A Late Supper

A Late Supper by charlottehumphreys featuring couture jewelry

Another Weighty Issue

Honestly guys, are we still talking about body weight?

   

Are we still bothered about body weight in 2012? This whole argument is getting old and boring now. So-and-so is too thin, so-and-so is too fat. The most recent celebrity to be ridiculed for her weight gain is our favourite outrageously dressed Lady Gaga. Photos from her recent tour emerged on the internet showing her scantily dressed, meat dress and all carrying a few extra pounds and all hell has broken loose. It’s like she’s suddenly grown another head, although I think even that wouldn't be as outrageous as her putting on weight. Our society, and fashion society in particular are so bothered about weight and how we should look that if someone in the spotlight looks slightly different from the last time they were seen, it’s splashed on the front of every newspaper and magazine out there. Do we not have something more interesting to talk about?

I honestly thought that Gaga looked too skinny in her ‘Born This Way’ video (some of you may disagree). But when you look at someone and think ‘if I pushed you over you may break’ I think it’s time for something to change. And yeah, Gaga’s legs might be twice the size than before, and her waist might not be -20 inches but if her voice is still the same, what’s the problem. No one seems to be having a go at Adele, but then she’s always been on the larger size. And frankly, who cares, if I had a voice like Adele’s and could be mega rich and sell loads of albums I wouldn't care what size I was. Why are we so bothered whether someone has put on 25 pounds (apparently the exact amount Gaga has gained), surely we should be thanking Gaga for showing that size doesn't matter. Young girls are drip fed photoshopped images of models on the front of magazines thinking that this is what they should aspire to look like. Gaga is doing the opposite, she’s showing her little monsters that she was ‘born this way’ and should love who she is. She’s openly spoken about being anorexic and bulimic when she was younger which obviously isn't something she wants her fans to go through too. 

I’ve also read a comment saying she’s ‘brave’ to do this, the fact putting on a bit of weight (which is probably how she’s naturally supposed to look anyway) is classed as brave is just bloody stupid. It’s not bravery, it’s just being normal. Although still not as bad as relating Gaga's weight gain to 'accepting obesity'. Sorry, I just spat out my cup of tea. Someone who probably now weighs 10-11 stone (maybe not even that) being put in the same sentence as obesity, these people don't deserve to have opinions.

And it’s not just women associated with weight issues. My Mum txted me the other day saying ‘Have you seen how much weight Michael Buble has lost?’ The fact my Mum knows this means that Loose Women have run out of things to talk about. Unless she read a newspaper (unlikely) or it was on the news. When I looked on the internet I was imagining a frail half dead looking Buble, due to the fact my Mum’s txt sounded serious. I actually think he looks alright, his face does look a bit gaunt and personally I prefer the second image of him (with a bit of meat on his bones so to speak) but if he serenaded me as his newer thinner self I'd still melt. Fat or thin I'd still fancy him. As long as he's healthy, why are we all so bothered if someone looks a bit different (unless they were once huge and unhealthy and are now a healthier size)

I think we need to get back into a world where being happy and healthy is the main aim. Where people aren't gobsmacked when a celebrity gains a few pounds. Yes some people are naturally skinny and some are naturally curvy, people lose weight and people put on weight, surely at some point we can start realising this (and I mean everyone) and get over it, because these ‘weighty’ issues are frankly starting to get a bit boring.  

Picnic Time

Picnic Time by charlottehumphreys featuring a peter pan blouse

Tim Walker - Story Teller

I am beaming with excitement for next month when Somerset House open their homage to my favourite photographer Tim Walker. Opening on the 18th October and not closing until the 27th January everyone has enough time to go have a look - and its free so there's no excuses.

Tim Walker is best known for his magical fantasy images and editorials and even if you don't know him you've definitely see his stuff. His collection of images in his most famous book 'Pictures' documents personal documentary style images along with those seen on the pages of Vogue and magazines alike. 

 Most recently he's been the front man photographer for Mulberry. Models in rooms enveloped by flowers, on Brighton beach with giant sticks of rock or even in the forest with a huge furry creature. He is one of the only photographers where I know straight away if its one of his photographs, because they are so iconic.

A self proclaimed perfectionist one of Tim's well known locations for shoots is Eglingham Hall in Northumberland which has been the 'backdrop to his photography for the past fifteen years'. In a radio interview 'Picturing Britain' for BBC4 in 2011 he describes it as having "...a sort of dishevelled-ness but still a sort of style. Bumblebees tapping on the window still inside, all the furnishings have stayed the same since the 1930s. It sort of represents an England that’s definitely disappeared. It is a magical place I think for me."

Along with the exhibitions of some of Tim's finest work, there will also be workshops, talks and screenings of films specially curated by Tim Walker. One of which is Tim's first feature 'The Lost Explorer'. I was excited by this, so last year purchased the book of still shots from The Lost Explorer along with the original story by Patrick McGrath.

Events and film tickets will go on sale in September. And speaking of books, Thames & Hudson will be bringing out a book aptly named 'Story Teller' to coincide with this exhibition. I will definitely be getting my hands on one of those.

All details of the exhibition and more can be found here: http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts/tim-walker-story-teller

Zara AW

A post dedicated to Zara's new Autumn Winter campaign with the wonderful Freja Beha Erichsen.

Zara are by far one of my favourite 'high street' brands. The clothes are affordable and chic and if my wardrobe could be filled with outfits from just one brand, I'd choose them. The new video and photo campaign by them echos the sophistication Zara's all about with a hint of playfulness. Freja was the perfect model for this role.

Oh and I'm going to post the AW12 MALE video to because HELLO Jon Kortajarena. I don't need to say any more apart from, you can't not watch it. Oh, and lets not forget to mention the talk dark other handsome male that begins this video, Sean O'Pry, a bit of a looker too it would seem.

David Sims was photographer on the shoot and did a fab job. In keeping with the videos, the black and white theme continues through the photographs. I love how striking and simple each image is, and whether you like or dislike Zara as a brand, there's nothing to dislike about this new autumn winter campaign.

Interview with Merrimaking

Known for their distinctive animal hoods worn by festival goers and people alike, who are the masterminds behind Merrimaking?

I've interviewed the two people we have to thank, Meg and Harri, for creating their imaginative ideas and allowing us, the public to commission just about any animal we want. I've got my cheetah cub hood (see below), what will you choose? To get yours click here.

Where did you get the name Merrimaking?
M: I love explaining this. My name's Meg and Harriet goes by 'Harri', which when you merge the two is 'Merri'. And we make stuff...

What was the first hood you ever made, and why did you make it?
M: It was a Panda hood for a party, and then some Tigers and Leopards from some cycles. Together with another really good friend from uni we used to make and wear them all the time, I used mine to keep my pet rat in. It's funny though, the hoods are so different now. I guess 3 years of constantly doing one thing (in our case, sewing) really does make you better at it! We even use the right coloured threads to match now.

What's your favourite hood?
M: The bear that I wear. Our friend and seamstress at the time, Kelly, embroidered into the side of it, it's got a funny lining and it's so scruffy, I love it!

H: I always seem to swap my hoods at festivals so my favourites come and go. The one we just can't part with for love nor money is the stag we made over a year ago for a catwalk, we've pranced around in it at so many events since then. It's pretty battered but still wonderfully grand!

What's the strangest hood you've been asked to make?
M: I had to make a jelly fish hood once, that was like no other

H: A pair of pterodactyls, I never did get to see a photo of them being worn out and about! Must have been a memorable sight...

What process do you go through when making each hood?
M: If it's a commissioned hood then we need to talk to whoever's commissioning it to work out how they'd like it to be, sometimes using photos to match colouring and markings. And then we need to choose the right fur fabric to suit, the right lining, design a new pattern for the ears if they're unusual and really it's a case of cutting all the pieces (getting very fluffy in the process) and sewing it together.

I saw Selfridges sell your hoods, how did you managed to get them interested in your work?
M: It was one of those knock-on things. Gabby Young and her brand wore the hoods, and because of that we came to have our pieces on sale as part of the Supermarket Sarah concession in Selfridges. The buyers must have seen the hoods there and got in touch. It was very bizarre really.

Selfridges Window Display

I see you also sell jumpers/tshirts - are you planning on expanding any further to make other products?
M: The bigger picture is to keep on designing and making new pieces, 'a wardrobe of playful ideas' ... we want to keep Merrimaking interesting for the customer and also, we want to keep ourselves inspired. It's boring making the same thing all the time.

H: Yeah it's great to keep brainstorming and creating new pieces. I love it, we want lots more products!

Is it just you two that make/design the hoods and clothing, or do you have a team?
M: It's just us two. For the past year or so we had friends working as seamstresses's, which was a LOT of fun. We've just moved to Brighton and have had to leave that side of things behind, so it's us two again for the time being and we're working mostly on new designs before the 2012 festivals get started.

Where to you hope to take this in the future?
H: I like where we're at right now. I'm hoping to build on what we're already got into something bigger. It'll always be a festival/art based fashion brand run by friends, and the dream is to expand so that we can work in a bigger team of friends and bringing out new products all the time. I'm really looking forward to it.

M: If Merrimaking can remain a platform for Harri and I to earn a living doing something creative and we enjoy it then I'm happy. I'd like to employ some friends back in too.

Is your website the only place currently where you sell your hoods?
M: Also festivals and Secret Emporium events. We stock through a couple of independent shops too.

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