The Ninth Tale- Tea Break (for Tea and Tits mag)

Not exactly winning the prize for Britain’s most patriotic woman, spending the royal wedding intoxicated at the best street party Southampton had to offer, I do however hold some quintessential English traditions close to my heart.

Having an Irish, tea loving grandmother and a British, 'tea for all occasions' mother, I don’t think I could ever shirk off the ritual of tea, biscuits and a mothers meeting. Since childhood I have been made aware that my barmy but nurturing nana put sweet milky tea in my baby bottles. Looking back I doubt tea is a relatively normal liquid to be giving toddlers, her response being 'it never did me any harm'.

Maybe this is why my love of tea has flourished into such a dear, daily routine. The quaint act of putting the kettle on, brewing the teapot and everyone sipping the hot goodness amongst the tales and gossip of the day is a habit I don’t think I will ever break. Call me old fashioned but even pretty teapots and floral cake stands, catch me like a magpie to her shiny loot. My ideal afternoon is spent amongst my girls with a teapot and sugar cubes traded up in the sun. The window displays of the Cath Kidston boutiques never fail to draw me into their pretty house-proud world.

The most joyous occasion fell upon me last month when the three generations of ladies in my family went for High Tea at Coombe Abby country manor in the midlands. I was beside myself with the lavish décor and delicious finger sandwiches, the fact I had to sit on my hands to stop myself from a potential five fingered discount on the teapot of dreams was all to much.

It seems the ideas of the cultural tealeaf have come a long way since the 1500's when the Portuguese first brought the wholesome beverage to our shores. A new genre of tea lovers have taken over and made the act (or art form) of drinking tea fashionable, TEA CHIC, the New Gens of the infamous Boston tea party movement. Somewhere in all of us is an old lady enjoying the spoils of tea, friends and if our student budget allows a delectable Vicky sponge cake. Friends have asked for teapots for birthdays and some are already well on the way to having a cosy collection of tea set treasures.

For me tea is nostalgic, it's reminiscent of my grandmother and I think we all have a hidden agenda to sit around like nana's with our cherry bakewells, talking from the heart about the injustices of the world. So on that note ladies lets hang out the bunting, cut up the cupcakes and whack on the notorious kettle. It's tea break, a drink for the soul.

The Eighth Tale: My Fashion Styling/ Photography work

The Seventh Tale- Carri Mundane

One of the most influencial designers and sign of our times Carrie Mundane is going global faster than the trainers she sells.

As much as i dont think i could quite carry off a pair of dunks to have this woman's clothes unaknowledged is a bit of an ignorance. I remember hearing about her 3 years ago and used her as an example of a street style inspired designer in a LCF interview, the lady who interviewed me hadn't heard of her, i think she was expecting the same old 'Westwood inspires my life' speech. Sadly i didnt get in but im sure Mundane's brand 'Casette Playa' has finaly reached her ears.

Mundane also dabbles with like minded singer M.I.A by playing stylist for her video 'Galang', who'da thunk the shell suit would be cool again?

I think everybody who has an interest in fashion and sub-culture need to be aware of this young london lady. Her pieces epitomise the 'street style' of today and her garments are selling like hot cakes.
A favourite with Skaters, Bmx'ers and london kids, Carrie Mundane is the creme da la creme of the cool kids. Heres some bits, have a peak, you can see the sports, hip-hop and graffiti inspired influences.

The Sixth Tale- Our Parental Youth

After a much needed trip home to Coventry recently, i was having one of my many chats with the mother. My mum and I have always been close but out releationship has been tested greatly in the past. Thankfuly now with all hatchets buried i count her as one of my best freinds and closest confidants. (Happy belated mummy's day Stephanie Rixon).

I think when asking my mother about her youth and the days sweating it out at gigs and clubs with all the cultural groups of the 80's, she gets a tad nostalgic. I can tell when she sings tunelessly to her favourite's Elvis Costllo, The Clash and David Bowie. This brings me on to the fact i love hearing about her previous galavanting pre-motherhood. I ask her about the local dives she used to watch bands some i now go to; and the horrific (and the utterly fabulous) attire she decked herself out in.

I am a strong believer in the fact most of us in some way are influenced by our parents. From a young age my brother and myself have had a great love of music, mainly from the ages before us. For instance my father used to play the Gorgeous Fleetwood Mac in his dirty pick up truck on the way to school, childishly beeping the horn so all unsundry of the playgroud can see our undesirable mode of transport. Thanks Dad! However now if im in a club or hear the melodic tones of the fleetwood five i am taken back and a burst of happy nostalgia takes over. I always smile inwardly.

My Mother and Father no longer together and unfortunaty no longer friends still shared a love of music and fashion from their youth. Old photos depict dad in his winckle pickers and slashed t-shirts, mum with her New Romantic style make up and pixie hair doo. I am glad they passed on their interests in me and my brother, it has shaped the person i am today. I cant say my Nanna is too happy whenever i return home with a 'bleached to within and inch of its life' haircut and tatoos she insists must be transfers. Even so she saves me a little selection of scarves, belts and cardigans she would be black bagging if her grandaughter didnt think them a handsom booty.

So heres to where we come from and why we are the people we are.

The Fifth Tale- McQueen and I

The intimate tales of McQueen and I: an honest account of fashions darker corner’s

Making no qualms about it, one of fashions most unlikely but wholly inspirational designers was Lee Alexander McQueen. Following his shocking and unexpected death in June 2010 the world of fashion was rocked to its core; finally his life and works are explored personally and professionally from the people on the inside.

The lad from the east end who came from a little council estate and transformed his life into a fashion designers paradise had an interesting history and even more interesting life. With the help of infamous fashion journo Issy blow (Isabella blow), McQueen was launched from his east end roots into a world in which he made a magnificent impression.

Blow described McQueen as being ‘like a bird’ many of his collections for Givenchy and his own label reflect this birdlike manor. “What attracted me to Alexander was the way he takes ideas from the past and sabotages them with his cut to make them thoroughly new and in the context of today. It is the complexity and severity of his approach to cut that makes him so modern. He is like a Peeping Tom in the way he slits and stabs at fabrics to explore all the erogenous zones of the body.”

The documentary also explores the complexities of this close relationship with blow; lifelong friend and fellow suffer at the hands of press and fashion critics. McQueen and blow’s relationship was very much in the fashion industry’s eye with many accounts of its ups and downs. Blow’s ex-husband talks openly and honestly about the traumas affecting the pair. Both said to be suffers of depression the support posts of one another often frail.

Marking the one-year anniversary of his death, ‘McQueen and I’  includes interviews with the designer's  friends, models, journalists, his brother and ex-boyfriend, highlighting the pressures that came with his success -  and showing how he changed over the years that eventually led to his suicide last February.

This first collection of interviews and footage tells his tale in a brutally honest Cinderella rags to riches style documentary. No stone is left unturned in this true reflection of McQueen’s exciting but pressured existence. With a great sense of realism and a hard account of what life in the fashion industry is really like we learn just how beautiful and brutal the clothes artists’ career is.

Channel 4 interviews a variety of people close to McQueen who tell their stories of lee as a young boy rising to the challenge of becoming one of the world’s most original fashion designers. Industry professional’s including former head Givenchy publicist Eric Lanuit is captured in the documentary saying: 'The press officer’s role is also to be a nanny.

'[McQueen] would call to ask for certain "vitamin substances" to help him stay up all night and through the day of a fashion show.

' I’m not talking about vitamin C, I am talking about cocaine.'

Even though this is said to be the case McQueen was reported to have paid for some of Issy’s treatment to get her back on her feet, possibly due to the fact he was in debt to her in the early years as she launched his career by buying his graduation collection from central S.t Martins. Once the public and fashion junkies alike has realised this young man’s potential the only way was up, Blow and McQueen becoming close friends after she invited him to stay at her mansion.

The honest and emotional documentary gives such a close insight in to the life of Alexander McQueen it’s a vital exploration of the power the world of fashion holds. With no buttered up excuses, this no holds barred account is a must see for anyone who does not want to be shielded by the petticoats and glamour but wants an informed portrayal of some of the darker alleys of the fashion lovers world.

The Fourth Tale- Vintage Life Magazine

Recently when on one of my many 'magazine sprees' in smiths  noticed they stocked Vintage Life, a fairly newish publication specialising in all things retro and oldskool. Featuring articles on how to achieve vintage style make up and hair aswell as interviews with Pin Up models and designers. Get the kirby grips at the ready, Victory curls ahoy!

Issue 8 : The green advantages of dressing vintage

£4.70

The Third Tale- Sir Cecil Beaton

The 1930's Love affair with Cecil Beaon

The wonderous Sir Cecil Beaton goes hand in hand with the whole Hollywood Glamour era.
One of my absolute favourite photographers, his work is synonomous with beauty, elegance and style.

Here are a few i adore, enjoy!