Hay Festival

I am not one for a festival. I went to Glastonbury once for a day in my 20's and the experience was enough to confirm what I already knew: me, mud, music and camping don't mix. I have managed to avoid festivals ever since. Then I received an invite to The Hay Festival. Intrigued at a festival "of literature and arts" I started to book tickets and muster clothes related plans; if I was going to survive then my wardrobe had to be up to the task. Check out the STYLE blog page to see what I wore. But for now let me tell you about one event I booked a ticket for which blew my fashion socks off: Julien Macdonald.

Picture the scene - a rain soaked, mud sodden, albeit covered, festival. It's Sunday night and I am waiting patiently (and coldly) in line to listen to Dylan Jones of GQ in conversation with Mr Julien Macdonald. I wasn't sure what to expect - after seeing the fashion designer on Strictly Come Dancing last year I was curious - was his career on the skids? And what on earth was he doing at Hay? The first pleasant surprise was Julien Macdonald walking the length of the line saying "hello" to everyone waiting. Then surprise after surprise came towards me like models storming the catwalk, my ambivalence to the talk was quashed and I left the tent a bonafide Macdonald fan.

The stage is set for Julien Macdonald

Honest, funny, talented and hugely entertaining, Julien held the shivering masses in the palm of his hand for his entire talk. The expectation was that at the age of 16 he would go and work in the lightbulb factory where his mum worked but he knew he was destined for another life so did A-levels (the first person in his family to do so) and then went to university (also another family first). From then his career skyrocketed with the help of the infamous Isabella Blow. He used education as a way out of the small Welsh town in which he'd be born and he has never stopped learning. He talked so passionately about his positive experiences of education that I began to think he should be working for the Government.

Asked whether he was a fan of sustainable fashion and ethical clothing, - his answer was basically 'no'. He praised Stella McCartney for "doing her thing" (she's a bit of a champion when it comes to sustainability) but at the end of the day Julien Macdonald admitted he "just wants to make women look sexy." That honesty was refreshingly brilliant - even Dylan Jones was impressed. After years of politicians saying something without actually saying anything and people trying to make amends for what they did or didn't say in the press, he knocked it out of the park.

Julien Macdonald and Dylan Jones

He listed the famous stars he has dressed: Beyonce, Kylie, Jessie J, Shakira, Taylor Swift, Paloma Faith to name but a few but it was crystal clear he was never star struck, never overwhelmed by the fashion industry or the job he had created for himself. At the heart of his talk was a healthy appreciated for his talent and a closely knitted tie to his working class Welsh roots which kept his dancing feet firmly on the ground.

So why appear on Strictly Come Dancing? queried Dylan Jones. Again, the honesty was electrifying: to raise awareness of his clothes range at Debenhams. He realised that the women his diffusion line would sell to were the women watching Strictly: the masses. WOW. Savvy doesn't even begin to cover it.

He then proceeded to stay behind to sign autographs and let people have their picture taken with him.

Julien, it was a pleasure to hear you talk. Thank you for making my Hay Festival.

Man Style

My first post about Man Style! Introducing Robbie Press! Graphic designer by trade and all round stylish husband of Natalie Willingham my go-to make-up artist (click here for her website). Robbie first got into 'fashion' in his early 20's buying up Gaultier and other expensive designer wear by the bucket load. Running with an older crowd he was, by his own admission, "fashionable"....then he discovered music: rock, alternative, soul, punk, disco, the roots of hip hop, "music is a BIG key in my life."

Setting down the armloads of designer labels, Robbie gravitated towards thrashmetal from the mid 1990's punk scene and started buying jeans and denim jackets that would "wear in with me." He grew his hair and became none other than a punk band vocalist wearing nowt but loose shorts, no shoes and a pair of workmans gloves. Then disaster struck - male patterned baldness took a hold and Robbie's locks starte falling away at the tender age of 20. By 25 he was completely bald - not a hugely conformist look in a scene where "everyone who is in metal has long hair." Around this time he had an epiphany "you don't have to look a certain way to be part of the scene."

His style has evolved from buying up rare skateboarding clothes from America, to purchasing his first Oswald Boateng suit in his 30's alongside a purple shirt and a light blue tie, "fabrics and colours have always been important to me - there is a strong influence of colour in everything I see." From that first suit Robbie's interests spread into English tailoring and a sharper way of dressing via putting together pattern clashes and sourcing denim from Japan.

As a graphic designer Robbie is intensely passionate about understanding the heritage of the brands he designs for and it is the same with his clothing. During our chat he never once speaks of 'shopping'. No. He "sources" his clothes: charity shops, gents outfitters, eBay, TKMaxx all get a look in, "I know exactly what I need before I need it. Then I find it." He knows the brands he sources from inside out. New brands lead him on a tale of discovery. Simply put the traceability of his garments underpins his uniqueness of style.

And it is style. Robbie was well aware of his fashionability in his teens which then transcended genres into style in his 30's and 40's. In his own words he is "obsessive" and his sheer dedication to his wardrobe is staggering. He is even growing his winter beard in summer.

Robbie's style has long interested me so I got him to show me his three favourite looks.

Drink. It. In.

Vintage Look: 

Christys bowler
RRL Beach Vest
RRL collarless shirt
Trickers Malton boots
Edwin ED-39 Jeans
Vintage Marlboro belt buckle
Mexican leather biker wallet 

Winter Look:

Vintage Sheepskin coat by Kinch & Lack

Cowichan Scarf by RRL

Vintage Woolrich hunting pants

Yuketen Main Guide boots 

Tweed Look: 

Borsalino Hat from New York
Round collar shirt by RRL
Waistcoat by Ralph Lauren Rugby
Pendleton tie
1920s Albert watch chain
Edwin Jeans
Trickers x My Wardrobe boots
Horse Hair belt by Ralph Lauren

He also has this beauty - The Big Lebowski cardigan. Made for the film but never used, bought on eBay from a museum in middle America. You don't get more dedicated than that.

Visage - Music...not Nivea

Visage - Music....not Nivea

A few weeks ago an email drops into my inbox asking me if I want to review the new Visage CD Hearts and Knives. As a child of the 80's I am au fait with snap bracelets, Mr Motivator, shell suits and walkmans but music has never been a strong point of mine. My musical tastes are pretty limited: dance music makes my heart soar (check out my Soundcloud profile here) and I have spent many a mis-spent summer in the clubs of Ibiza - but when it comes to discussing and dissecting music - I basically don't. 

But! In for a penny (read: CD) in for a pound (read: blog post) so I asked the PR peeps to sling it over. Visage are a true 80's New Wave band whose iconic hair and make-up marked them out as pioneers of the New Romantic movement and their back catalogue includes 'Fade to Grey' - described by my mate Wayne who does know a thing or seven about music as an 'epic' song. Hearts and Knives is their first album in a long time - 29 years to be exact (they released Beat Boy in 1984) - and this will be my first album review so here goes...

With disco beats and a huge synth sound, Visage have modernised their 80's sound but left none of their era defining traits behind. In the track "Hidden Sign" there is a strangely hypnotic melody overshot with the haunting female vocal from Lauren Duvall. For all those going through a break-up and looking for music to wallow in give "Dreamer I Know" a whirl. With such lyrics as "can't fly on a broken wing" and "it's over, it's over" what more can you ask for? This song should see you right. My favourite track called Shameless Fashion has a riff that won't quit.

Some big dance remixes of some of the tracks wouldn't hurt to bring them to a younger audience but that said I was really surprised to find how easy to listen to the tracks were and have had in on repeat in my office for the best part of 3 weeks now. I can imagine listening to it in cool hipster bars in Williamsburg but the peeps who manage/do PR for  Visage have followed this train of thought already with a showcase night at The Hoxton Bar & Grill, London. The album has been released (it was released in May) so get your mitts on it while you can. For more info check out Visage's Facebook page here or tweet them up on Twitter . Hear little snippets of their wonderful new CD in your ear canal here.