"Repeat after me; I am free"

And then I didn't have any more exams.
Cue pictures of happiness, good fashion, festival going, vitamin D, glowing skin and potential.

BFW VIP Launch

And we are off. Yesterdays event kick started the first ever Brighton Fashion Week and it certainly didn't disappoint! The VIP launch gave guests a taster of what is to come over the week. This exclusive event was VIP invite only and included a high profile audience, so all the designers participating in Brighton Fashion Week were invited to this event, and then there was me, Amy Yates: English trendster with Sex and the City appeal and eyebrows to remember and who is a big fat loner.

I totally worked it.

Vodka Red-Bull down and the camera was out...

This is what I wore. Its not a couture gown but it did just fine, however many of the guests did sport featured designs, and Spindles very own Heather Falconer wore an oops design, which was completely cool and looked wicked on her!
The mini catwalk gave a sneak preview of the Trashion, Couture and Ready-To-Wear collections which will be showcased this week.

Look at this dress made out of Spindle zines! (Courtesy of Jez Eaton)
Effortlessly modelled by Jocasta Kemp-Cruikshank who I went to school with.

Here are some of the couture designs that I managed to poorly snap.

I wasn't close enough...sorry.

But, I am going to stop right there, because it will ruin it and now I need to get ready for the Trashion show which is happening tonight!
BFW virgin
I am completely new to Brighton Frocks and last nights event definitely had me all excited, goody bags, hanging with 'Culture Vultures' and getting papped is just the beginning of my introduction into this amazingly individual style centre and its community.
What stood out to me was the
timeless theme this week will summon. Brighton Fashion Week focuses upon season-less collections rather than the conventional forthcoming seasons. Well I don't know about London, but Brighton was always going to be different...

Thank you to The Spindle team for helping me to pop my BFW cherry. x

this yellow in my case is not so mellow

Definitely not hit the lazy stage where summer means not thinking...meh.

Been SO busy! Can not remember the last time I stopped...?
Well no news is good news and I certainly have a ridiculous amount to tell you!
Here is a quick update before I finish my exams (24th June!) and give you guys the posts you deserve:

• The meeting with Heather Falconer (Editor-in-Chief) of Spindle Magazine was very successful and I have a summer internship with the zine! Helping to launch Issue 2, with its focus on 'Men and Art', yum! 
• I did some distribution work for them last week, so don't forget to pick up your FREE copy asap, I filled up Dirty Harry's, Beyond Retro, Komedia, Boy Parker, Get Cutie, Resident Records, Temptations Cafe and Cafe Delice in the North Lanes to name a few, so there is no excuse! (message me if you would like a copy)
• I only went and won Graduate Fashion Week tickets so headed to the Rochester show at Earls Court 2 on Monday, (will post pics soon) was as insane as you would imagine and even caught a sneaky peek at Zandra Rhodes who had a front row seat! Can't believe I am headed there in September!
•  As many of you know, Brighton Fashion Week launches at the Hilton Metropole tonight, and I am going to pick up my Press Pass later...YES PRESS PASS! I am the featured Spindle Blogger this week, covering all the weeks events, with access all areas, so keep checking Style A-Y for your essential updates!

Standard.

And a parting note:
STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER STEVIE WONDER.

Labels or Love

I finished 'The Devil Wears Prada'. Last week actually, but I never got round to posting because I feel freekin guilty when not doing anything work/revision/college related. Yes I'm sure there are some underlying issues but lets move on shall we.
So the ending made me feel all fluffy inside as Andy was buzzed through the doors of her success like she was someone who mattered. Although it did not help to answer the questions I begged, I can only hope that I have a similar smile on my face when I make it to my point in life.

This is what I want my tower to look like; not to high, full of people  that inspire me, people I want to know about and pretty sweet smelling at the top.
We will see eh.

So I'm guessing you guys have read my Spindle post from a couple days ago...? Well guess who is meeting with the Editor-in-Chief of Spindle magazine to discuss an internship with them?? "its about this girl who wants to be immersed in the world of fashion, she wants to get into fashion week and open it up to all the girls that love fashion like this girl because we are the lifeblood of this industry ya know"
Well...we are one step closer. Watch this space...

Labels or Love?

I'm not looking for either.

And today a slightly different parting note:
Musiqueeee! I'm listening to:

1. Anything from the Black Eyed Peas album 'Elephunk'
2. Make Me Wanna Die by The Pretty Reckless
3. Valentino by Diane Birch

Spindle

So not only did I witness my first ever backstage Brighton fashion event, rock egg yolk yellow and grass green polish in one week (don't panic, not at the same time...) but I was lucky enough to attend my first ever magazine launch! I didn't think it was possible that I could want to do what I want to do any more than I already did...turns out that isn't true. At this moment in time, I feel that everything has just reached new levels of cool.

Wikipedia Definition Spindle: Originally, a spindle was a device to spin fibres into thread. The term has many senses that relate ultimately back to the idea of a cylindrical object and what tasks may be done with it (usually involving rotation).

I think the concept really works, this zine is all about unravelling creativity. Here are just a few of the spreads in Issue 1 May 2010 that stood out to me, I struggled to narrow it down, but here are the 8 out of 92 possibilities:

On the night, the editor hailed the recently passed legends Malcolm Maclaren and Alexander McQueen as huge inspiration, Spindle magazine constantly references and celebrates British culture, I liked this article because it asked this question; "Is it possible for someone to proudly wear the Union Jack without either being a racist or, as in Ms Halliwell's case, a vacuous, cynical attention-seeking cunt?" 

Oops fashion showcased on the night.

 Its aim is to promote emerging talent across the fields of fashion, music, art and design. Obviously Brighton is the perfect place to launch such an activity as there is so much genius here. There is nothing 'straight' about Brighton and like Spindle magazine, it is a circle, or perhaps a spinning wheel, in that it can see everything that has ever been, and everything that will ever happen, this magazine requires the reader to go beyond the 'spin' that we tend to stick to, and reach for the most inspiring vision we can come up with and start making it real, however big or small. And why should anything prevent this. You can share Spindle and like most things it is subjective and open to interpretation, I get the vibe that there is no room for negativity here. This can only be a good thing, and when you are on to a good thing...

 Anyway! enough with the sincere stuff, because that definitely doesn't reflect the crazy launch the Spindle team put on! It wasn't Moulin mad but, the combination of crafts, neon, cute, distorted, androgyny, glitter, facial hair and 7 inch strutting made for very interesting viewing:

so this is a keyhole peep into the nights shenanigans photography courtesy of my diamanté embellished cam. Ha! You gotta love it.

Insane or what.

Boop Oop A Doop

 

press shot for Spindle Magazine

And the last word from Chani Ra Layzell wearing Oops Fashion:
This girl interested me on the night. Turns out she is a little bit cool.

"One day you'll see my name all over everywhere, are you excited?"
And despite her overly insulting self assured self, do you know what? I agree with her.
HAHA I just quoted a fucking 17 year old yet to be.
You heard it here first...

A Parting Note: I want to send muchos besos to my LivLew, I have her to thank for the Spindle invite. She modelled on the night and was completely brilliant!

Also I want to hear your thoughts on the Charlotte Haggerty collection I featured; comment below please! xoxo

p.s I got Papped! Brighton's local Paparazzi.

Amy Queen of Shops

So, I went shopping!

Two weeks ago now! Sorry it has taken so long, but it is very time-consuming to artfully place and capture my purchases (too many of them eek!) especially when you are in the life threatening business that is exams! So this is my poor attempt at showcasing my wares.

 

Fashion is fun because for me it's not necessarily about looking 'good' or 'chic', don't get me wrong that's definitely a bonus - but fashion is wearable art, which is way more fun than paintings in a gallery or sculptures in a museum that you aren't allowed to touch...
In any case a shopping excursion is a shopping excursion; typically the activity of visiting shops and stores to look at and buy things. In my case goods were bought...and plenty of them. (stripe maxi, print dress and stud top all H&M, Twiggy pendant JuJu) I love these three pieces very much because they are somewhere between simple and careless/messy. I have visions of grey jeans and thick brown leather belts, acid wash denim and leather jackets...lovingly stacked a top 5 inch footwear for which I have a fond affection.



Drape dress and jewellery all Warehouse, dress (just seen) Topshop








Patent pumps (below) Topshop 
pretty fierce but completely cute

Haven't managed to put the whole lot up but will put up outfit pics as soon as.

GUESS WHAT! ...I found the dress! remember the perfect nude one that I fell in love with? and nearly got a slap round the face for...
Beautiful isn't it.










A parting note: I will be watching the Gossip Girl Season Finale tonight, something which I will definitely not apologise for. Hopefully this episode is better than the recent Miss Selfridge high street collection. I don't know about the storyline, it's a bit too Justin Bieber for me, but I'm praying for a glimpse of Balenciaga! xoxo