My Fashion Life

Michael Jackson: his iconic looks [Grazia]

Michael Jackson - Remembering a legend [Catwalk Queen]

The Ultimate Thriller! [Fashionista]

Fashion tribute: Michael Jackson [Fashion Bomb]

Michael Jackson, Pop superstar [Style.com]

Like the rest of the world, I too was shocked and sad to hear the news about the sudden death of Michael Jackson yesterday.

I grew up listening to Michael’s timeless music and words cannot express how much the legend that is Jacko will be missed.

Michael was just as much an icon for the fashion industry as he was for music. If there’s anything we can learn from the King of Pop when it comes to personal style, it is to “be yourself”.

From his elaborate stage costumes to his eccentric day to day outfits, there’s no denying that Jacko had fun with fashion. Here are some of his trademark looks that we’ve come to know and love him for:

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I’m big busted. So, finding a decent strapless bra is a nightmare and an experience that I often avoid.

As a result I don’t own many halterneck or strapless items of clothing. Hence, why I literally jumped at the chance to test out the “Ultimate” strapless bra by Wonderbra.

Before I offer my thoughts on Wonderbra’s latest contribution to the lingerie world, let me give you a bit of background info.

The bra was specifically created for ladies like myself that have a difficult time finding a strapless bra which keeps everything in place. The bra has no underwiring, instead Wonderbra has utilized silicone banding to give wearers extra hold and support. What’s really special about the bra, are the two grips on each side which are shaped like hands and lift the breasts up.

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For all us mere mortals who aren’t lucky enough to be world famous or rolling in our millions dressing ourselves in the morning is a necessity.

Unlike all those celebs who are lucky enough to have a stylist on hand, we have to make our own decisions. But, that may be about to change, what if we told you that you could have your own personal stylist for free?

Okay, so she doesn’t come to your house but she is there at a click of your fingers, welcome to iStylista. Founded by award-winning celebrity stylist Chantelle Znideric, the site was launched to make personal styling accessible to all women, regardless of their financial circumstances.

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At last! Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue and, therefore, one of the most important individuals in the fashion world, has said what we’ve all been thinking.

Yes, Shulman has spoken out against the ‘jutting bones and no breasts or hips look’ that designers have been increasingly pushing down the catwalks since the advent of the waif in the 90s.

In a letter to a variety of fashion designers and houses - including Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Prada, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga - Shulman said that Vogue was being supplied with minuscule sample garments which forced them to hire tiny models which the magazine then had to airbrush to look larger and appeal to readers.

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In times of uncertainty, people traditionally look to the familiar for comfort.

It’s almost a primal urge - one that is with us from childhood where we choose our favourite blanket/teddy bear right through to adulthood with carbohydrates and trashy predictable TV and romcoms.

But comfort and fashion are not often bedfellows. In fact, if anything, the collective uncertainty brought about by the recession has pushed our tastes to the extreme.

Extreme shoes with platform heels that verge on bondage wear; skirts with padded hips and huge shoulder pads to create an almost cartoon-like silhouette; expensive denim distressed and faded to within an inch of its life and treggings, a ridiculously named item of clothing tat will forever polarise opinion.

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My first day at Graduate Fashion Week, front row seats and the excitement I had been promised.

With six shows to attend I had a fashion-filled day, the Universities being Epsom, Manchester, Ravensbourne, De Montfort, Somerset and Bristol.

Models strutted down the catwalk to pounding music, dimmed lights and a flash of cameras as they made it to the end of the runway. There were numerous trends which continued to repeat themselves not only throughout the designers attending the same Universities but as a theme throughout the schools.

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Admittedly, I am somewhat uncultured and usually traipse around museums patiently waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel: the gift shop.

The V&A’s Future Fashion Now therefore came as a lovely surprise.

The collection features highlights from the Royal College of Art fashion graduate’s final collections ranging from leopard print suits to Russian military furs, and along the way reveals detailed aspects of the design process through preparatory sketch books and design boards, illustrations and photographs, models and , of course, the finished garments.

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I think anyone with an ounce of intelligence realises that the seductive glamour of modelling is largely an illusion. We may envy these girl’s figures, their salaries, their social lives, their wardrobes, but I don’t think many envy the put-downs, the scrutiny, the long work hours and the precarious nature of their careers.

I remember coming across an interview a year of so back with British models Victoria Keon-Cohen and Dunja Knezevic. The pair had campaigned for actor’s union Equity to represent models rights, including the rights to holiday and sickness pay, better working conditions and protection in case of injury. They recalled jobs where the models had been spray-painted head to toe with gold car paint, had severe alergic reactions to products or been injured during shoots, such as one where a model was required to jump on a trampoline wearing stilettos. The list goes on.

That was two years ago. They succeeded in persuading Equity to back them.

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