Empirical Menswear

Midi on my mind

I've been keeping an eye out since last year for midi skirts to come in to stores, and now that they have I'm comparing every single one in sight, for the right one. Since we had the pleated ones a Topshop the only midi skirt we've had in has been the bright blue pleated skirt and the navy blue polka dot one (both pictured) I'll definitely be buying the polka dot skirt, probably team it with a basic grey t-shirt and wedges, maybe even a felt boater hat.

Since I've been searching around I've found loads more that I'd like to add to my wardrobe, Alexa Chung has also been sporting the midi skirt, from her collection with Madewell, if you ask my opinion her collection was great, just way way to expensive for what it was, $250.00 for a skirt come on now, i could of made 8 skirts with that much money. Anyway here's some of best ones I've found around on the Internet, i hope you'll be supporting this 50's look this spring and summer!

Rebecca Taylor

Alexa Chung, in Madewell skirt

Topshop

Topshop

River Island

Primark

Primark

P.S Need these shoes!! what the hell Primark you surprise me!

Little update

So here's some photo's from the shoot i did with Emily and Laura for my portfolio. Everything that Emily is wearing was made and designed by me apart from the hat (Topshop).

We did this, in the newly refurbished space, at the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham. It was a great location, initially i wanted to shoot my catastrophe garment (seen in first pictures, green wax, faux sheepskin jacket, with burgundy cord trousers) in a woodland environment, the whole project was about, an apocalypse happening and you being the only survivor. So my concept was that the survivor found a manor house to live in and hunt, giving that English countryside theme. The wax jacket, taking inspiration from Barbour, i made my own pattern and its fully lined matching the colour of the cord trousers, which i also made the pattern for.

The second garment (well not really a garment more of a head piece) was my hair project. This was entirely made for catwalk, so don't expect this ridiculous thing to be in shops soon. My theme was about the stereotype of hair and how we shouldn't necessarily judge what a person may be like from the style of their hair. Artists like Lorna Simpson really inspired me with her wall art of wigs, as if to say "how do you know that the Blonde wig doesn't belong to a man?".

The hair head piece consist of around 8 layers of hair extensions hand sewn on to hair comb grips, when i first made this, it did initially have handmade paper letters hanging from the top with words "who am i?" but unfortunately, from the previous end of year show at college, they fell off and i simply couldn't be bothered with the hassle to sew them on again and in a way, it does look better with out them and i don't have to spell out what my whole theme was, you can guess for yourselves.

Ritual Preview

Just found this preview on Youtube for White Lies new album Ritual. I don't know what to make of it yet... I'm still deciding.

ALBUMS OUT 17th JANUARY

White Lies

I've always been a fan of this band, Harry McVeigh (lead vocals) has a unique voice that simply gives you those tingling feelings when you here something so good. They're always being compared to Joy Division, Talking Heads and Interpol. Surprisingly enough these bands are also my favourite, so if you also like these do check White Lies out. Their first album "To loose my life" released in 2009 was a great success, leading them to festival tours and gigs in America and the U.K, but yet this band is sometimes forgotten about just like Interpol, it's a shame.

Tongues have been wagging since White Lies announced the recording of their new album "Ritual" in 2010 which is due to be released the end of January this year. Most of people doubt White Lies can produce something better than their first album and this is always a tricky one. The same thing happened with Vampire Weekend, with their second album "Contra", many people were disappointed and when you have such success on your first album its a lot to live up too (i talk like I've had experience, but it's true!).

In amongst all the hype, White Lies' new release "Bigger than us" is a great track. The video however is just mad, a girl trapped in a giant chocolate bar, well I'll just leave you to watch the video for yourself. Enjoy.....

Pretty Shocking

I wish the summer would hurry up! I mean I've forgotten what it even looks like. Me and Emily have booked away to go to Gran Canaria in February and quite frankly i have never been so excited for a very long time. Since my new menswear project I've been looking at this years spring/summer collections and boy are they nice! Just a shame it will be a while till they're in stores, so don't throw away your thermals just yet folks!

For those of you that laugh at Primark for their rubbish £2 tops and child labour sewn clothes, well you may just be a bit shocked to know that collection below is actually Primark! Yes you read right! It's set to arrive in stores later this year in time for summer. I couldn't actually believe it myself, i was looking at this years high street look books and came across this! I would probably wear everything in this collection, despise what i usually say about Primark! The midi skirt has to be my favourite, it's set to be very popular this year as we're going all 50's inspired this summer!

Back for 2011

Hope you've all had a great Christmas and new years! i know its late but i wouldn't want to be rude! I have to admit, my wrist has been taking a bit of a battering from the amount of times I've slapped it for not keeping up to date with this blog. But fear not people, I'm back! I think, not sure how long it will last hopefully i won't slip up!

So another year has passed, so far things aren't going well for me, I'm really ill again, it's that time where everyone is feeling under the weather and run down. Plus university interviews are dawning on everyone for portfolio's so it's pretty much stress, stress, stress! Not to mention juggling a new menswear project but I'll manage, somehow!

Just before i go, i hope 2011 is a good year for you all and don't forget to keep checking this blog, because now i have my mac (didn't want to brag but...) I'll be updating more for you readers!