[Fashion Moment] Edie Sedgwick

Every decade there is a star who captures hearts and minds. In the 1960’s that was Edie Sedgwick, an actress and “it-girl” who became one of the artists Andy Warhol’s “superstars”, hanging out at his creative home “The Factory”.

Sedgwick was also featured as one of Vogue’s “YOUTHQUAKERS”, a group of hip young socialites and creative personalities who were setting the 60’s ablaze. Another “YOUTHQUAKER” was designer Betsey Johnson who dressed Edie and has since said of her 

“She was sweet, professional, and really started something new with her style then. No one can compare”.

As a young and free spirited heiress, Sedgwick made her self known through her roles in Warhol’s underground films such as the poignantly titled “Poor Little Rich Girl”. She was also a noted fashion icon, her large gold dangling earrings, black opaque tights and painted eyes became Edie’s signature look.

Sedgewick’s socialite life style made her a celebrity and had her introduced to other artistic personalities. One such encounter was with folk singer Bob Dylan who she is rumored to have had an intimate relationship with. It is believed that she influenced Dylan’s 1966 album “Blonde on Blonde”, appearing on the inner sleeve and inspiring the songs “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Just like a Women”.

Her impact upon modern popular culture is still evident. The 2007 film release “Factory Girl” featuring Sienna Miller details the main points in Edie’s life, making her tale accessible to a new audience and covering the milestones of Sedgwick’s life. This includes her long battle with mental illness and anorexia. Sedgwick was so fragile that the already slender Miller had to diet before she had the right silhouette to play the role of Edie.

The behavior and style of other young heiress’s such as Pixie Geldof has revitalized Sedgwick’s lifestyle. Bleach blonde and cropped hair with a waif frame, Geldof shares Sedgwick’s unusual looks and individual style. With many famous and infamous friends such as Alexa Chung, Nick Grimshaw and Kelly Osbourne, Geldof is a fresh face amongst the fashion and media crowd whose lifestyle is reminiscent to Sedgwick’s captivating character. As a budding fashionista, Pixie has modeled a recent line for high street store “New Look” and appeared in a cover shoot for “Tatler” in which the magazines editor, Geordie Grieg, had entitled her “leader of London teenage style”.

“I will go to the opening of anything, including a toilet seat. I have Social Disease. I have to go out every night” - Andy Warhol

Kitty x

If anybody knows please enlighten me,

Kitty x

Glittery, Twinkling, Folky Pop tune things from the adorable Alessi’s Ark. Here’s the link to her Myspace page for pretty little ditties, her song “Woman” is by far my favorite track.

Kitty x

So if I hadn’t of already spent the majority of my Christmas money on a fancy new printer and Nikon D40 (which you’ll get to see me using very soon) I would be buying these lovely things to create the smoldering grunge look. Lots of eyeliner, sparkly black eye shadow and red lipstick are optional extras. I’d also probably layer up with a big, bulky black scarf, a gold necklace or earrings and my gold Casio watch and charm bracelet.

Ok, so I might have been able to buy the Chanel handbag if I’d saved up all my Christmas money from about the last 5 years and I may already have the shoes but thats besides the point. Grunge is back and it’s better than ever before - checkered shirts galore!

Kitty x

Kitty x

And you guessed it, I got a B+! I am really, really pleased with my mark as I put so much effort into it, just shows what can be done. The marks for the project was broken down into groups, and in all the sections I got at least a B and on one I got an A. This has been the greatest news and I hope the other work I have produced does equally as well. Only the piece “Sovereigns of Sound” was marked however the research and context of my blogs was also assessed. Here are the pieces…

An Outsiders Guide To An Alternative London.

The Soundtrack: Sovereigns of Sound

The Followill’s, a Tennesse clan of four most commonly known as “Kings of Leon” have just released their much anticipated fourth album “Only By The Night”. In conjunction with this new offering, the band are also to tour the UK once more, ending in what is surely to be a triumphant sold out, last night in London at the Wembley Arena.

The band played a myriad of festivals this summer, punctuated by a rapturous one off show at London’s Brixton Academy. If the crowd’s response that evening is anything to go by, the price tage of in excess of £100 per ticket on Ebay is a snip for the upcoming Wembley performance.

Originally house painters in their home town, “Kings of Leon” now have fans across the world including the likes of Josh Hartnett. Their genre crossing popularity and global status is quickly making them one of the most important and influential bands to ever exist.

“Sex on Fire” the first single from the album is classic, smouldering “Kings of Leon” audio desire; while other album tracks cover religion, love and ambition. 

Many have cited the new album as a “sell out” while bassist Jared had commented “the sound that we have now is what we’ve always wanted to sound like, it was just that, on those first two records, we weren’t good enough to pull it off”.

Although “Only By The Night” may be a more commercially appealing proposition, the all consuming and atmospheric energy projected by the band both live and on record, should leave any doubters of their success completely persuaded.
 

The Style: British Style Gimmick

The British High Street is a unique playground of design and marketing brilliance. To celebrate, the BBC has just unleashed a five part series of hour long specials dedicated to the home of style, Britain. Each week the programme entitled “British Style Genius” will explain a certain aspect of British style, commenting on historical context and its important in today’s fashion world.

This week “British Style Genius” had highlighted the ever so special relationship between Kate Moss and Topshop that has been a long standing affair. England’s adoration of the Croydon born model is nothing short of obsessive, however not everybody is in such awe of her position. Colin McDowell was rather expressive of his opinion of her during the program, commenting that if he were an up and coming, young British designer he “would be throwing bricks though Topshop windows” in outrage that a model has been given a position that many graduates could only dream of.

Is this the right attitude to have to what is now a seasonal riot of sell-out tea dresses and “must-have” jackets?

As a figural fashion queen of London, Kate Moss’s style is something that should be untouchable and inaccessible. Instead it epitomizes the ever growing theory that even if you don’t look like a supermodel you should at least be able to dress like one. Even if that supermodel, who appeared in Topshop’s Oxford Street store modeling her own designer “inspired” collection is nothing short of unimaginative, plain and tired.

The Day Trip: Warholia Wanes

Andy Warhol is considered one of America’s most influential and well known artists. His home town of Pittsburg has it’s own “Andy Warhol Museum” where many of his infamous works, which are most associated with the Pop Art movement of the 1960’s such as the “Cocoa-Cola”, “Campbell’s Soup Cans” and “Marilyn Monroe” prints reside.

However the artists has now jumped over the pond to the “Hayward Gallery”a long the Southbank in London for a new exhibition “Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms”. The new exhibition boats an impressive display of memorabilia from the artists personal life such as postcards, letters, unseen photographs and the various t-shirt to enable to the visitor to gain a more intimate prospective of Warhol’s character.

Also included with the exhibition is 19 or Warhol’s experimental movies and all 42 episodes of his television program ”Andy Warhol TV” which enabled the artist to decide just who was next in line for their fifteen minutes of fame. While both installations provide and interesting insight into Warhol’s creative home “The Factory” not much else can be gained from these features. The background noise of other visitors and adult content of the movies with a public space make both forms of cinema hard to concentrate upon.

While there are many down sides to this exhibition, for those who do not already know much about the artists, or simply want to gain a more personal view of Warhol, this exhibition will provide both knowledge and insight. Running until 18th January at “The Hayward” on the Southbank, signposted from Waterloo train station.

The Evening Entertainment: It Never Rains but It Pours

The original film adaptation of “Rain Man” was nominated for, and won, a vast number of Oscars, BAFTA’s and Golden Globe Awards. The 1988 release helped project Tom Cruise into an ocean of lime light he clearly enjoys bathing in.

“Rain Man” has now been adapted into a stage production as London’s Apollo Theatre and runs until the end of December this year. Josh Hartnett is making his debut on the theatrical stage, taking the lead role of Charlie Babbitt; a self obsessed money fanatic, while stage veteran Adam Godley will be playing the role of Autism afflicted Raymond.

Both actors are seasoned experts of their respective stages, although this has not deterred critics from rumour-mongering that the play may not be up to scratch.

There is little defense for Hartnett’s previous cinematic blockbusters making many wonder how a silver screen star will react to only three week rehearsal.

Having previously stated that he want to move away from his teen heat throb image, Hartnett is hoping to become a more respected actor. Perhaps he has not heard of Tom Cruise’s circus story since playing the same character twenty years ago?

Or perhaps he has. Standing over 6ft tall with chiselled features, Hartnett cuts a sharp shape on stage. He is imposing and abrupt just as his character should be, taking on a darker role than is previous pretty boy image would suggest. As Charlie Babbitt, Hartnett’s perforamce in captivating and convincing from start to end, he has clearly poured hime into the role, proving any doubters of his talents wrong.

A few more performances such as his role in “Rain Man” and Josh Hartnett will be well on his way to becoming acting royalty. 

The Souvenir Shop: PaperCuts

Cyprus born artist Rob Ryan in no artsy-fartsy bohemian type. He is a hard working husband and father of two who has already created himself a varied and productive career.

Ryan’s work is to cut out pieces of paper and turn them into a story, a sentiment or a statement. His often romance led tales of woe and wonder have a child like feel of innocent passion. His “Paper Cuts” take house or painstaking drawing and scalepelling out, however the finished product is wondrous.

Previously ryan has had his work featured in various issues of “Vogue”, including illustrative pieces for articles and a whole dress decorated in one single piece of paper, cut out to true Ryan signature style. Other collaborations include displays with thine London, Tokyo and Milan stores for “Paul Smith”, the cover for “Erasure’s” 2005 single “Breathe” and Christmas window display for “Liberty’s” also in 2005.

Most recently Ryan has opened his very own shop in the coolest part of London Town. His “Ryan Town” boutique is placed with a stone’s throw to the “Barbican” gallery while “Old Street” tube stations is the nearest means of public transport to the store. It’s 126 Columbia Road address will certainly attract the right customer, however it’s peculiar opening hours set an unfriendly tone. Open only at the weekend from 1pm til 4pm on Saturday afternoons and “all day” on Sunday’s you had best plan your visit to the shop well. However the cute and charismatic treats that lay within will surely tempt you back again and again. 

Kitty x

“The Sneaker Sect”

The “Fashion V Sport” exhibition at the V&A, London, highlights the ever flourishing and evolving relationship between the Fashion and Sports worlds. The exhibition shows a range of examples where these two mammoth industries have collided to create one forward image. However there is one example of this collaboration that strides apart from the rest. The Sneaker.

Named after it’s unique noiseless quality the Sneaker has moved on in leaps and bounds since it’s humble beginning in the 1800s. The first Sneaker shaped shoe was the plimsoll and the first rubber and canvas show manufacturers was “Keds” who formed in 1892. After this in 1908 the “Converse” brand was born which was later to revolutionize Basketball and create an American legend.

As a sports wear essential the Sneaker is designed with practicality in mind for athletes. However it is the look of these shoes and their cultural identity and connotations that encourage people from around the globe to collect them in vast numbers. The connection between star athletes and sportswear is as prominent as the influence fashion has on the design on Sneakers. Many famous sports stars such as Michael Jordan, Muhammed Ali and David Beckham endorse and promote Sneakers by different brands. This is what makes the Sneaker so desirable to collectors.

The Sneaker Sect is a world wide phenomena where individuals will pay vast amounts of money for one pair of shoes. In most cases these shoes are a limited edition release so the Sneakers will probably never be worn. A collectors mentality that is usually associated with high flying fashionistas.

However as a student spending almost three hours wages on a nail varnish is pretty ridiculous. I decided to wait until Christmas and ask my parents if they could get the now almost impossible to find varnish for me. I need not have worried. A girl named “Sayma” from work wore what I thought to be the illusive nail varnish to work on Sunday. After a moment of envious realization I asked her if it was in fact my dream polish. She looked at me like I was mad and said she’d bought it from Barry M a few days before. Today I made a visit to Superdrug after work and found the sacred gold nail varnish within seconds, at a mere £2.75 I bought it in a heartbeat and went straight home to try it out. This is the result:

You really can’t tell the difference between my Barry M varnish and that of Chanel featured above. Im in love with it and will be wearing it for quite a while to come!

Kitty x

Moshi Moshi Moshi

Birthday parties are traditionally an energetic and joyful affair. This tradition was followed to the “t” this weekend at “Matter” at the 02 Arena in London, as the independent record label “Moshi Moshi” celebrated its tenth birthday.

Artists from the labels inventory of character filled and diverse acts such as “Hot Chip”, “Slow Club” and “Kate Nash” performed across the evening. “Moshi Moshi” DJ’s punctuated each set with yet more hits from the now veteran home of individualism.

It was “Florence & the Machine” who really got the party started with their mid evening set. Twirling around the stage in an outfit reminiscent of a Circus ring master, bare-footed and face covered in golden glitter, Florence Welch captivated her already bewitched audience. An innocent child-like charm extrudes from the twenty one year old singer between songs, however this is quickly diminished by a sexier, care free performer the minute she opens her mouth. A quick fist in the air and a kiss to the back of her hand and Florence introduces her massive, yet slightly controversial hit “Kiss with a Fist”. Not a song about domestic violence but a physical example of two people pushing each other to psychological extremes because they love one another.

Quite possibly the most important act on the “Moshi Moshi” list of artists, “Florence & the Machine” are whimsical and charming yet growling with passion and drive. An up and coming act that are set to produce some important offerings.

With musical talent such as this on their label “Moshi Moshi” records had reason to celebrate, Happy Birthday and heres to another ten years for the indie label.

Kitty x

The new home for my blog can be found here.

Kitty x