd, a few months ago and she has started getting lots of hits on you tube. What i like about Whitney Bennets posts is the variety (she does casual to traditional african dresses), she shows her target audiance ( female university students) how to dress on a budget, this includes, where to get the clothes from and close ups from different angles. Check out her videos below and why dont you check her and other ootd's on you tube, just follow this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96eIb6kcREchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwocpXfR8CI . Thanks
Lady Gaga is no doubt one of the biggest selling recording artist around. Since she came to prominence with her first single just dance from the album Fame in 2008, she has pushed the boundaries of fashion to the edge. Her avante garde, pop art, and attention seeking get ups have been entertaining but above all controversial. I have lost count of the number of ridiculous outfits she has worn over the past 4 years. Four years is not a very long time, but it feels like she has been around for decades. Remember the telephone hat, the tea-cup phase, the meat dress, which offended a lot of vegetarians ( i still cant believe she wore raw meet to the VMA's) and her famous video telephone feat. beyonce, where she was almost naked with only tape to cover her modesty.
Unbelievably, her style has become a hit with her fans, who can't get enough and even celebrities like Christina Aguilera and Rihanna ( no surprise there) have been influenced by her style. I really don't understand why the papers compare the majority of female artists who try to reinvent themself as being a Gaga copy cat. I mean, Christina Aguilera has been around for 13 years and Rihanna has definately been around for longer than four years. So before gaga hit the scene, these two among others like Britney Spears have not only been dominating the charts, they've also been fashion chameleons and trend setters. So i'm tired of the papers , especially glossy mags and tabloiods comparing every female artsist who dares to be outlandish or rejuvinating a comeback to Lady Gaga.
I am a fan of her music but just like my post on Rihanna, i am not a fan of her fashion sense. So God help me if she even thinks of starting a fashion line, but on the other hand, it would probably be a controversial hit. It seems like everything she touches turns to gold, well we'll just have to see how long she lasts for, as i feel her music as somewhat lost its edge, and the fashion is taking over her top prority, the music.
All images are courtesy of copyright.getty and starpulse.com
[caption id="attachment_265" align="alignleft" width="416" caption="clip on hair bow phase"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_266" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="The muppets kermit the frog homeage"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_268" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="leather mixed with gold thorns..really not sure what this is"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_269" align="alignnone" width="400" caption="she male phase...she cant decide between her alter egos, ah well, she's on the right track..she was born that way"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_270" align="alignnone" width="460" caption="tea cup phase...but won't the tea get cold.."][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_271" align="alignnone" width="490" caption="telephone hat featured in video telephone. kinda kool though"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_272" align="alignnone" width="365" caption="The controversial meat dress, really pissed off PETA..wait a minute pETA are always pissed cause..."][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_273" align="alignnone" width="490" caption="Ziggy Stardust 'aka David bowie' homeage"][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_274" align="alignnone" width="490" caption="The polaroid glasses..i like, but how do you see where you are going.."][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_275" align="alignnone" width="460" caption="the forget i have clothes or just cant be bothered, stone age era homeage"][/caption]
The following pictures are drawings of my fashion ideas. I do this in my spare time. Unfortunately i cannot sew, if i could it would make life much easier and i would be able to make my drawings come to life. Please let me know what you think of them. will it one day be spotted by a well known designer...ahh well, i can dream, can't i ?
[caption id="attachment_253" align="alignleft" width="454"] the jacket is called joker and the dress is called poison ivy[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_254" align="alignnone" width="454"] bluemoon front and back and meadow[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_255" align="alignleft" width="454"] holy mary, bluemoon, breakfast at tiffanys, holy mary 2, hunchback of notre dame and thorns[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_256" align="alignnone" width="454"] floral back and front and flimpsy[/caption]
Music makes me feel good, it is my counsellor and therapist. There is a sound for whatever mood you are in right now. Today is officially the second day of spring. I am feeling upbeat for now, anyway.
The videos below are what i am listening to right now. Maybe we have the same taste in music, hopefully if we do, please let me know, leave comments below. Cheers!
love this song. Good to listen to after a relationship is over.
Love this band, also check out their other singles, new one called Sparks and Lick ya down.
love her, she is so feisty
Although there isn't a video for this song as of yet, I think RiRi has another hit under her belt. Love it
Labrynth is so cool, love Tinie's rap in the bridge. got my head boppin.
Chris Brown may have his demons, but no doubt he is a talented rnb singer. Good song for break ups / wanting to get back together
Can't get enough of this song, addictive. always want to get up and dance. The message behind the song is very sweet though.
Lady of the moment Adele was snubbed at the Brits ceremony as she made her acceptance speech for the most prestigous award of the night, Best British Album. The 23 year old singing sensation was interrupted a few seconds into her speech by host James Corden.
Scroll Down For Video...
Up yours...Adele Angrily flicks middle finger up at Brit bosses.
Brits organisers have expressed their apologies and so has host and actor/comedian James Cordan. Organisers say they were running behind schedule and were pressured to finish at the stated time of 10pm. After Adele's speech, 90's pop band Blur who were given the outstanding contribution to music award performed a medley set featuring some of their greatest hits.
This is one of the reasons organisers had to push for time. Adele, was said to be very furious and embarressed by the ordeal. She wasn't the only one. Celebrities from all ends of the showbiz world, let out their rage on twitter.
Britains Got talent judge Amanda Holden said: "Biggest selling recording artist in the world And British, but we didn't have 'time' for her!".
Host james Corden said he was very upset that organisers pressured him into interrupting Adele's speech, he begged for them to hold it out a little longer, but they wouldn't nodge, it was out of his control. He said: " I delayed them for 15 seconds- they wanted to cut Adele short because time was really running out. "
This is no surprise the brits have a hsitory of clangers and controversy. Lets just hope next years ceremony runs more smoothly.
Over the past 8 years, we have witnessed the reinvention of Rihanna, real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty . Since bursting onto the music scene as a 16 year old she has been working non stop to stay in the charts. I'm not going to lie, her music is infectious, i'm a big fan and hopefully look foward to seeing her at this year's wireless festival, fingers crossed, i'll let you know how it goes.
But there is one thing i am not a fan of, and i am sure the majority of sane women out there will agree with me, its her fashion sense.
Rihanna should be lucky she is making hits with her music in return making lots of money, because if her music was as bad as her dress sense, she would be on the dole by now. Her transformation over these past 8 years from pop's good girl to what we see before us today can be put down to what some may call growing up, a journey, finding yourself. I call it rebellion.
Rihanna has been known to say in the past that when she started she was controlled by everyone, her record label and management and so on. She felt she wasn't been true to herslef and her fans, she wanted to show them the real her, not the manufactured cute girl that burst on the scene with pon de replay in 2005.
Well she has succeeded, she is a woman of 24 years old, no one can tell her how to dress, where to go and what to do, well thats unless she was living in a communist / dictatorhsip country.
What concerns me about Rihanna, is that as a fan, and i am 21 year's old, she is one of the rare superstars that appeal to a global audience - all ages and both male and female. She has a huge fan base, with almost 15 million twitter followers and growing, thats more than the president of United States!
Riri as she is also known is a sex symbol of our time, just like marilyn monroe 50 years ago. Being so overly sexed in music videos and on stage, i am not surprised why some view her as a bad role model for her younger fans. Primary school kids listen to her music, her songs also have highly sexual content. Her personal life has not helped either. She has been surrounded by controversy recently after teaming up with her ex Chris Brown, the rnb star battered Rihanna in his car three years ago.
All seems to be water under the bridge, as she announced that she will be collaborating with him on her track birthday cake from the album Talk That Talk, which features explicit words, concerning the act of sexual behaviour. There has also been rumours that the two may get back together, but i doubt that is likely since Chris Brown is blissfully happy with girlfriend and model Karruche Tran, whom has been rumoured to have moved in with Brown.
Despite all this, Rihanna, has been known to have a dangerous side, seeking excitement. She is the new wild child, but surprisingly, a wild child with all round appeal. Majority love her, if not i'm sure her career wouldnt be going from strength to strength.
The images below show her transformation from fresh faced teen to global sex siren with an addiction to tattoos and minimal clothing. Well if you got it flaunt it, i say. Lets just hope she maintains a level head and does not have a public melt down, like Britney Spears did a few years back. After all we are all human.
[caption id="attachment_200" align="alignleft" width="490"] 2005 - age 17 At VMA's[/caption]
copyright. msn.com
[caption id="attachment_202" align="alignleft" width="412"] AT EMA's 2006- Age 18[/caption]
Copyright. Getty images
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="490"] 2007 Age 19 At Bambi Awards[/caption]
copyright. whoo.co.uk
[caption id="attachment_204" align="alignleft" width="399"] 2008. Age 20 AT AMA's. Copyright. Bob Charlotte/ PR photos[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_205" align="alignleft" width="357"] 2009 Age 21 At Rated R album launch. copyright. hergoodybag.com[/caption]
Mario lopez, is a brazilian designer catalogue model. He is 22 years old and is currently studying for a degree in Architecture at London metropolitan university.
He is a very creative individual with an artistic eye and loves fashion, this is evident in his career path he hopes to take after his studies.
Mario began modelling in his early teens, after he was approached by a modelling scout. He also writes for a New York magazine. We can all agree that he is a man of many talents and skills.
At the moment he models for european, primarily italian agencies. This gives him the opportunity to also visit these places. I have had the great pleasure of knowing Mario lopez as a friend, and hope he can break into the mass market and become recognisable on magazines on this side of the pond. With the drive and determination he has, i can only expect good things. The sky is the limit.
Last week I attended an exhibition dedicated to Marilyn Monroe, in remembrance of her 50th anniversary since her death on August 5 1962. The exhibition features rare photos and a few dresses worn by the actress in her films. Below are the dresses with images of her in them. Sadly the dress i was really looking foward to see, the white ivory cocktail dress worn by Marilyn in the 1955 film the seven year itch was not on display. This dress became an iconic image in film history and one of the most recognised images of the 20th century, thanks to the famous scene where the dress blows up as she stands over the subway grate to catch a rush of air, whilst fighting to keep the dress in place.
Pink Linen dress worn in Niagara, 1952. The film noir film was one of Marilyns first big roles
Red Sequinned dress worn in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1953.
Costume from Bus Stop, 1956. This satin mermaid looking dress was designed by legendary hollywood designer William Travilla, he designed other dresses for Marilyn, including the iconic white dress from seven year itch.
Black silk Negligee with sewn in rose detail worn in Niagara, 1952.
The long dress on the left was worn by Marilyn to the premiere of the Rose Tattoo in 1955. The black beaded cocktail dress on the right was worn in Some Like It Hot, 1959
This black silk leotard costume with intricate sequins was worn in Gentlemen prefer blondes, 1953. This is my favourite costume, it embodies marilyn's persona, as a sex symbol . The dress is sexy, flirty and fun. The flowers and sequin detail on the hat is what i love about this costume.
The Dress on the left is from a photoshoot feature in Life Magazine, december 1958. The dress on the left is a black silk jersey cocktail dress designed by ceil shapman, it is one of Monroe's personal clothes.
The dress on the left is from The prince and the show girl, 1958. The dress is a white silk and chiffon floor length evening gownwith hand crafted beading. The dess on the right is from There's no business like show business, 1954. The full length flesh tone gown has a net underlay with heavily embellished sequins and flowers.
Below are my pick of fashion hits and misses at the Brit awards 2012. You can vote and tell me if you agree with my comments and tell me who you think was the best dressed or who should have stayed at home.
And the Winners are....
Copyright. Getty images
Gold is definately your colour riri.
I was very surprised with Rihanna's choice at the brits. Looking back at her previous award get ups, i had my mind firmly set that she was going to do a Gaga, but suprsingly she pulled it off, looking like a goddess in this simple, gold chic frock.
Red is Smoking hott!
Lana Del Rey is definately on the right track. She was born to wear red. She looks sophisticated in this simple, sleek and timeless design, i even think it might be too glamorous for the Brits, more Oscars in my opinion. I'm also loving her album born to die, especially the album's title song. Scroll down for the video
Put your hands in the air right now if you agree rita looks great...
New girl on the block Rita Ora just keeps going from strength to stregnth. She definately did not fail to make an impression on the red carpet. I'm loving the silver goddess look and a touch of bling. class. I'm also loving Rita's current single hot right now, a collaboration with DJ fresh, which is debued at no.1 on the UK top 40 dance singles chart. Scroll down for video
Effortless in simple LBD.
Katie Melua, has not been making waves in the charts for a while now, but she showed she hasn't slumped in the fashion stakes. The little black dress is a timeless, classic look that is right for any occassion even a funeral. But sadly i still think she played it too safe, could have added more accessories or jewellery to stand out more.
WHOA! Florence...
What was Florence Welch thinking!This dress looks like she took a curtain and randomly cut into it. But on the other hand i applaud her for her creative vision, after all its the Brits, your allowed to go a bit crazy. The only thing great about the dress, is the colour. It complements her pale complexion, giving it a mix of haute couture, Twilight film saga and avante garde . I only put her on the winner's list because this is the best dressed ive seen her.
Pretty in Pink!
Lydia Bright, reality tv star from the show TOWIE ( the only way is Essex), looks fab in this girlie assemble. Having recently split from co star James 'Arg' Argent, she is clearly showing him what he's missing.
KYLIE SHINES IN BLUE
Kylie minogue looks amazing in this Amethyst blue gown. The simple and elegant design makes it look effortless on her.
HOllY PROVES CURVES ARE HERE TO STAY.
Holly Willoughby displays her curves in this plunging LBD. She looks sexy and sophisticated.
LISA IS ALL WHITE
Lisa Snowdown looks sexy in this silver bodycon dress.
LADY OF THE MOMENT, ADELE, BRINGS SIXTIES GLAMOUR BACK.
Adele looks demure in this burberry black dress with contrasting sheer top and sleeves.
She won two big awards of the night, Best British female and Best British album.
AMANDA REIFER 1/4 of the Bajan group Cover Drive sizzles in LBD.
Copyright PA Pictures.
Amanda Reifer is making waves not just in the charts as the lead singer of new group Cover Drive but also as a sex symbol. Move over Rihanna, there's a new girl in town.
Im sorry to say Im really dissapointed with the lot below, is it just me or did they all get dressed in the dark. They all definetly win my should have stayed at home award.
And the Losers Are...
FROCK HORROR
Double olympic gold medalist Dame Kelly Holmes looks like she had an art attack in this eye soaring dress. Although it displayed her envious legs, the dress reminds me of the hippie tie dye look.
TRYING TOO HARD
I really wanted to like this, but sadly Alexandra Burke fails to meet my expectations. I was expecting her to show more flesh, especially her legs, which she is very proud of. This look feels cliche, and the romanesque, wooden top half looks mismached, come on Alex you can do better.
BIT TOO LAID BACK ... DONTCHA THINK
Caroline Flack, must think she is still hosting Xtra Factor, sorry love, this two piece jacket and shorts is a bit boring. I'm sure ive seen her in this before. Should have worn something more elegant.
ROCKY HORROR PICTRE SHOW...
Oh, why Jessie? This is what i call, attention seeking. Not surprisingly, i did expect this from Jessie J. She never fails to amuse me. I know she has a fit body body, but there is a time and place for that like on stage, hope she gets a stylist very soon.
DID SOMEONE DIE!
Sorry, Emeli sande should know better. This outfit is very depressing to wear to an event like the Brits.
BIT TOO MELOW...
Nicole Sherzinger is a goregous woman, but this look feels outdated. Her breasts look like they are trying to escape, which makes the dress unfalttering and less demure. The outfit just doesnt scream wow.
Copyright. PA Pictures
DISCOTECH!
What was Cher Llyod thinking? Did she get dressed in the dark. This homage to the 70's disco era might seem elaborate to her but this one piece neon pink sequin jump suit with mismatched zebra shoes is OTT. It's giving me a headache.
Floral Attack!
Paloma faith gets it wrong again, this dress looks like something an elderly relative would wear to a wedding, I bet she's been raiding her grandmother's wardrobe...
PAPERBAG!
I know Abbey Clancy is a model oh and WAG, but she looks emaciated in this paperbag dress, very ill fitting, time to stop the post baby fad diets hun.
Someone's been raiding the dress up box again.
Although Pixie Lott is known for her fashion foward sense of style, she gets it horribly wrong in this get up. Yet again it looks like she's borrowed it from her grandma, not cool.
Copyright.PA Pictures
Curtains UP
Former spice girl Emma Bunton, fails to impress in this confusing and dreary outfit. It looks more like she hastly cut a piece of red lace and whala, you have a dress.
Copyright. PA Pictures
Tme for that makeover Girls...
I Really like Little Mix, but lets face it, this assemble is a Little mess!
