Friday 6 December 2013

Frida - Harrods Competition

Frida

‘I was born a bitch. I was born a painter.’ (Frida Kahlo)

She was born an artist - she painted what she saw. She painted her feelings, her thoughts and her ideas. 

She took you on a journey - a personal one. For no matter what twists and turns her life endeavored, her inspirations always came down to one main focal point...herself. 

She was her own muse. She painted herself because she knew who she was; she knew who she wanted to be. 

Her paintings resembled life. They represented troubles, hardship and pain - she was emotionally crippled. 

She was unstable. ‘A ribbon around a bomb,’ (André Breton).

She painted her own reality - the truest reflection of self. These paintings made up her biography...no words were needed. But these paintings spoke for her - they put her life into perspective.

An existence of ups and downs, of disabilities and long-term illness. Decades of misfortune, of bitterness and relationship struggles - physical and emotional suffering... Her paintings took her to another place.

She looked to painting as an escape. It gave her opportunity and the ability to be who she wanted to be at any given time. Imagine those fearless flamingos taking flight in the Yucatán Peninsula on the Gulf. They are free from the burden of being on the ground. They are able to explore, to feel, to live. No Restrictions. She wanted to feel liberated. 

Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?’ (Frida Kahlo)

She was an icon. A legend. A lone individual perhaps; but she was rare. ‘A tequila-slamming, dirty joke-telling smoker and a bi-sexual.’  (unknown)

She didn’t care what people thought. Covered from head to toe in a glorious array of vibrant colours that often resembled the costumes worn by Mariachi dancers. She was a national treasure.

She wore mis-matching prints, un-coordinated textures and flowers in her hair wherever she went. And let’s not forget that infamous brow. Some might declare it her trademark - and only true icons are recognised in such a way.

‘She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn’t supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.’ (‘Eleanor & Park’, Rainbow Rowell)

Her passion for intense colour is embedded in her work, for despite her ups and downs she didn’t live life in black and white. Envisage the spectacular spectrum of rainbow colours which paint the Guanajuato City scape - they are screaming to be noticed... she was screaming to be noticed...

She was a surrealist - life is not always as it seems after all...

Life, however, is a picture book - telling stories about highs and lows through beautiful imagery. She took the most prominent events, and created multiple masterpieces. 

She was a creator. An interpreter. An artist. 

She craved to be individual, to be different, to be unique - and she craved recognition for achieving this. She created a legacy - a series of masterpieces to forever grace our presence.

‘I leave you my portrait so that you will have my presence all the days and nights that I am away from you.’ (Frida Kahlo)

She was an inspiration - a female with a name for herself. An Aztec Goddess of the modern world.

Yet her life remained a struggle. A series of unfortunate events, per say - but she stood her ground. She was a fighter; like a tenacious bull fighting for its life in the infamous rings of Mexico City... 

The fight would not last forever. 

‘I hope the exit is joyful and I hope never to return.’ (Frida Kahlo)

Dia de Muertos - let her live forever in our memory.


She was born a bitch. She died a painter... 









Thursday 25 October 2012

Monday 22 October 2012

Androgyny Survey!

Hi! I'm carrying out a survey regarding Androgyny in the fashion industry and would really appreciate any feedback anyone has to give! Thanks xx

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JKH9YPG


Sunday 21 October 2012

Gary Cockerill at Pro Beauty North

Last weekend my friends Bek, Emily and I ventured down to Manchester to work with Gary Cockerill - celebrity make up artist, at the Pro Beauty North event! 

We had such a good weekend promoting his new "Daytime to Playtime" range of fabulous eyelashes and watching his fascinating make up tutorials. Here are a few photos!

Jess xx

Gary and I

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Silence Is Golden

For one of our uni projects we have to make our own magazine, and so today I took Bek and Andrew to the photography studio and shot some photos for a photo shoot I'm calling 'Silence Is Golden'. Have a look! xx

Wednesday 3 October 2012

RAW


Look out for the launch of our new online fashion magazine RAW in November!! 


"We are a small, independently run online magazine or blog created by Fashion Communication students & bloggers, Rebecca Eland and Jessica Askham.
We believe that music, art and culture are key components in the fashion industry and should not be overlooked. Therefore our blog brings you the latest in art, music, beauty as well as fashion.
We plan to move to a website eventually, so keep up your support and we will see you on the site!
 RAW"

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/theofficialraw?fref=ts

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
@RAWofficial_

Wednesday 26 September 2012

ROHMIR S/S 2013


"I have always been attracted to the free spiritedness of the 1920's - the soft unstructured silhouettes and light catching fabrics that so epitomise the era took the collection in a very different direction from what we have done in the past."

Friday 14 September 2012

"I can be naked as long as I'm wearing the right pair of shoes" - Anna Dello Russo


Take a peek at my latest blog post for British Style Bloggers - a bit earlier than usual as I'm heading off to uni tomorrow! 

Let me introduce you to Anna Dello Russo - a woman who is completely and utterly inspired by fashion.

http://britishstylebloggers.org.uk/2012/09/14/i-can-be-naked-as-long-as-im-wearing-the-right-pair-of-shoes-anna-dello-russo/

Thursday 13 September 2012

Oscar de la Renta Spring/Summer 2013


Fashion week is finally here, and after being in London myself only two days ago I can confirm that there is certainly a "fashion buzz" in the air. I went for an interview at Storm Modelling Agency in Chelsea, and came out with a 3 month internship for summer 2013!! (Words can't even express how excited I am!)

It was all talk of fashion week in the office - of course, the busiest time of the year for everyone who is involved in the industry. With New York Fashion Week finally over, I have been browsing through all the designers collections and have found new favourites!