The Holidays are Coming....

So it's that time of year when the iconic Coca-Cola advert appears on our TV screens, showing the little boy turning on the Christmas lights and racing back to witness the Coca-Cola lorry passing through the local village.

As I sat on the couch, sipping on an ice cold Diet Coke, I noticed that I was not drinking from a Christmas can, but from one designed by Jean Paul Gautiere, which led me to question whether Coca-Cola has had any previous collaborations with other designers.


After a bit of research, it turns out that since 2003, the Coca-Cola franchise has worked with numerous fashion designers to create special edition cans and bottles.

The 2009 Collection

In 2009, Coca-Cola teamed up with eight of Italy's greatest female designers to produce couture bottles of 'Coca-Cola Light', in order to raise awareness and funds for the Earthquake that hit Abruzzo, Italy. The earthquake affected many people in the area and resulted in 50,000 of them losing their homes.
The bottles were sold at an auction during the "Tribute to Fashion" show in Milan. They were designed by Donatella Versace, Alberta Ferretti, Anna Molinari for Blumarine, Veronica Etro, Silvia Venturini for Fendi, Consuelo Castiglioni for Marni, Angela Missoni and Rosella Jardini for Moschino.

The Coca-Cola company has since worked with many other world renowned designers including Karl Lagerfeld, Gianfranco Ferre, Sung Ji-Hyun, Roberto Cavalli, Swarvoski and make-up company Benefit, with their most recent joint venture being with Jean Paul Gautiere.

In 2010, Karl Lagerfeld bestowed "his designing talents ... turning his leather fingerless glove-clad hands to designing a second collection of limited edition Diet Coke bottles."

The bottles were designed with stars, dots and stripes in pink, white and silver with each bottle containing a silhouette of the famous designer with his unmistakable pony-tail.

 The 2009 Couture Project turned out to be a great success, which has resulted in Coca-Cola asking the eight designers to return and produce another set of bottles in 2012 for the "Tribute to Fashion" show. The couture bottles are set to raise as much, if not more, for the Abruzzo earthquake appeal.

The 2012 Collection

Looking at all these different collections, and thinking I was brand loyal, I've come to realise that maybe I don't know as much about my favorite soft drink as I thought I did...

From what I can see, Coca-Cola have worked with many different fashion designers, to the point that every time I look on Google images, I see an image of a new collaboration that I had previously not known about. 

So I guess only time will tell as to who will embark on the next adventure with Coca-Cola, but right now I'm going to crack open another can and sit and watch 'Made In Chelsea'.

Regan x

Rock n' Rollin' the Money Away...

As some of you will know, I love my music.

I love music so much that I almost shed a tear if I forget my headphones, but sadly this love of music is not cheap. Each year I spend hundreds of pounds on CD's, merchandise and concert tickets.

Whenever I go to a concert, I feel the need to buy a tour T-shirt. Some of them are completely hideous, and some of them are actually half decent. My problem is I don't like to wear them... 

I seem to have some obsession with hoarding these gig shirts in my bottom drawer. It is only recently that I've been forcing myself to wear them, and due to my tom-boy antics as a child, I would always buy XL Men's shirts, which, safe to say, are not flattering. 

This obsession with music in general is with great thanks to my wonderful parents, whose amazing taste in music has really influenced what I listen to nowadays. With my Dad having supported some large acts in Scotland, the T-shirt phenomenon started from a young age. If he ever played with a band that had their own merchandise, I would be strutting my stuff in their T-shirt the next day, thinking I was an amazingly cool kid, although now I  realise that many of my friends would not have known who those bands were (and still won't). 

My list of band T-shirts include: The Killers, Foo Fighters (x4), Red Hot Chili Peppers (x2), Mumford and Sons (x2), The Wombats, Twin Atlantic, Ed Sheeran, Arcade Fire (x2), Stereophonics, T in the Park (x3) and lots more. 

My first question is 'why do these gig tees actually cost so much?!' I wouldn't spend £20 -£25 on a normal T-shirt with a bit of print on it, so why have I spent approximately £400 on them?!

Thinking of my own question, I came up with three possible solutions:

1. I could wait and buy it online once they've been reduced, meaning that I couldn't say I had bought it at the gig.
2. I could buy a basic T-shirt from H&M and a Sharpie and create my own.
3. I could just save up and quit complaining.

Seeing this total should really make me think twice about buying more, but sadly I know that won't happen. The desire for an unflattering T-shirt that will never be worn is just too strong...

So on that note, I'll choose option 3 and better start saving for next year...

Regan x

A Onesie? Or Just an Adult Babygrow?

The first casualty of colder weather is fashion, but does that make it alright to wear the adult baby-grow? 

Alexandra Shulman, Editor of British Vogue.

Amy Childs, Star of The Only Way Is Essex.

After recently listening to 'Women's Hour' on BBCR4, I started to question myself as to whether onesies were indeed fashionable, or whether they were something to be worn indoors on a chilly winters evening.   Amy Childs, star of 'The Only Way Is Essex', and British Vogue Editor, Alexandra Shulman, were interviewed and, as you can imagine, they both had very different opinions on the outfit.

One Direction.

Since October 2012, sales of onesies have increased by 155%  in the high-street store Debenhams. 

Some women have been spotted wearing them with their hair curlers in on recent shopping trips. Meanwhile, men have been caught sporting the outfit on long haul flights and suffering in them during hungover lectures. (ahem!)

Whether this is due to their comfort or their fashion status is unknown, but with celebrities such as Cheryl Cole, One Direction and  Tom Daley being papped in the lounge-wear, is it really the new 'must-have' wardrobe item?

Amy Childs explained that the onesie is "bang on trend" and "SO in fashion." But which brand of onesie is she talking about? Primark's £15 version? One-Piece's £149 version? or maybe she's saying it to promote her own design, the 'Amy Onesie'.

Alexandra Shulman argued that onesies had been in fashion before, but not necessarily under their current title. She explained that the'onesie' had previously been called a 'jumpsuit', a 'boiler-suit', as well as a 'play-suit'. She went on to say that she thought that onesies were made to be worn inside, but that "it’s a free country and if you want to have your style reference being Tellytubbies it's over to you." She then stated that a onesie would never feature on the front cover of Vogue. 

I will admit that I do own a Primark onesie, but I would never wear it out of my bedroom. I use it as my overall for when I'm getting ready for a night out but that's it, and I doubt that I would ever invest in another onesie as I don't see them as fashionable. Being 6ft1, I don't fancy looking like I've been stuffed into an outfit made for someone half my height. Although in saying that, the new onesie that is featured on the Long Tall Sally website  is quite tempting... 

Regan x

Country Side Alliance

In the next few months the Stage 2 magazine will be released, so as part of our coursework this semester we had to design and carry-out a fashion shoot.

I was in a group with Jenny Livingstone, Martin Masson and Morven MacSween and I couldn't have asked for a better team to work with! We all had similar ideas for the shoot, as well as like-minded thoughts towards the models style. 

The shoot was a brilliant success, and a big thanks must go out to our photographer and model for bracing the Scottish weather. I would also like to say a HUGE thank-you to Scottesque for supplying some of the signature pieces for our shoot, as well as 'Humbugs' Sweet Shop in Rosemount for allowing us to use their store as one of our locations. 

I should also thank Morven's lovely mum who fed us with sandwiches and home-made cakes before our shoot in the brisk outdoors. 

So without further ado, here are a few sneeky peeks of the shoot...

Enjoy!! 

Regan x

If You Go Down To The Woods Today...

...You're Sure For a Big Surprise: The Designer Bears of Children In Need

So last night I arrived home to find Children In Need on the Television. Within two minutes of being home, the tears were streaming down my face as I watched numerous children tell their shocking stories.

On a cheerier note, the BBC Children In Need campaign have, so far, raised £27m for the cause, with the fashion world getting highly involved. 34 'Pudsey Bears' were created by world renowned designers and have been put up for auction to raise funds for the charity.

The star-studded 2012 line-up included: Burberry, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Loewe, Sibling, Mulberry, Giles Deacon made with Swarovski Elements, Katie Hillier, Henry Holland, Louis Vuitton, Jonathan Saunders, Selfridges, Alexander McQueen, Smythson, Victoria Beckham, Prada, Donatella Versace, Missoni, Pucci, Gucci, Norton and Sons, Diane Von Furstenberg, Fendi, Balenciaga, Anya Hindmarch, Vogue, GQ, Kate Spade New York and Tom Ford.

Giles Deacon's collaboration with Swarvoski created a Pudsey Bear that contained £20,000 worth of crystals, and sold for £24,000.  Meanwhile Louis Vuitton's 28" leather bear, designed by Marc Jacobs, sold for £20,000.

The designer Pudsey Bear collection has raised over £150,000 so far, but there are still a few bears that are available for auction. So if you have a spare £2,000+ to spend, use the following link: http://www.designerpudsey.co.uk/

If you can't afford that much, then you can have a wee look at the BBC Children In Need Shop: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/bbc-children-in-need/_i.html?_fsub=2809422016

Regan x

Jack Wills: Still Reaching Their Target Audience?

I used to be an avid Jack Wills shopper, and going to high-school in St. Andrews didn't help with the obsession. Jack Wills had opened their new store in the perfect location. Mingling with St. Andrews University students, the 'wannabe' school pupils also opted into the brand. 

 I guess the clue for their target audience is in the name, 'University Outfitters', but I personally feel that Jack Wills are losing their original consumers.Their stores are mainly located in university cities, but is the love of Jack Wills beginning to fade for students? 

Firstly, the 'Fabulously British' store is not cheap  to buy from, and as most of us know, students don't exactly have a lot of money to splurge on designer/brand products. 

Any students that I know personally would feel that buying an item of clothing from Jack Wills would be  an investment, and they would much rather save their money for a crazy night on the town...well maybe that's just my friends! 

Looking at other online forums, Jack Wills are widely associated with the stereotypical 'preppy, private school kids', much like their American counter-parts 'Abercrombie and Fitch'.  These companies aim to sell their products to people who wants to achieve the perfected look that Jack Wills models portray e.g. flawless complexion, skinny build, perfect hair. It is this group of aspiring people that they sell their products to.

 Yesterday, I saw a Facebook image of four girls, age 13, posing head-to-toe in the brand, holding their staple JW carrier bags. Working weekends in St. Andrews, I see many under-16's strutting their stuff  in Jack Wills apparel.

This is one of the main reasons I stopped buying into the brand. Watching kids wearing the clothes that are supposed to be designed for people my age is off-putting, especially when their petite sizes fit kids that have not yet reached puberty. 

Another reason I believe that Jack Wills are not reaching their target audience is from a recent trip to a bar in Aberdeen. I watched a guy cross the bar in an over-sized JW hoodie, but as he turned around, I noticed he had a full sleeve tattoo and tunnels in his ears. Now I know for certain that isn't the type of customer Jack Wills intended to attract. 

Looking at Jack Wills most recent store catalogue, they are really emphasising the whole aspect of university, by putting together 'looks' that are associated with the university lifestyle, these include; "Campus Casuals", "The Coffee Run" and "Friday Formal". 

I've also noticed they have started to offer 15% discount to university students providing an NUS card. 

They have also decided to hit the American market by opening stores and sponsoring the Yale vs Harvard sporting events. 

Best of British luck! 

Regan x

Mind The Gap...

Georgia Jagger

With Georgia Jagger increasing her popularity in the modelling world and  having worked for large companies such as Rimmel, Versace and Hudson, her 'sexy pout' has also made an impact on the fashion industry.

Models are now paying to get the desired look that Georgia Jagger and Lara Stone sponser and  are willing to pay up to $2,500 for the imperfect veneers.                                                                                                                                                                                          

Dental Surgery

In 2010, the hit TV show, "America's Next Top Model", was scrutinised for suggesting that one competitor should get dental surgery so she could achieve the gap-toothed look. The model hopeful, Chelsea, had a quarter-of a millimeter shaved off each of her front teeth, removing the natural protective enamel and leaving them susceptible to decay and sensitivity issues.

It is believed that the Americans have managed to perfect beauty to such a great standard, that looking 'perfect' has become a thing of the past and that the focus is now on 'unusual beauty'.

Heather Muir, beauty news editor for 'Allure Magazine' in New York, said that , "I think for so long the look was cookie-cutter beauty, and it doesn't stand out. We're shifting to a more quirky beauty, and I think that includes women who have very fair skin, many freckles, or frizzy, big hair."

Now I don't know if it's just me, but I personally feel that paying $2,500 for getting a bracket in your teeth is ridiculous, and that there's a reason why these models are classed as unique. If everyone suddenly decided to get the dental procedure, there would be no originality in the look. Instead everyone would be walking about with a 'gappy' smile and decayed teeth.

Regan x

Love Me Do.

 On the 5th October 1962, The Beatles released their first UK single, 'Love Me Do'.
 It reached No.17 in the UK charts and was re-released in 1964, gaining the No.1 spot in the USA.

Exactly 50 years later, I spent the night curled up on the couch with my family, watching documentaries about how they conquered the music industry. This led me to thinking about just how much they influenced during their reign.

In the late 1950's, the charts were dominated by US 'Rock n' Roll' artist, Elvis, who wore jewelled jumpsuits and many outfits involving leather. With The Beatles producing a new genre of music and becoming world famous, it wasn't just their songs that affected music history, but their choice of clothing also changed the history of fashion. The Beatles were 'suited and booted' and their classy British styles heavily influenced fashion of the 1960's, with boys wanting to look like them and screaming girls wanting to marry them.



Some Of The Items Available To Buy Including; Wigs, Boots, Magazines.



Looking through images of The Beatles at the beginning of their career, their attire is based on the 'Mod' look. They would wear tailor-made suits and would match them with a pair of Chelsea Boots, or more famously known as 'Beatle Boots'. The look was completed with straight-combed hairstyles. The hair cut became so famous, that a wig was produced to allow fans to look even more like John, Paul, George and Ringo.

The fab four continued with the 'Mod' look, but swapped their fully tailored suits for a suit designed similar to that of Pierre Cardin's collarless suit. The grey-wool mix with Mohair became so popular that fans were having copies specially made, and ready-made suits were available to buy through adverts in music publications. Fans were now able to buy into the iconic fashion friendzy.

By the latter part of the decade, The Beatles had ditched the 'Mod' look and replaced it for colourful, psychedelic clothes and overgrown beards. This was the new fashion trend for the 'Summer Of Love', thanks to possibly one of the most famous album covers in history, "Sgt. Pepper".

Regan x

Check this out if you have time! http://www.abbeyroad.com/crossing

Marks and Spencers: Will They Ever Break Into The Student Market?

"Limited Collection" by Marks and Spencers.

With Marks and Spencers being stereo-typed as a 'grannies' shop, will they ever break into the student market?

Marks and Spencers have been on the high-street since 1928, and have always been the first to experiment with new fabric technologies, such as Tricell, Courtelle and Lycra. So why can't they keep up with fashion trends as quickly as other high-street stores?

 "Who would buy clothing from Marks and Spencers?"
 Only two of the seventeen students in my class would willingly admit to buying anything other than underwear and hosiery from the store. The reasons being that Marks and Spencers were stereo-typically known for providing clothes for older generations, and that they weren't designing clothes with the latest fashion trends in-mind.
Being one of those two people that would happily shop in Marks and Spencers, I argued my point that they were now producing clothes that were good value for money, and more fashionable for students.

An example of Marks and Spencers more fashionable range can be found in their shoe department. On a recent trip down the high-street, I noticed two pairs of 'Court Shoes' that were very alike. 'Office' were selling a pair of 'Ted Baker Court Shoes' for £100 whilst Marks and Spencers' 'Limited Collection' were selling a similar pair for £19.50. 

The 'Limited Collection' is Marks and Spencers most recent attempt at getting students through their doors. The collection offers clothes similar to that available in Topshop.

Looking at Marks and Spencers AW Season promotional video, their 'Preppy Chic' look includes studs and stripes that can also be found in fast-fashion stores 'Zara' and 'River Island'.

I'll admit... it is off-putting watching someone in their seventies pick up a dress that you were considering trying on... but lets be honest, when are you going to bump into them in a nightclub? and are they really going to wear it in the same way you will?

Regan x

In The Beginning...

Hey everyone,

So today is the day that i've decided to start properly blogging without any of this tumblr rubbish.

Being 5ft9 at the age of 15, I quickly gave up any plans about being a fashionista. This resulted in me becoming a tom-boy, with make-up as  a no go area and a sound understanding of the offside rule in football.

At the age of 16 (and 6ft1),  I became aware of websites like http://www.longtallsally.com/ and http://www.tallgirls.co.uk/ which allowed me to buy shoes and clothing that were feminine and specially designed for tall women.It was then that I realised a career in fashion would be possible.

I was originally going to study Sports Biomedicine at Dundee University but after a gap year, my plans changed, and it was then that I moved to Aberdeen to study (BA) Fashion Management at Robert Gordon University. I have just enrolled into my 2nd year and loving every moment of it!

With blogging becoming a huge influence in fashion trends, I've decided to make an attempt of it myself, and will look at what the magazines are classing as trends and compare them to what is actually happening on the streets and in blogs.

Regan x