Tom Ford's All Made Up

Tom Ford has revealed his new make up line, he recently told WWD that he has created the range in the same way that he creates his clothes - with style and character. Last year he launched a range called 'Private Blend' and this year he will release a whole new range of shades and products. The face of the publicity campaign to launch the new make up line is one of the hot models in fashion this year - Lara Stone who features in the poster with the man himself. With her signature quirky gappy teeth look and clear skin, she is a good choice to launch the make up line to the world giving the poster elegance and personality. The range includes perfume, lipstick nail varnish and a number of skin care products which he admits to using himself. At the moment the exact launch date is being kept under wraps.

(Image courtesy of Vogue.fr)

Sacre Coeur Mega Jump

Next Saturday the 2nd July Taig Khris will be performing a 'mega jump' on the steps of the Sacre Coeur to break a new world record. Previously having jumped from the first storey of the Eiffel Tower Taig is someone who is quite literally born without fear. The ramp on Montmartre is currently under construction this week and Taig will be sporting roller blades to be able to launch himself into the sky towards the spectacular view of Paris. The jump will take place a 18.30 so make sure you get there in time to witness the mad man in action!



Check out more details on the website here

Skateboarders Paradise

As from today the arts and music venue Gaite Lyrique is opening its doors to skateboarders. There is a whole programme of activities scheduled until the 7th August which explore skateboard culture. According to the website Public Domain is the name of a film about skateboarding which was made in the eighties and was directed by Stacy Peralta, it completely revolutionised the aesthetic and image of the recreational sport. The exhibition includes concerts, events and film projections and there's a whole range of things to explore at Gaite Lyrique including a library for those who are interested in the arts and design.

Invading Paris

French street artist Space Invader has a exhibition of his work at La Generale in Paris and I went to check it out today. Earlier on this month he created his 1000th mosaic in front of a packed audience of fans eager to catch a glimpse of the nocturnal artist who is world famous but like Banksy, keeps his identity under wraps. The exhibition includes some impressive 'canvas' mosaic montages which are blurred and pixellated to the naked eye but once you hold up your camera phone to see the image all becomes clear and thats when you realise he really is a modern genius at work. The exhibition is on until the 2nd July and is a real must - art lovers, kids and even grannys would smile at this. It needs no explanation, you can enjoy seeing the history of art being rewritten and reduced to just 6 colours and lots and lots of squares.

La Generale

Fete de la Musique

This time next week - Tuesday 21st June across the whole of France there are various concerts and events organised to celebrate one night of music. One of the bands taking part is Natalia Fourcade who will be playing at Cabaret Sauvage at Parc de la Villette in Paris. Born in Mexico, Natalia has been working her way up the music circuit for quite some time since her teenage days and is now signed to Sony. Her voice is light and melancholic and very addictive. If you like Bat for Lashes this will be right up your street. She is just one of the many acts who are taking part in next Tuesdays festivities.

Check out whats going on at the Fete de la Musique website here

Let Them Eat Cake

Wildfox Couture

New Wave in Fashion

The perm is back in Vogue as wavy and frizz free tresses graced the catwalk at New York fashion week. There was not a straightener in sight as the models on the Marc Jacobs catwalk to showcase his SS11 collection. A new trend for getting a 'digital' perm is becoming increasingly popular with different textures and waves being easily created without using the harsh chemicals of the traditional technique. So this spring its all about maximum volume, putting the bounce back into your locks and banishing the straighteners for a good while yet.

Check out the articles in the Daily Mail and Telegraph online for more info.

Wax Lyrical: The Barbour isn't so Rock and Roll

What is it about trends being reported in the papers that suddenly makes it seem much less... trendy? The Barbour jacket has been seen hanging on the backs of kids around the not so posh areas of London in recent years as it has managed to shake off its provincial toffy image. Now it can be spotted being sported by the more edgier indie folk who might hold the view that Urban Outiftters is now far too mainstream (ahem what's this about a new store opening in Shoreditch soon?) Imogen Fox writes in The Guardian this weekend that 'urban Britain adopts the rural look' as tweed and waxed jackets are no longer seen as the item of choice for country types but is now associated with a far more rock and roll look. However, this is not new as many a teenybopping festival goer have been wearing these all summer and it's long since this exact same trend was reported by the Barbour loving Daily Mail back in March 2008. This isn't any more of a new trend than people wearing wellies when its wet, don't even get me started on the Hunters or not debate! Apparently sales of Barbours and country jackets are at an all time high this winter on the high street and yes Barbour have probably partly got the crap weather to thank for that but if this is really a 'new' trend it's one that's certainly been knocking around for a while.

Photo courtesy of Grazia Daily.

Mind the Gap

Gappy teeth are officially 'in Vogue' or rather 'on Vogue' this season with the November issue featuring Lara Stone on the cover. The Bridget Bardot look is everywhere this winter with the likes of Georgia Jagger and Lara Stone being the top models in the media spotlight. The gappy teeth look which usually costs parents thousands in dental bills to fix is actually as Mary Portas would say very 'on trend' this season with quirky models such as Ruth Crilly doing exceptionally well. With Lara Stone's recent marriage to David Walliams and a whole host of top modelling contracts behind her, unusual beauty is changing the shape of the fashion industry as designers look for models who have something more exceptional than conventional beauty to offer. This makes a refreshing change from the Cheryl Cole obsession which has dominated the British media so far this year. This clearly marks a move towards more of a genuine natural look within the fashion industry and by designers using girls who have great skin and more of a cheeky girl next door look this puts us a shade closer to images of real beauty being used within magazines which makes a nice change from the fake tan and hair extensions look which has been celebrated in recent months. Long may it last!

Read more about this trend in an article written by Alice Clarke for The Observer here.

Moving out of the Future

This Wednesday marks the first ever screening of the Italian film Il Trasloco with English subtitles at the ICA. 'It tells the story of the Autonomia (or ‘refusal of work’) movement that emerged in Italy in the 1960s. Documenting the emptying of the unofficial headquarters of the movement, and narrated by one of its key participants, Franco Berardi, the film is a deeply personal account of the lives of those involved'.

The translation and subtitling of this film is by Federico Campagna (Through Europe) and Richard John Jones and was commissioned by Auto Italia South East as a part of the High Performance Dropping Out series.

After the screening there will be an in-conversation with Federico Campagna and Richard John Jones. Tickets are free and available from the Box Office.


For more details visit the ICA website here.