Festival fashion - The Guardian article review

So someone I know posted an article onto Facebook the other day, written for the fashion section of the Guardian - titled "Since when were festivals al fresco fashion shows?".
With many people commenting on the article on Facebook, arguing about what's right and wrong with what is being said; I decided to read it with an open mind and see what all the fuss was about.

After finishing it I was in shock and steaming up inside with the judging, narrow minded statements that the journalist had made throughout the article.

Firstly, as the sub heading of the article, the journalist asks a silly question.
"What exactly is festival fashion?". Well as a FASHION journalist for a highly recognised newspaper, I would have thought that she would have known what one of the most consistent and popular summer trends consists of. Does she not follow trend reports? I thought that a writer of fashion would be aware that looking good and wearing certain clothes for festivals has now become a hugely followed part of female fashion. That's what a trend is - a particular style direction that is crazed by a large number of people for a certain period of time. Festival fashion IS now a trend, whether you want to be apart of it or not.

Secondly, she states what, in 'her world' festival fashion is.
"A plastic rubbish bag fashioned into a poncho"
"...absolutely no clothes because you lost your tent on the friday night and your clothes shortly after that.."
"This, clearly, is how a fashion attendee knows they have had a good weekend"
Ha, I certainly know that if I lost my clothes at a festival, I would be absolutely mortified and that would make it possibly the worst weekend. Not the best.
Here her narrow minded thoughts take centre stage as it's obvious that out of the thousands and thousands of people that attend festivals every year, not all of them have the same priorities as the ones that make up this journalists own 'festival world'.
Mine certainly aren't the same as hers that's for sure. I would say my appearance is just as much of a priority as to having the best time dancing to music with friends and getting really really drunk.

Everyone's different, but unfortunately, the journalist doesn't seem to recognise that. 

I also find it very very strange that again, a FASHION journalist is slating a very popular fashion trend. And is also quite happy to disrespect and pin point people within the fashion industry, that are actually 1000000x more successful than her. Alllll because she doesn't agree with the idea of looking good at a festival. 

For example, Poppy Delevingne and Kate Bosworth are mentioned numerous times throughout the article.
"..endless boring photos of people such as Kate Bosworth and Poppy Delevingne, who, as far as I can tell, are famous purely for being photographed at music festivals, looking improbably glamorous."

....Hmmm I'm pretty sure Kate Bosworth is a very successful actress, and Poppy Delevingne is a fashion icon, model and significant part of todays fashion industry! 

Why is she so concerned about these people in particular? When, similarly to what I've stated before, many many thousands of festival attendees ALSO dress glamorously.

Kate Moss is even mentioned....are you kidding me...She is using Kate Moss as an example of her critical fashion  thoughts. I'm not sucking up to Kate Moss but you seriously have to be one silly sausage to have the gut to take the piss out of one of the most influential British people in fashion. Like c'mon! 

Despite my strong dislike towards the points this journalist is trying to put across to us, I do empathise with her confused comments towards Coachella. 

If you don't know, Coachella is one of America's most recognised festivals that happens every year in California. It's renowned for it's pool of celebrity festival goers, huge music line up and an atmosphere that looks to be extremely clean, happy and sober. 

Something a lot of British festival goers just aren't used to. Hence why I see where she is coming from when she accuses it as being "the whitest event in American history this side of the 1960's". 

HOWEVER as an older woman, she is clearly unaware that a lot of festivals nowadays are very similar to Coachella. Yes, still a music festival but ones that incorporate a lot more glamour and a lot less mud, dirty clothes and poor hygiene. 

A lot of British festivals have taken this approach, but are clearly unknown to this writer as they appeal to the younger generation and not the middle-aged. Day festivals such as LoveBox in London, Love Saves The Day in Bristol and We R Fest in Essex are renowned for the attendees to dress to impress and pick out the best from their summer wardrobe. 

Even the bigger festivals that hold a lot more variety are bombarded by people that want to look good. Bestival, Reading and Glastonbury are all examples. 

"...they allow even the most obnoxious of us to offer it all up to the weather gods, get disgusting and lose that self-consciousness that plagues us the rest of the time." This is what is said by the journalist further down the article. Yes I agree that this is what some people think is a major part of the fun of a festival - getting caked in mud and not giving a fuck about what you look like...But, what if all the celebrities, particularly fashion role models were to dress disgustingly or similar to what the journalist claims to have worn one time at Glastonbury?

...'wellies printed with stars, corduroy trousers at least two sizes too big, a sweatshirt with a map of Asia on the front and a man's ski jacket'.

With such a big media front that festivals have nowadays, imagine the negative coverage people like Kate and Poppy would have to deal with if they were seen to be wearing clothing such as that.

I think it's safer to avoid the hassle of people judging you for looking a state, and to just look good instead. 

I'm just going to comment on one last point, even though this article is a lot longer. This next point though is probably the most narrow minded and to me, the most frustrating to read.

(I will put the link to the article underneath so you can take a read and hopefully feel the same as I do towards it.)

Anyway, in the second to last paragraph of the article, the writer intolerantly questions whether people who like to plan their festival outfits or the people who just put effort into their appearance at a festival actually have fun.......ERMMMM YES. THAT'S WHY WE GO. TO HAVE FUN.

"No one has fun when they are fussing over how they look, or if they’re too scared of getting messy to relax. I love fashion and I love festivals but I do not understand people who go to festivals with specific looks planned. Do these people have fun? Because they don’t look like they’re having fun. They look like they’re thinking about how to look as hot as possible on Instagram, and that, to me, is completely anathema to the festival experience."

Preeeetty sure that if you were to ask the thousands of people who pre-planned their festival outfits if they were having fun, they would say yes. How blinkered of her to label the people who dress up for festivals as lacking enjoyment and in some words 'boring'. I don't think she knows how ridiculous she sounds when she says that people who take pride over their festival outfits are not having fun. Is she a mind reader? A festival expert? I'm not sure if going to Glastonbury a few times in the 90's to watch Travis quite makes her the festival guru she puts herself forward as. 

It winds me up how an older, bitter-opinionated person thinks that her way of enjoying a festival is the same as everyone else who goes to festivals. Yes, we get the fact she spent her festival days in shit stained, mismatching clothes. But a tonne of people are not like that.

I think someone needs to wake up and realise that 'festival fashion' isn't a way of avoiding fun at festivals. It's a way of standing out and feeling confident...Besides, Fashion and Music go hand in hand. Therefore, I see absolutely nothing wrong with having the freedom to treat a music festival like an al fresco fashion show.

Up Yours Hadley Freeman.

Link to article - CLICK HERE

Below are a few photo's from my festival experiences over the past few years. I may not be looking as clean and sophisticated as the models at Coachella but yes I did put effort into my outfits AND I had the best time. So hard to believe?

Blog update: A-Z Guide to Fashion for Spring/Summer '15

Really been quite shit at this blogging palava if I'm quite honest. But yet again, I do blame the amount of work I've been bombarded with this year and the stress of applying and awaiting offers from Uni.

But not to worry, as all my hard work so far has paid off. From this September I will officially be a Fashion Design student at Kingston Uni in Laaaandaaaaaan.. So bloody excited.

I'm currently in my last month at college, working on my Final Major Project and I have agreed to help a friend with his, who's in my year studying Graphic Design & Illustration. His project is an investigation into contemporary youth culture and the underground music scene of today; of which he will then produce a Magazine to show and promote his research and findings. Interviews with DJ's such as Etch and photography of his own are also a big and exciting part of it. 

Sooooo, Matt has kindly asked me to write an article for his ziiiiiine, which is an A-Z of the top things in fashion of Spring/Summer twenty15.....Thought it would be a good post to put up on here as it did take me quite a long time and I might as well flash it to as many people as I can. I'm also gonna flash Matt's Flickr account to you all which you should definitely take a look at, particularly if you're a fan of typo, graphics or underground music. (click writing below for link)

MATT's FLICKR :)))

Hope you all get some inspiration from either Matt's work or from my lil feature which I've posted below. x x

Robyn's A-Z guide of Spring/Summer fashion 2015

A is for Activist

With the latest issue of i-D, Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection and Gap & Levi’s join protest against gay discrimination - This season we question whether we should use fashion as a platform for campaigning and political issues.

B is for Braids

This year we witness fashion’s undying hair love affair, with wet look braids, patterned cornrows and textured french plaits. For these looks we can get inspiration from upcoming singer FKA Twigs, and the one and only RiRi who takes centre stage on the cover of i-D’s Pre Spring issue.

C is for Culottes

2014’s shorts style has stuck around for this summer, with even more brands stocking them in a wider range of styles , lengths, and patterns. These pink, metallic culottes from Solace London are an excellent example.

D is for Double Denim

It’s all or nothing for denim this summer so wearing as much denim as possible is strongly advised. Marques Almeida’s denim ethos has turned grunge this season with oversized, black ripped jeans, mini frayed halter dresses, incorporated with loosely fit chiffon. Be on the look out for dark colours, excessive fraying and oversized dungarees or flares.

E is for Emerging Designers

With masses of fashion designers graduating every year; I thought this is a good opportunity to show off two up coming talents that have proved to be ones to watch for SS’15. Feminist inspired Charlotte Lewis , Manchester Grad and Fashion East designer Liam Hodges, from RCA are definitely my favourite, newest designers that everyone should watch out for. All check out their summer collections!

F is for Feelin' Floaty

Chiffon and delicately layered textures are what to look for in your summer dresses of twenty’15. All the best designers are adding a touch of elegance to this seasons catwalk- from more traditional styles by Micheal Van Der Ham, Topshop Unique and Whistles to the more contemporary by Christopher Kane, Nasir and KTZ. This trend cannot be missed and will also keep you feeling cool in the hot weather. 

G is for Glitterbomb

Glitter and sparkles are surprisingly big this summer and they’re what you need if you want to zhoosh up your wardrobe! Asos is a great place to find an affordable sequins galore outfit, while Ryan Lo’s SS’15 collection is what you call luxury ‘girl next door’ meets mermaids and seashells, for those daytime beach parties. Ashish’s summer  collection has got the girls AND the boys wearing the sequins head to toe. However he mixes it up with a hint of streetwear and ripped textures to give the glitz n glam abit of a relaxed vibe.

H is for Hillier Bartley

As we say bye to Marc Jacobs’s little sister line, creative directors Katie Hillier and Luella Bartely have swiftly moved on to a new pathway. Earlier in March, they announced the launch of their new brand ‘Hillier Bartley’ which comprises of ready to wear luxury clothes and accessories. Keep an eye out for future news about the exciting collaborative which should be offically underway in the later summer months.

I is for Iridescent

Iridescence - the production of a display of lustrous, rainbow like colours that change and shimmer due to the observers position. A perfect look for summer if you are wanting to channel your inner ocean creature / mermaid! Designers such as PPQ and Richard Nicoll have used these glowing, shimmering fabrics to create lightweight trench coats and a-line mini dresses. For the men, Juun J has created a collection of spring time knit jumpers.

J is for Japanese

Japanese traditions, both modern and traditional are popping up everywhere this season. This summer we witnessed contemporary british fashion designer Ashley Williams launch a collection full of graphic printed kimonos and oriental style dresses. For a step further into japanese clothing, take a look at Saint Laurents Obi Belts & Marni’s wooden bangles and block platform sandals. 

K is for Kendal

With mixed opinions surfacing when we talk about reality TV stars; one in particular has proved to the public that she can now been seen as being famous for DOING something, rather than being famous for being ‘known’. Kendall Jenner, the hottest Kardashian sibling who has made a fashion breakthrough this year. Now the face of Estee Lauder, Calvin Klein and best friend of Cara Delevigne - there’s no doubt that we’ll be seeing her a lot more of her throughout this year and possibly many more to come.

L is for Leather Lovin'

Top of the Leather-List this summer are nude tones, patterned quilting and excessive fringing. Topshop stock a range of lightweight leather pieces from white culottes and neutral biker jackets. Whereas Hood By Air has released an engraved lettering bomber jacket, in both black and white which can be found on the V-Files website. 

M is for McQueen

This spring/summer, the V&A museum in London is hosting an extraordinary exhibition, that lets us reminisce over the work of one of the most influential fashion designers to have lived. 
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty is simply a retrospective of the dramatic impact McQueen had on the fashion industry, through his amazing creations and spectacle displays. Get in there quick and book your tickets for a summer view because you do not want to miss this chance! 

N is for Nineties Nostalgia

Although the 90’s seems like it was just around the corner; we seem to be longing after the clothes that were big then, now. Shelltoes, excessive amounts of branded sportswear and girly, cute accessories are back, with vintage pieces from brands such as Adidas, Champion and Tommy Hilfiger making a huge comeback.

O is for One of the boys 

Feminism is a big part of fashion this season and the way that brands are promoting it is through androgynous clothing. Jamie Wei Huang’s SS’15 collection is a perfect example of boy meets girl with oversized, boyish tailoring, masculine pocketing and buckled details with hints of feminine metallic and pastels tones throughout.

P is for Print

From Evisu and Christopher Shannon’s monochrome graphic type summer pieces to bold physcadelic printed two pieces from UNIF - the more outrageous, mismatching, head to toe in print outfit the better.

Q is for Queen 

I couldn’t think of anything beginning with the letter Q but the day I wrote this post it was also the Queens 89th birthday. ‘Appy Birfday Queenie! 

R is for Return of the Retro

As many of you will already know, the 70’s has made a massive comeback this summer. Trends such as suede, flares and warm colours have timehopped to this season’s catwalks but with contemporary twists such as digitalised block prints, structured silhouettes and modernised platforms.

S is for Supercolour

Just before easter Pharell Williams launched his superstar collaboration with Adidas. Probably the biggest shoes release of the year so far, with a majority of colours selling out in popular sizes just hours after the going on sale. There’s a colour to suit  any outfit, mood or personality…A trainer that has got everyone going colour crazy. 

T is for Tennis Club

This summer, Joyrich & Giza have teamed up to create the perfect tennis inspired street wear collection. Imagine candy colours meeting contemporary Fred Perry with the old skool pleated skirts, bomber jackets and co-ord tracksuits. This collection should definitely tempt you to get down to the tennis courts this summer!

U is for Underground

Beneath the pool of classic, well known brands that seem to get all the publicity when it comes to New York’s fashion scene, there is a generation of young, eccentric designers that have proven that New York fashion is not all about sticking to rules and being conventional. Gypsy Sport is a new avant garde brand who’s spring/summer fashion show was illegally presented at Washington Square Park. They are the perfect example of the creative talent that New York’s underground fashion scene has to offer.

V is for VFiles Sports Plus

The Sports Plus spring/summer collection of American retailers VFiles is a trip down memory lane to the riot girl moments of the 80’s and 90’s. With feminist slogans such as ‘girl power’ and ‘do not touch’ covering basketball tank tops, tight turtle neck jerseys and slouchy sweats. This collection is as powerful as it is comfy, a perfect summer statement.

W is for White 

Keep it cool, clean and contemporary this season with pieces that cover you head to toe in white. Four designers have empowered this ghostly look but have proven that white can still look interesting when texture and detailing is incorporated. Womenswear favourites include Lacoste’s full length hooded anorak & Dion Lee’s asymmetric, layered overalls. Menswear favourites are Craig Green’s quilted, hospital patient inspired suits & Cottweiler’s functional, London youth meets nineties minimalism inspired sportswear.

X is for X this X that

During the beginning of this year we have seen a increasing amount of news, involving brands that will be collaborating over these next few months. Two that have caught my attention and have already proven to be very big is No.1 the collaboration of Stone Island & Supreme and No.2 Eastpak & Jean Paul Gaultier’s joint launch. Stone Island X supreme’s SS’15 collection is a power duo consisting of heavily printed, lightweight anoraks and panel caps - signature pieces of theirs which have been joined together for the ultimate skate meets techno streetwear collection. 
Eastpak’s distinctive rucksack has been reinvented by extravagant fashion designer JPG - taking the functionality and joining it with pastel tones, interesting textures and a sense of luxury. Both collabs have already dropped and if you haven’t already it’s time to get buying!

Y is for Yayio Kasuma

Famous for her polka dot creations and collaborations with Louis Vuitton, Yayio is a japanese artist and designer who has recently been named the most popular living artist today. If you are wanting to join in with Yayio Kasuma’s light hearted signature style, then all you need to do is dress head to toe in polka dots. Eeeeeeaaasy!

Z is for Zoolander

Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson shockingly took the lead at the Valentino AW’15 show in Paris earlier this year, which has created a surge of popularity for their ridiculous fashion superstar characters from Zoolander and have now become the next biggest thing for the traditional, Italian couture house. Take a look at the new SS’15 campaign where Derek & Dansel take on the Eiffel Tower in multi-coloured camo.