The National Gallery: Christmas in July

So here we are, almost in the middle of July, otherwise known to the fashion and media world as 'Christmas in July. It's my first year of attending these press days and in addition to baffling my already confused seasonal clock -fashion weeks largely responsible- they have provided me with a fountain of knowledge and gained respect of the fashion retail industry.

The National Gallery press day, hosted by Portas agency and elucidated by Colin Chester their Head of Buying, took place last week in a cosy yet historically suitable room adjoining their restaurant. From their mouthwatering range of 'Delicious Art', Print on Demand, jewellery & gifts, neighboured by a pleasantly kaleidoscopic range of Christmas merchandise, I was very impressed. 

The National Gallery may not be an obvious choice for gifting but to be honest, for anyone that has an interest or passion in the arts, there appeared to be something suitable for all. From a family member that seems to have everything to a friend in the creative industry; gifting with a little artistic substance offers something personal, unique and altogether rather thoughtful.

My highlight was the Rembrandt inspired collection; a flawlessly curated selection of goods, complete with suitably autumnal toned rich & rustic copper notes, lifted by the peacock red bowl (pictured below) retailing at an impressive £30. 'Rembrandt: The Late Works' launches at the National Gallery in October and the gifts will be available to purchase as soon as it begins.

The range of fashion and accessories within the Rembrandt collection are also well selected, with key pieces (pictured below) including the maple fur tippet at £35 and multicoloured bangles by Halcyon Days at £59 each. There is also a selection of unbranded jewellery, an impressive proportion of which under £10. One of my favourites was the gold feather bracelet, retailing at only £6.95. 

My somewhat frivolous purchase of choice would have to be the semi-precious solitaire set, featuring 38 charmingly coloured stones, at £100. 

I believe its easy to underestimate shops in museums and galleries and perhaps, like the spaces themselves, it is always possible to find a hidden gem for everyone. 

Would you be tempted to buy your gifts at The National Gallery?

-All images shot (non sponsored) on the Nokia Lumia 1020 smartphone-

Alice Luker
www.aliceluker.co.uk

Faces of the Future: Part 2

Welcome to my part 2 blog post on faces of the future. There is such diversity of model talent in London and every season, the top influencers of the industry tend to gravitate towards a couple of girls, otherwise known as the 'breakthrough girls'- excelling and dominating everything, from major campaigns & editorials to catwalk.

Betty Adewole, a perfect example of a recent breakthrough girl -whom I met at a casting last year- is now shooting regularly for Tom Ford, walking for Givenchy and was recently featured as the 'it' model in Sunday Times Style Magazine. She's down to earth, switched on and a total knockout on camera; pulling off anything from super sexy beachwear to Shoreditch tomboy, the latter of which best reflects her personal style.

Yulia Musieichuk @ Select

Yulia is destined for great things, wholly dominating the pages of every major high fashion magazine both in London and internationally at this moment. Yulia possesses the perfect balance of chameleon-esque genes whilst retaining her distinctive appeal. She is literally on the cusp of breakthrough, having celebrated her first major campaign for J.W Anderson this season. 

Sofia Rivolta @ IMG

Sofia encapsulates the definition of raw beauty, the makeup free image above showcasing her undeniable potential. She appears to be super new to IMG London (only a couple of images on the website) but I anticipate she will be promoted up to mainboard at an above average speed. Her mother agency is in Milan. 

Karol Santos @ Next

Karol is a beautiful Brazillian model represented by Next Model Management; a razor sharp beauty with a promising future ahead of her. She's equally strong in both editorial and commercial and totally unforgettable once you've met her. 

Would love to hear your thoughts, who's your favourite girl?

Alice Luker
www.aliceluker.co.uk

The BFI Southbank: Creative Paradise

I'm an real fan of the BFI and enjoy my visits to their flagship Southbank location, reeping the many benefits on offer. The key attraction that reels me in (pardon the pun!) is the film library, enriched with an extensive archive of magazines, books and other compelling content related to the film industry.

Titles that I found particularly interesting include a book on illustrative storyboarding, the Neo-Noir genre, psychology of film and recent BFI focus (during which they screened a number of infamous films within this genre), gothic horror. I find that periodic visits to the library keep my ideas fresh whilst maintaining an element of cinematic depth and intellectual underpinning.

The library has 2 rows of comfortable little booths -in addition to other seating- complete with a cluster of plug points (heaven!) and wifi. The collection spans the entire history of cinema, exploring individual actors/actresses, directors, lighting, locations and many more elements fundamental to the industry. Its free to use and is open Tuesday-Saturday between 10:30am-7pm. The late closure is perfect and often find myself visiting from around 4/5pm till the very end.

Another great feature (which to be honest, I should really keep a secret) is the Mediatheque. You can turn up on the day or call in advance to book either a 2 or 4 person seating area complete with its own screen, choosing from a selection of films, documentaries or selective TV episodes in their archive.

I find their playlist like 'collections' -often determined by genre or theme- particularly helpful. For example, they describe their 'Dancing Feet' collection as 'Britains rich legacy of dance on screen, and 'Pandoras Box' collection as 'A dip into the world of the odd, the esoteric, the delightful and the downright dangerous'. BFI's team of film experts have already selected the best of the bunch for you, which in my opinion is flipping fantastic- and all accessible on their website. 

I would recommend browsing the collections on offer prior to your visit and making note of a few options, if not exactly what to watch as you're only limited to a maximum of 2 hours. On my first visit I was in such a fluster (the countdown clock is visible on the screen which can be totally off-putting) that I lost too much time and ended up watching an episode, although a fantastic one at that, of Ab Fab. On a more successful visit I watched the John Hurt adaptation of George Orwell classic '1984' and felt the venue of the Mediateque within the BFI rather enhanced my experience.

Yesterday afternoon I made my way to the BFI Southbank after a meeting in Camden, intending to visit the library- which you may have guessed from what I mentioned earlier, was closed. Instead, myself and Lauren Miller (fashion stylist whom I have worked with on many occasions) booked seats for the early evening showing of 1948 'Spring in a Small Town'; part of their 5 month focus on 'A Century of Chinese Cinema', celebrating Chinese film over the past 100 years.

Although a little slow at times, the B&W film was thought provoking and inspiring, impressive when you realise how promptly it was made after the war. From a fashion perspective, the adaptation of 1940s clothing and hair styles in China was fascinating, as although different, they still appear distinctive from the era. The central character's outfits remained a consistent length/ shape throughout, perfectly tailored to her shape yet more conservative than the angular figure hugging suits dominating British fashion in the 40s. 

Whether visiting the library, Mediatheque or cinema; I feel the BFI Southbank has something of interest to us all, well worth a visit if you find yourself with a couple of hours spare in London. It has a cozy, well sized cafe too, energised by a diverse filmic crowd and offers a good cup of coffee-or glass of wine depending on the occasion!

Have you visited the BFI library or Mediatheque? I would love to hear your experience. 

Alice Luker
www.aliceluker.co.uk

Models of the Future: Part 1

When casting a model there are are considerable number of qualities to consider. Facial features (cheekbones, eyes, uniqueness etc), body proportions, confidence & ability, in addition to potential longevity in the industry. These elements may be easier said than done yet finding the strongest girl is fundamental to the level of success in a shoot. 

An editorial model -in a high end publication such as Vogue Italia- must be tall, unique and truly encapsulate that 'je ne sais quois' on camera. Confidence can develop with experience in regards to super fresh faces but looks wise, one in a million doesn't sound all too farfetched. Recent graduates of the breakthrough model clan include Liverpudlian Holly May Saker (below left), Holly Rose and Sam Rollinson (below right). 

I've recently been researching the next generation of model talent for an upcoming project, endlessly browsing sites including those of top London agencies including Elite, Models 1, Select, Next and IMG. I have found whom I believe to be a selection of serious breakthrough potential and would like to share my discoveries with you. 

Holly Lake @ Select

A prominent face in the 'sneak preview' section of Select Model Management's website, this girl has potential to be a real contender of fashion weeks in the future. Although she looks very young- which of course she is, I'm guessing 14/15- there is undeniable raw potential which I can envision flourishing over the next couple of years. Holly's sculpted cheekbones and piercing eyes, softened by rounded lips and quirky, editorial ears are promising features for success. 

There are only a couple of images on her profile but from what I can see, her versatility is already discernible- I would love to see her in the future with bleach blonde or jet black hair, she has the bone structure pull off almost anything.

Tia Shannon @ Models 1

I was first introduced to Tia Shannon by delightful booker Georgia Case, her femme fetale/Eva Green characteristics catching my eye as one of the leading new faces at Models 1. She is currently 5"8, with a couple more years to grow which will hopefully allow her to walk the main shows at fashion week. Models ideally need to be (aside from prime examples of Cara Delevigne, Kate Moss et al) 5"10 and over for high end catwalk. 

She has perfect slender proportions complimenting her look and an alluring confidence in front of the lens. Her face is both current and timeless, an ideal combination of model potential. 

Marli @ Premier

At 5"11, Marli is a strong competitor for both catwalk & editorial. She has beautiful eyes, looks great from all angles and is adorned with a cluster of freckles on her cheek to complete her 90s supermodel, Cindy Crawford-esque vibe.

Christina Gorbatyuk @ World Fashion Models, Russia

I would love to see Christina represented in London. She has a great look that the British fashion scene would fall head over their Louboutin heels for, with an editorial intensity and a slight 'English Rose' aesthetic; bitter sweet and totally mesmerising. 

What do you think? I would love to hear suggestions of girls you believe have serious breakthrough potential.  

Alice Luker
www.aliceluker.co.uk

ghd aura: Launch Night

Earlier this week, ghd launched their brand new aura dryer/ styling tool to press, offering demonstrations over glasses of champagne and music by the gorgeous DJ & model Daisy Lowe.

Having a personal hair regime of a shocking 10 minutes or less a day (consisting of washing/wetting and a strong dose of serum to refine my curly hair),  I was looking forward to witnessing the results. The Aura is quiet and precise, producing fantastic shine and volume. 20 minutes with the ghd team transformed my naturally curly hair into voluptuous bouncy waves- really quite impressive from dry.

The other key feature of the event was an exhibition of photographs encapsulating 'moments that changed the beauty world forever', in collaboration with fashion historian Amber Butchart. 

Highlights include a photograph of one of the first hair styling tools (with an aesthetic reflective of a torture instrument!) and photographs of celebrity icons including Veronica Lake and David Bowie, annotated with a short paragraph of their groundbreaking effect on contemporary culture.

The exhibition was fun and inspirational yet equally educational, reminding us of fundamental social history shaping the beauty industry into the thriving enterprise it is today.

From the infamous Avon lady visiting local residents during the war to Elizabeth Arden's participation to the suffragette moment, each photograph captures a compelling moment in British history.

The ghd Aura is available from 27th June at Selfridges stores and Selfridges.com

Alice Luker
www.aliceluker.co.uk

Crosseyes London: A Revolution in Eyewear

It isn't often that I find myself writing about press days as I like to keep this blog quite consistent to my work, writing about what inspires me both professionally and personally without mimicking the seagull chorus from Finding Nemo of 'what I wore today' posts. Based on my outfit preference of jeans and a black polo neck, I couldn't imagine style posts written by myself being particularly enthralling anyway!

The press day I attended yesterday was unique, anticipating a revelation in the future of opticians and simplicity of hunting down a stylish, well priced pair of frames. Considering the brand is still relatively low key here in London, I feel the potential within the fashion industry is immense, set to entirely evolve the perspective of eyewear in the future to come.

The glasses are minimalistic yet quirky, perfect for those -including myself- looking for a pair that are bold without being to fussy; the perfect level of unique without resembling comedy caricature Dame Edna.

According to the CEO Søren Møller, there are a limited number of each unisex pair made- no more parading around the streets of London to find hundreds of others wearing identical, discernible Gok Wans!

The first Crosseyes store opened in 2010, with the intention of challenging the eyewear industry, which Søren found to be 'old fashioned and not very dynamic'.

In the short space of 4 years, there are now 6 stores across Denmark echoing it's success. 6 months since Crosseyes launched in London, Søren Møller explains that 'British customers really like the informal, relaxed atmosphere in our store and aim for 'everyone to be able to come in and find a pair of glasses that exactly underlines their personality', ideal for style conscious Londoners. 

The pricing structure is also rather ingenious and will leave even the biggest of brands wondering why they hadn't thought of it first. All frames in store are the same very reasonable price, with a clear & concise list of options for both the faux short sighted and authentic partially blind, like myself.

The team at the Crosseyes store in London (5 minutes walk from the Barbican tube) are a delightful, down to earth bunch, with a clear passion for the brand, an encouraging knowledge of the eyewear industry and a fresh inspiring perspective. I really do recommend a visit- they have a gorgeous selection of sunglasses too.

Alice Luker
www.aliceluker.co.uk

Dries Van Noten at Les Arts Decoratifs

During my short visit to Paris last week I had a couple of hours here and there to visit exhibitions, one of which being the Dries Van Noten at Les Arts Decoratifs. This museum is one of my all time favourites; the Parisian parallel of the Victoria & Albert museum in London, conveniently situated next to the Louvre the central line 1.

Dries Van Noten as a designer isn't as globally known as the majority of designer retrospectives featured at Art Decoratifs including Madelaine Vionnet (queen of the 1920s empire line dress) and Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs, however as much as it is a showcase of the designer's work, the focus is centralised on the relationship between his collections and the inspiration leading to the final result presented on the catwalk.

My initial reaction was positive; a strong entrance to the show with a semi patent floral door to introduce his signature theme of hyper-real flowers & nature. Once inside, the show begins in a darkened room filled with names of models, photographers, pop stars etc of whom acted as inspiration to Dries in his early years of the 1970s/80s. The diversity of names featured, highlights the relevance of culture at this time, kick starting the ultimate focus of the exhibition, inspiration.

It takes a little while to suss out the layout and is worth making yourself familiar with this before wandering onwards to make the most of the show. Aside from the initial couple of rooms and final  room with a collage of catwalk videos, each cabinet features a selection of pieces from one of Dries' collections, contrasted with pieces by other designers (such as a Thierry Mulgar dress from 1978/79 in the middle of the gold/metallic room image below), paintings, film clips, graphic art and so on.

The juxtaposition of inspiration pieces next to Dries' collections is particularly fascinating, as you deconstruct the elements reflected in the clothing. Taking his Spring/Summer 09 collection as an example, he combined inspiration from 13th century art with contemporary optical art- enriched with sumptuous colour, crisp lines on the print and areas of curvature crafted within the piece itself.

Other themes featured in the exhibition include orientalism/ bollywood, high society, military, 'The Kiss' in Hollywood film and nature. Highlights include artwork by Damien Hirst and Francis Bacon in addition to film clips of 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' with David Bowie and 'A Clockwork Orange' by Stanley Kubrick; inspiration triggering his imagination throughout his life and career.

Although a little dark as I attempt to write notes (I could barely read my own writing afterwards), the curation forms a compelling show; leaving you feeling inspired and creatively energised from start to finish- a must see in Paris!

'Dries Van Noten: Inspirations' runs from March 1st- November 2nd 2014

Alice Luker
www.aliceluker.co.uk