Styling

Designer Profile: Sui Lan Yuk

Charlotte Ellis- Young Fashion Photographer

 As mentioned in previous posts Urban style is a way of living, for many young people today it’s a large part of their society. For example an individual’s personal style has enabled a number of unexpected opportunities whether it’s a job, or general acceptance in a friendship group.

21 year old, Charlotte Ellis a photographer from London who has recently been excelling in the fashion industry. Graduating from Bournemouth with a 1^st in her photography degree she is now working as a Fashion + Portrait Photographer and a Photographic Assistant.

Charlotte’s personal style when shooting is edgy, urban and eccentric as she is not afraid to push boundaries, whether it’s the location or the model used. Technically speaking charlotte likes to focus on colour palettes and the use of soft lighting, this creates charlotte’s desired personal style aesthetic.  Her personal style is also influenced by many contemporary artists and photgraphers these include Nick Dorey, Maarten Schroder and Kirstin Mackay.

In the past few weeks Charlotte has been working with companies such as Clove Clothing, Boycott Magazine and Supamodel management and each job is enabling charlotte’s portfolio along with evidencing her increasing experience and talent.

Her work is readily available on many media platforms, her website www.charlotteellisphoto.com, ‘Charlotte Ellis Photo’ on Facebook, and ‘cellisphoto’ on Twitter. She regularly uploads snippets of upcoming work as well as published, and on twitter she exclaims her love for specific photographers and editorials.

Urban Street Style

‘Urban’ style, a word used to denominate a spectrum of multicultural style, though largely originating from the African-American perspective. Urban street style and general fashion originally meant a look that bounces to the beat of Hip-Hop and R&B along with the unique twist on ready-to-wear garments, which stylistically are able to include the mix of high and low culture.

Originally back in the 90’s, urban fashion was reserved only for hip-hop and R&B artists and fans who were recognised for embracing street wear brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Kani. The stereotypical urban street style consisted of big garish logos and copious amounts of statement jewellery, whether it was earrings or heavy gold chains. Realistically this style aesthetic is still current amongst amongst bloggers and street style gurus.
Urban wear became more readily available when later on in the 90’s many hip-hop insiders launched their own lines, with Wu Tang and Wu Wear, Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons with Phat Farm and Baby Phat, Nelly with Apple Bottoms, and many more.

Street Style is now a phenomenon in today’s society, and is specifically successful within the blogging atmosphere, and urban style is the basis to many posts and uploads. Urban Fashion is noticeably increasing on the streets of London. Many fashionista’s both male and female are regularly spotted mixing retro brands such as Adidas originals with a pair of high-end designer brands. The general urban style consists of clashing prints and textures with an overall sporty laid back vibe. Urban street wear brands are essential aspects for achieving the overall desired ‘edgy’ style, brands such as carhatt, stussy, vintage nike, puma shoes and urban industry.

How would you create your perfect ‘urban’ street style look? 

Vintage fair'd out

Clothing vintage fairs have always been a huge attraction to many variations of personalities. Ofcourse, many will go to get themselves an inexpensive item of clothing as little as fifty pence. 

After visiting the vintage fair in East London, all items available were only one pound each! Yes, just one pound. After queuing for around twenty minutes in the blistering cold, we entered in full force, to find rails and rails of clothing. I was surprised to even pick myself up a pair of Gap denim dungarees. 

Hosted by the “East End Vintage Clothing store” the event is always located on Robeson Street, in the heart of East London. There were items ranging from Levis’ denim jackets to baskets full of leather satchels. One lucky shopper came away with a smug expression after picking up a genuine Versace dress. Commenting on their purchase, they emphasise “It was the right time and the right place”. 

The highlight to my day was one individual who decided to try on every item of clothing they liked the look of. Not within the changing room but on the side of the rails. Attracting a lot of viewer’s eyes, they did not seem to care what they looked like, when at one point they were stood in just a pair of black tights when temperatures were not much above 5 degrees!

Reviewing my visit to the fair, I would definitely be making another trip. This was a cheap day out within London, with the option of it being free if no items caught your eye. Whether you are looking to buy or browse I would highly recommend the sale, with a chance to catch up with friends and grab yourself a bargain.

A day out at The Book Club

A day out at The Book Club

Set in the heart of East London, along Leonard Street you will discover a “former Victorian warehouse” which goes by the name of The Book Club. First thoughts of the name, would not suggest to you a restaurant but by daytime you can find many costumers eating, drinking and socialising. The interior has a rustic and fun feel to it, with a ping pong table placed in one room whilst the wooden tables and chairs, create a homely feel to the restaurant.

By night, The Book Club offers several social events for the East end to enjoy. Events including music, film and even art creates a sense of diversity to the eatery. By the weekend many “local and national DJs such as DJ EZ and Norman Jay” will come along and play.

The Book Club is even doing an art event for many to come along to. The website advertises the exhibition launch of the jungle book quoting “Get lost in the leafy undergrowth and howl with the wild beasts of Puck Collective’s The Jungle Book Club and The Jungle Stories! An exhibition exploring the beauty of jungle fauna and proportional artworks that reflect the true size of the animals, from the great to the small.” The launch beginning on the 16^th April 2015 and ending on the 28^th June, the free exhibition seems a bargain to not experience.

 After ordering their signature dish of a classic ham, egg and chips for nine pounds, I was pleasantly surprised to the type of cuttlery I was handed. The use of different types of style for both the fork and knife added an eccentric touch to the restaurant, fitting to the urban feel and East End surroundings. The food itself was of course delicious and I would highly recommend a visit to the quirky restaurant.

Novem & Knight

Sammi Maria & Jason Davis: Novem&Knight Clothing Brand

Samantha Maria aka ‘TheBeautyCrush’ YouTube and Fashion Blogger sensation with over one million subscribers has recently announced the launch of clothing label; Novem & Knight. The new brand is in collaboration with boyfriend Jason Davis who is frequently featured in regular uploads, and has also been casted in a few modelling editorials.   

As a fashion graduate Sammi has always shared her strong interest in fashion through regular look books as well as blog posts illustrating her ‘ootd’s’ and general urban street style. 

Novem & Knight’s brand ethos is to explore the stylistic qualities of London’s fashion scene and create collections consisting of simplistic, yet edgy basics, known as the ‘core collection’. Although the merchandise isn’t available as of yet the brands Instagram has evidenced a few key pieces from the new collection. A Bardot dress, regularly seen on Sammi, White crisp shirts, and crew neck jumpers, all key wardrobe essentials. The clothing pieces appeal to both genders, most pieces have androgynous silhouettes and are generally unisex. 

When announcing the brand on Youtube, Samantha ensured that she explained the passion that her a Jason share for the brand. The garments are all designed by herself and Jason and are all cut and sewn here in the UK. 

Mark Hayden, London Photographer has released images of the emerging brand on their Instagram page. - ‘M A R C H A Y D E N M A K E I T B E A U T I F U L LDN’

“Working so hard for the last year to bring you @NovemKnight | coming soon. Mine & my better half's @TheBeautycrush fashion brand.” (Jason Davis's Tweet)

Novem & Knight

@NovemKnight

What does 'Urban' really mean?

The Urban Dictionary Definition: “City-like. From the Latin word ‘urbs’, which means ‘city’.”

Urban, specifically in the fashion industry is a term in todays society that is constantly thrown about in a number of contexts, but do we really know what the true meaning?

In todays day and age urban culture goes beyond the idea of baggy jeans and trainers the stereotypes that have somewhat defined hip-hop. Urban style is multi cultural, and ethnically diverse, and is able to extend to other races. People who have a vibrant background, people who take risks, and within fashion and everyday life. Urban can be a way of dressing but also a way of living. Urban can also be seen as the combination of high and low culture.

Ouigi Theodore owner of American retro-urban fashion boutique and label clothing line "The Brooklyn Circus' who is referred to as the ‘Bearded Dandy of Brooklyn’ expresses that he uses a sharp aesthetic to offer a new definition of what urban street fashion should be. “Our goal is to redefine the image of urban America…My dream is to see guys hanging on the corner in suits. Urban always had a style to it, a swagger… but it also came with the negative stigma of overuse of the ‘N’ word, the pants sagging, When I travel overseas, people see the way we dress and say: ‘You guys don’t listen to hip-hop. You’re not urban.’   “Yes, we are.”

Ouigi Theodore

Urban fashion is an ongoing phase, trend or style, ‘Urbanwear’ is in the streets and culture is recognised to have influenced it strongly. Within any specific culture you have to have fashion and a specific style will be developed from within. 

But now the question is how would you describe what the word ‘Urban’ means?  

Lily & Ellie.