Tag Archives: Catwalk

Luna Sky S/S13

Posted on by

Sunday night in the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair the catwalk was strewn with petals for the showing of Luna Skys S/S13 collection. Luna Sky is a London based designer who creates red carpet pieces for the “modern elegant women”

Never having heard of the designer before, I was interested to see what we would be treated to. In the description of the collections that awaited us on our seats, Swarovski crystals and sequins were mentioned and, having never been a fan of either I have to admit I was a little skeptical. However as the lights went down and the first model walked slowly down the catwalk i have to say I was impressed

Each dress was elegant, well made and feminine. From hem lines that scraped the knee, to full blow trains embroidered with petals and crystals each dress was red carpet worthy and reminiscent of American prom style dresses.

The models one at a time dream like floating down the catwalk their hair swept back, make up minimal and elegant. The colour pallet ranged fromsSoft blues to greens and yellows.

Finishing touches completed the look, for example matching floral pom pom shoes  added a  cute twist, and strings of crystals and delicate material flowers wrapped themselves around the models wrists.

A particular favourite was a one shoulder number in light blue which came down the the thigh, over the top of the skirt was a see through train which sashayed down the catwalk creating a young yet sophisticated look.

It was refreshing to see a catwalk show done slowly one model at the time and it felt as if the audience had been taken back to a private viewing in the 1950’s.

Afterward having a post show drink with a friend in a bar I ran into one of the models Chloe Woollcott who had come down from the Scottish Island of Rothesay to model for Luna Sky. She herself enjoyed modeling the collection and found them well fitting, (despite some of the dresses and heels being a little hard to walk down a catwalk in) . She stood out , looking lovely in the crowded bar with her 50’s vibe  hair and make up still in place from the show.

Luna Sky’s collection is defiantly a must for any young woman who wants to look and feel like a princess!

 

http://www.lunaskymoda.co.uk/

 

Photo: Alexander Cook

LONDON PROMOTES: New Rights For Models

Posted on by

Victoria Keon-Cohen has spent the last ten years working as a fashion model and knows both the highs and lows of the job. “I hated modelling for a long time because of the isolation. I was constantly gritting my teeth to get through the day. The industry is a far cry from what it was in the 1980s; there is now an oversupply of labour, and models are seen as disposable.”

Victoria describes the difficulties of the profession: “I was working in Milan and felt like I was a dog in the gutter half the time. I spent four hours every night in the gym just from loneliness. I had never been so unhappy in my life. The final pushing point came when I had a serious conflict with my agency, so I left.” After quitting the profession she moved back to London to study. Whilst there she met with Dunja Knezevic, a fellow model and friend, and they talked about their dissatisfaction at the industry.

“We exchanged stories of frustration. We’d both had great experiences as well but the inconsistencies were intolerable. One day a girl was dancing in the park for money to get a motel because her agency refuses to advance [money for] their own flat, the next day she’s in a luxurious villa in Spain” said Victoria.

Their conversation led them to consult Equity, the union for performers in the entertainment industry, and ask them to allow models to join. Towards the end of 2007 they succeeded in their request and the Equity Models Committee was formed.

One of the Committee’s biggest successes occurred last year when Equity, working alongside the British Fashion Council (BFC) as part of the Model Programme, introduced the first ever catwalk contract for London Fashion Week, setting out minimum rates of pay, private changing areas, breaks and refreshments. It also included a clause stating that nudity or semi-nudity must be agreed in advance, helping younger and more vulnerable models avoid being pressured into agreeing work that makes them uncomfortable.

This year Victoria, Dunja and the rest of the committee are focusing on a campaign called London Promotes in association with the BFC and the Model Programme. The campaign will include a viral video due to be shown on fashion blogs, social networking sites and both the BFC and Equity websites. The name highlights the important aspects of the campaign:

Privacy: care and backstage code of conduct.

Rates: ensures payment at least equal to the Model Programme recommended minimums.

Opportunities: for models to obtain prestigious British and international campaigns.

Model Programme: an alliance of the AMA, BFC and the Greater London Authority (GLA) working together for models’ welfare.

Of Age: Only models over 16 walking on the London Fashion Week catwalks.

Terms: conditions of employment covered by the Model Programme’s minimum terms.

Equity: joining the Union for models offers the right to Union protection.

Sanctuary: The Models Sanctuary provides a safe haven for models working during London Fashion Week.

One of the key benefits of union representation for models is legal support in case of any dispute with an agency or client, as well as facial insurance in case of accident. Dunja gives this advice to models starting out in the industry: “Join the union before you have an issue at work because Equity cannot help with any problems you may have had before becoming a member.”

She goes to give a realistic view of the job: “It’s nothing like what you would expect so treat it as the serious business that it is. Forget the glamour and exorbitant cheques. But expect an incredible experience of travel and making connections that you never would have made otherwise.”

This latest campaign looks set to change the fashion industry for the better once again at London Fashion Week. As Victoria explains, “London Promotes is looking to the future for an industry built on respect and support, with opportunities and a strong network of collaboration between Equity, the Models Programme and the Mayor’s office [GLA]. It’s a massive turning point for an industry where no one is just out for themselves anymore; it acknowledges that we have to work together for a stronger workplace for us all.”

Alexa Brown is an actress and model and a member of the Equity Model’s Committee. www.alexabrown.co.uk

This article was previously published in the September issue of Style Capital magazine.

Little Mistress: Beautiful Clothes – Reasonable Price

Posted on by

This month, I attended an event held by uber-cool clothing brand Little Mistress.

I looked at their clothes online beforehand and not only were they gorgeous, they don’t break the bank. So, I took myself off to 68 Great Portland Street, W1 and had some champagne while rummaging through the rails and checking out their jewellery. I walked away with a cool arm cuff and will be back to buy more.

Each season, Little Mistress adapts the latest catwalk trends and in-season colours to create covetable collections that are feminine, chic, pretty, affordable and wearable. With a rapidly growing reputation as a ‘must have’ label, it is difficult not to fall in love with the adorable, fun-loving Little Mistress brand. The styles have a strong, brand signature, with pieces for all social occasions and looks that can be worn day and night.

This season’s trends include bold colour and colour blocking, as well as romantic pieces with embroidery, lace, beadwork and a nod to vintage prints. The silhouettes feature structured shapes, body-con dresses as well as romantic feminine styles in a colour palette of neutral shades and jewel colours like jade, teal, red and purple.
The Little Mistress girl loves to dress up according to her mood and she likes to experiment with new styles – she will love the bold, printed maxi dresses, flattering playsuits and chiffon shirts for day and then chose a sexier, body-con dress for a night out partying.


All Little Mistress pieces are designed in-house, flatter the feminine figure and seduce the buyer with their exquisite embellished detailing, lush layered textures and unique prints.

Little Mistress has a growing customer fan base and is quickly becoming a favourite with celebrities, who are all eager to be seen in the latest Little Mistress looks.

Wholesale price range – £12.00 – £18.00

Frost Editor, Catherine Balavage, at the Little Mistress event. Far Right

Lanvin and H&M present a High Street Haute Couture Show in NY {Fashion}

Posted on by

The 18th Nov, Sofia Coppola, Andie MacDowell, Emma Roberts, Leelee Sobieski, Anna Sui, Tory Burch and Alexander Wang, among other guests, came out to celebrate the collaboration of the Lanvin for H&M collection and to enjoy show stopping designs by famed Lanvin artistic director, Alber Elbaz, at The Pierre hotel. The haute couture creations, which were customized pieces from the Lanvin for H&M collection, made their way down the catwalk with the help of famed models Asia Chow, Pixie Geldof, Dree Hemingway, Olga and Anna Dello Russo. Guests arrived on the red carpet, which was the landmarked Pierre Hotel façade recreated with NYC styled graffiti, and then they entered the hotel which was swathed with flowers, trees and greenery. It was a runway show that guests will not soon forget.

The long awaited Lanvin for H&M collection will be sold in around 200 stores worldwide. It will be launched November 20 in US and Canada, and on November 23 in the rest of the world. “It’s such a fantastic experience to see how creatively Alber Elbaz uses his designs to form a couture experience for our exclusive fashion show in New York. Working with this incredibly gifted designer has been like an ongoing fashion moment, and we’re thrilled to offer his masterpieces to our customers.” Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M. Alber Elbaz, artistic director at Lanvin, has created the women’s collection with an extraordinary ambition for H&M, bringing the codes of the house to make every single piece identifiably the work of Lanvin. For women there are dresses of breathtaking cut and joyful colour, as well as pieces full of Parisian glamour and accessories with playful “joie de vivre”.

The menswear collection designed by Lucas Ossendrijver, menswear designer at Lanvin, encapsulates the label’s complete vision of how men should dress. It’s a whole new wardrobe of covetable updated classics, with tuxedos made for daywear and jogging pants adding a whole new sporting twist. Sofia Coppola said of the collection, “I think Alber

Elbaz is great, I love what he does at Lanvin, it’s so girly and playful and confident. It’s so cool he’s working with H&M, it

makes it so accessible to all kinds of young people to be able to afford it and wear it”. And Andie MacDowell said, “I think it’s genius. I’m a big fan of Lanvin. I can afford Lanvin and my daughter can afford H&M, and now my daughter’s going to have the opportunity to have a little bit more pizzazz.” Looks from the haute couture show along with five original signed sketches from Alber Elbaz went up for auction on www.lanvinforhm.com. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to UNICEF, as part of H&M’s “All for Children” project. The online auction will end on November 26th at midnight CET.

How Equity Is Helping Models At Work {Careers}

Posted on by

Equity has opened its doors to Models and a new catwalk contract has been introduced in time for London Fashion Week (starting later this week on the 17th)

.

It seems impossible that in 2010 in the UK there could be areas of work uncovered by contracts, established breaks or health and safety procedures. It seems more unlikely still that it happens in one of the most glamorous, expensive and envied industries: fashion. Although the fashion industry is subject to the same standards and employment laws as any other area of business it has long operated as if under separate rules, working to its own high artistic standards but with little thought for issues such as the minimum wage or employee’s rights. In the fight to get to the top, standards of employment law fall by the wayside.

“there is an expectation of working for long hours to earn little money, putting up with nudity being demanded in photo-shoots, sexual harassment from photographers. In the early part of a model’s career, often in their teens, this work will be for free.”

Slowly and surely this is beginning to change. At the end of 2007 Equity, the Union for performers in the entertainment industry, agreed, at the request of two pioneering models, Victoria Keon-Cohen and Dunja Knezevic, that models working in the fashion industry should be eligible to join the Union. In 2008 Equity formed a Models Committee to take forward the concerns of the founding members: the lack of protection models have at work, and the lack of recourse when anything should go wrong. In such a competitive profession there is an expectation of working for long hours to earn little money, putting up with nudity being demanded in photo-shoots, sexual harassment from photographers and few, if any, breaks or refreshments. In the early part of a model’s career, often in their teens, this work will be for free as they build up their portfolio.

.

The Equity Models Committee now consists of 7 models and Hilary Hadley, the Union Officer. Their current campaign is focused on addressing the lack of professional credits for models work in editorial shoots and websites. The Committee has also been involved in the work to establish the first ever catwalk contract, which will be in use for this coming London Fashion Week (17th to the 21st September). Created through Equity with the British Fashion Council, and other members of the Model Programme, a body set up to ensure the well-being of models during London Fashion week, the contract sets out the minimum terms and conditions a model should expect when employed to walk at a catwalk show.

.

This new contract sets out minimum rates of pay including holiday pay, fitting fees, breaks, refreshments, health and safety requirements, changing areas that provide privacy (models are usually expected to change in full view of the catwalk show’s staff) and agreements on nudity/semi-nudity that must be made before the model is booked to work. As well as providing what should legally be there, the new contract also provides models with respect, acknowledging their work as a profession rather than expecting individual, often very young girls, to accept whatever working conditions are offered.

.

This new contract marks the beginning of the end for a self-regulated industry. In an environment where models are the lowest in the pecking order and are expected to work without complaint in the hope of becoming one of the lucky ones and making good money, the new Equity Committee provides support, legal assistance and new regulations to make what should be an enjoyable and profitable career safer and more in line with modern employment practices.

.

For more information on Equity and if you are a model seeking union representation, please click here.
by Alexa Brown

Alexa Brown is an actress and model, and a member of the Equity Models Committee.