French Class

I wrote this piece for Nerve Magazine while I was Fashion Editor there during my second year of university. It was inspired by the observations and experiences of my friends and I during a trip to Paris this Summer.

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Paris: the fashion capital of the world. I do confess I was planning outfits months before departing for the stylish city with my group of friends in July this summer. But can you blame me when it’s this fashion forward city that founded Haute Culture? The dream was to blend in and become a temporary Parisian, just for a few days. But alas, this was never to be.

After arriving on the Sunday evening we marched down to the Metro. This was the first time we were spotted. My friend had a peep of midriff on show, between jeans and a purple and black striped cropped t-shirt. She was approached by a small elderly woman as we grasped on to the handrail who poked my friend in the stomach before claiming she was "showing too much - French men like the belly too much!" I had bought my friend the top for her birthday with the view of her wearing it on our trip, but failed to realise it would hinder our camouflage.

The next evening, after a day of exploring the capital in a July heat that required us to wear very little, we arrived at our accommodation when a young French man called out to us: "welcome to my country, I am a nice boy." We had been spotted again - four very BRITISH girls. It was these two incidents plus a number of other looks and stares during the day that made us realise we needed and wanted to change our ideas about how to dress in this city

The trouble is we Brit girls dress for the weather. As soon as the sun comes out so do our pale pins, hoping to turn them a little bit golden. We wouldn’t think twice about strutting our bare legs in the streets of London or adorning a cropped number on a night out. It’s hard to believe that just over the Channel, clothing ideologies are so different that we felt this out of place. Some may see this way of thinking as backwards, but to be honest I found it refreshing.

Instead the French let the clothes do the flirting for them in feminine longer dresses or tight denims mixed with sharp tailoring – topped off with loose locks and the manner of understated sexy. Fashion is no longer a one-dimensional thing. With so many eclectic styles over the world it's hard to believe that the sight of women in shorts was so rare. But after revealing everything possible near to being naked, perhaps it’s time we thought about covering up.

On our Paris trip we decided to respect and adapt, folding our skimpy shorts back into suitcases and bringing out other more demure options. We roasted in jeans and trousers for the rest of the trip. To a British eye, we looked ridiculously overdressed for the temperature, but we felt at ease. More to the point, we blended in. I was thrilled when I was asked to reach for something on a high shelf while shopping. I had been mistaken for a Parisian. Although, I exposed my identity when I gabbled an apology in English.

This idea fits well with the demure feel of the current fashion state. We have been lusting after longer hemlines for the past few seasons: the maxi, the midi and for the moment it is all about the feminine forties from which the pencil skirt is the pinnacle, (see Miu Miu, Jonathan Saunders and Marni) The silhouette sculpts alluring feminine curves, but hemlines lie conservatively on the knee. I know I am looking at trends intended for the Winter, but equally those pretty tea dresses by Marni would have been perfect for what eventually became my demure summer in Paris.

Au Revoir!

I hear those Sleigh Bells ringing

They may not be Christmas bells but I always have an exciting time when I listen to this band and their songs are always full of surprises.

The duo from Brooklyn released their debut album ‘Treats’ in May last year and have been gradually building their presence. Arguably their craziest song, 'Infinity Guitars', was used for the British trailer to the third series of 90210 which began in January 2011, perfectly accompanying the over exaggerated drama, scandals and tragedies of the Beverly Hills hotties!

This song has become the soundtrack my life at the moment, not that my life is, or will ever be as dramatic or glamorous as the 90210ion’s. I never wore a Gucci dress to high school nor will my hair ever possess the ability to curl perfectly like Naomi’s. I can dream. Yet, this song is so powerful and slick, it can make anyone feel cool.

The guitar and the strong drums are the backbone through the whole album; they are the two constants that hold our hands through this roller coaster of sound. But the sound is what make the Sleigh Bells so different and exciting. There are no more instruments, just a mixing bowl of sounds that shouldn’t work well together and are not musically correct. A screech, a saw and something that sounds like a game show buzzer. But somehow the duo put these sounds together to create enough melody for it to work.

The more lively tracks, 'Crown on the Ground' and 'Infinity Guitars', are bombarded with sounds that are deliberately distorted as if all the discordant sounds have strained and broken the speakers. This is something that some may hate about the music, but it is something that I have come to treasure about the Sleigh Bells when I stomp around my room to the irregular, untimely beats

Other less straining songs, like 'Rachel' contains only the slow electronic rhythms under AlexisKrauss's layered and choir-like voice add some breathing space to the album around the other monster tracks.

As I blog I am listening to the album on Spotify, and by doing this I have found a song that is not on the album but on the EP 'Tell Em.' Very exciting. The speakers where dutifully turned up for 'Holly' which rules on distortion, warping of Krauss's voice and guitar and had me checking that the logitechs had not liquefied.

Oh Sun, hurry hurry

In an attempt to get more use out of my wardrobe and actually wear the items that are hidden under my favorite, shorts, trousers and shirt, the night before last Tuesday morning I came across a last year spring buy.

In a stab to get the flirty feminine gingham that Christopher Kane had us gagging for in his S/S 10 collection I bought a black gingham casual bandeau dress from Primark last year. Not quite with the bra cups or the sexy cut outs and thigh splits of Kane's collection but I fell for the grown-up approach to gingham.


With all the spring collections wowing at me from my magazines, I felt I should follow and indulge in some flirty springy garb and bring out the gingham.

Above is what I wore. Clinging to the knits from winter, I wore my chunky from George, Asda over the dress so that the skirt popped out underneath, grey leggings and then my biker boots.

Alas, as the fashion gods wouldn't have it, my gingham re-release was swept away with one foot out of the door. Attacked by hundreds of rain as I trudged with my camera case off to a friend's halls to continue with the filming of our first TV package, I arrived with wet hair and slight mascara misplacement, a lot more grunge than soft and feminine.

I say roll on sun and spring. I am in serious danger of getting stifled by the winter knits and cardies. Although my room has had a dose of vibrant spring through the delivery of some lovely roses from my flatmate after I casually stated I needed some to put in a pretty Chenet bottle. Unfortunatly, I threw the bottle away before the delivery, so glass will do.

After the gingham mishap, a possible sign to move one, I look towards what I will be wearing when the sun does poke out from behind the clouds. The pleating 70's S/S trends have already started trickling down towards the more affordable and I have my eye on this top seen below in the March ASOS magazine. Love the way it peeps out of the cropped jumper with feminine folds. But it has to be right! I don't actually know what it looks like underneath as it is not available yet. Underneath the jumper I want it to be loose and flowing and perfect to be teamed with some short shorts and bug-eyed sunnies a la Jil Sander S/S.


And dance like this ...

Tights and Stripes

Having gotten frustrated with the lack of jest in my wardrobe and instead being usually engulfed in flat blacks, greys and blues, (boory bory boooor) last year I went out determined to bring back some pattens, if not just some colour to boost the view into the bland wardrobe.

This resulted in the purchase of some questionably cheap looking white loose trousers from Primark covered in small black misshaped spots which could be mistaken as leopard print. But believe me... it is NOT leopard print.

I also received some similar style trousers from my parents for Christmas from H&M which are deep purple with white Harlequin-esq marks.

Great... patten and colour are ticked off, but the hardest task seems to be able to find the confidence and items to accompany them.

I would love to admit that I am so confidence savvy that I am able to step out of my halls in Bournemouth in the head to toe patten trend that designer John Galliano for S/S11 says is OK...

...with a sheer draping waistcoat to mute the eclectic patterned blue and tangerine

Or in graphic prints plastered over Missoni's collection...

...but somehow I don't think Bournemouth is ready for quite such a collage of crazy acids and lines

My compromise is the combination of tights and stripes, the lovable Breton with monochrome patterned tights that have become so popular. Cute little hearts spread over legs or spots, or bows contrasting against the unified lines.

Below is a proportionate collage of what I wore...

...A loose Breton top from TopShop, underneath, peeping out, a long vest top from New Look, TopShop honeycomb patterned shorts to add to the whole theme, zigzag tights from Accessorise (compromising holes a plenty), and tough biker boots.

A dose of drama taken to class.

New Year, New Stuff!

OK, so is has been a criminal amount of time since I have written for my Blog and seeing as I am an aspiring fashion journalist, this just isn't on! Turning 20 last weekend has made me seriously get real about my future and where I am going. Not writing about fashion is not going to get me where I want to be.

So my excuses?

I have spend the last few months figuring out my Bourne identity. I am now half way through my first year at Bournemouth University studying Multimedia Journalism, conducting a variety of interviews, including talking to Elle magazines features director, struggled to find an original news story, reviewed Tinie Tempah, got to unit 25 of Teeline shorthand for journalists and completed a number of uncreative law and theory assignments.

During the Christmas holidays I became very frustrated with my work, writing instead about Naomi Campbell's drug addiction intrusion rather than the clothes draped around her. I had such a craving to write fashion, that I am now trying to balance writing what I want to write about with my assignments. Although, sometimes the two converge easily. Today I compiled a historical timeline and key moments of the high heel during an online journalism seminar.

So being my birthday not so long ago, a lot of new items have entered my life.


My lovely friend brought me these two exciting magazines, Lula and Oh Comely, which I am sure I will devour quickly. It will be a good change from my Vogue stubbornness. Although, another problem with my university life is that it caps the time spent on not only writing, but unfortunately reading aswell. Over my first term at Bournemouth, my Vogue pile grew to an embarrassing height, October, November, December and January waited. I have now got it down to only January, but with February's presence close. I will make sure I allow time to read these two beauties though. I promise!

This gorgeous book was a present from my parents. A book by fashion designer, Luella Bartley, on what encapsulates our original English style, the clothes, the icons and the ideology behind the English girl. It might be enough to get satisfaction from just looking at it, but it has already been flicked through thoroughly, primed for complete exposure.

I have always admired the quirky jewellery inspired by the Scrabble game, from full name necklaces to simple letters for rings. Always wanting a name necklace after lusting after Carrie's in Sex and the City, my simple but different white on black gift is perfect. (and doesn't give too much away about me)

After buying into a lot of Breton at late, it was refreshing to receive something stripy but different and more intense. The placement of line around the collar and buttons in contrast to the main body reminded me of an article in January Vogue about the way stripes can transform and shape the body. Championed especially by Prada, these manipulated stripes look fun on the dresses, tees and skirts, if not alluringly comical. Inspired by linear optic artworks I could readily walk out of my halls in such a miss mash of colour, direction and confusion...


Yet I could easily slip into this Jil Sander. Simple, classic and very versatile.

Lastly...
With the thought of turning 20 looming I decided with a little help from girlfriends and white wine, to do one last slightly crazy thing before the big day. So I went and got the top of my ear pierced! Being adamant that I would not get any more piercings than my two ears, this was a BIG THING! A rush of youth bundled into a tiny piece of metal, that I am reminded of with every accidental catch of a t-shirt or when I try to fall asleep on my left side.

Take a pinch of imagination and a dash of no-nonsense!

Elle magazine’s recently appointed Fashion Features Director tells of her ideal reporter and her admiration for fellow fashion writer, Robin Givhan.

Thirty-two-year-old Alice Wignall’s position at Elle is at the other end of the journalism spectrum to that of a reporter, yet she took little time to consider the necessary criteria for such a job.

Within her role at Elle, she appreciates the need to keep to deadlines, although she hasn't personally experienced the ‘news rush’ during her career.

‘Professionalism is very important,’ she says, ‘such as punctuality and responding to e-mails quickly.’

She also values the essential knowledge of the world combined with the initiative to express these opinions. Yet from a features perspective, she believes creativity can also make a good reporter.

‘They still need to be a good writer; stylish and funny.’ Perhaps a way in which all manner of journalists can unite in a need to please and entertain the reader.

Alice joined Elle’s team in June 2010 after freelance writing for the Guardian and working for a number of women’s magazines including Bliss and More.

Throughout her career, the Fashion Features Director has admired Robin Givhan, the 45-year-old fashion editor for The Washington Post. ‘She reports on fashion as a serious thing – not just pretty clothes,’ Alice explains. ‘She can relate it to culture and politics yet still keep it accessible.’

Yet, perhaps it is Givhan’s reputation for being radically blunt with her words that makes Alice think of her. Another element for a budding reporter to add carefully to their checklist – to be remembered.