Snoopers Paradise

7-8 Kensington Gardens
Brighton, East Sussex BN1 4AL
01273 602 558

At first I disregarded the crowded windows and unorganised chaotic displays as a wasted space filed with unwanted junk and a lingering musty smell. But something lured me in as I saw other onlookers stray from the bustling side streets of Brighton with an intent to satisfy a nagging insistence that a certain object was waiting to catch their eye and speak to them alone from amongst the disorderly stacks of forgotten things. It is literally insane, every gap is filled with piles of jewellery, records, photographs, slides, toys, lamps, clocks, clothing, ornaments, suitcases and guitars, an endless lists of ‘things’ that make up a visual evidence of a persons life. You can wander at ease around the different rooms, carefully organised despite the jumble of objects. It is a maze of space bulging with trinkets and ‘bits and bobs’ that could supply endless inspirations for fashion shoots, paintings and interior styling. Aptly named, you can snoop through another’s past, dipping in to a paradise pool of stories. Recommended for an inquisitive mind seeking inspiration or if you want to replace your old junk with someone else’s!

BRITISH POLLUTERS -poem inspired by greenpeace's latest campaign against BP'S lack of responsibility in oil spill crisis

'It's ok'

Don't you worry your pretty little head.

Its not your fault the earth is dead.

FUCK IT!

Stomp your carbon boots about!

blacken the oceans, murder the trout.

iT'S OK!- ... so you don't like green?

you'd rather sit just in between.

Don't you worry, we have loads of trees,

It's not your fault the ice won't freeze.

Push it under your cooperate rug,

lay out excuses. Go on! feel smug!

It's OK!- ...so your empty inside?

Dont let your conscience overrule your pride!

Christine Pettman

inspired by long analytical conversations with the girlies, special thanks to K.B! XOX

Relationships. A wireless connection?

After a secret indulgent few hours of sex and the city re runs, I noted that even in the last series the importance of technology in relationships is completely brushed over. Yes that sounds clinical and inhumane almost, but it’s a rather guilty truth that rests beneath our sub-consciousness and supposedly moral superiority as women who ‘have it all’. Yet surely our adamant dismissal only re enforces our obvious avoidance of the fact, that we have more reliance than ever on technology to help us form and sustain relationships?

In life generally the ease of communication is so readily available, so effortless that we barely acknowledge our use of it. My grandparents’ generation waste hours in pre-arrangements to rendezvous at a later date, working themselves in to a bickering turmoil of potential times and places. I agonisingly listen, fully aware that this triviality of pre arrangement can be cut out completely through a simple text. Technology can make spontaneity more than just a thought in our crammed days, but a realistic possibility. An unexpected phone call and free window of time at the right moment can delightfully shift the flow of your day in to a new path. For general practicality then, it keeps things efficient and makes time for sudden opportunities to arise and experiences to be had.

But with relationships it makes things tricky. A generation that never turns off their phones and are constantly reachable through this permanently open portal of communication, leave little space for solitude and uninterrupted time with their own thoughts or even with a real person...

(for full article email christinepettman@hotmail.com)

latest antics

Final major for uni; a book on street culture in Barcelona, and my personal experience upon finding it. Blog is a work in progress, watch this space!

http://thecolourofbarcelona.blogspot.com/

A quick jaunt to Oxford darrrhling..

More bikes than cars,

Earl grey and Lacrosse,

Jack Wills,

serious faces,

food market,

french,a breakup and politics over paninis,

quick sprint to Topshop.

Backstage at Ada Zanditon

What inspired the hair styling for the Ada Zandition show?

"We wanted to achieve was a very young and playful feel, creating quite a bit of texture, and then to keep it fresh we are swapped everything to one side and swept it in to a figure of eight twist. We created a very matted texture, but contrasted this with a beautiful sweeping wave at the front.

We didn’t want to overpower the clothes and swept hair aside a little to show the beautiful detailing on the shoulders of some of the garments."

What are the hair trends for Autumn/Winter 2010?

"The quick fix, ‘bad hair day’ plait is sticking around, it's quick, it's easy and always looks great so it is something the consumers will definitely wear. Also tampering with texture, a chemically over-processed, messy look… and colours definitely, pastel colours are coming in, blues, pinks and silvery tones that certainly reflect some of the forthcoming collections."

Words: Christine Pettman
Image: Eddie Blagbrough

Beekay

Beekay’s Autumn/Winter 2010 collection was inspired by trees, looking at their round circumferences and the shapes made from the branches. “I wanted to challenge myself by using a very simple starting point and seeing what I could do with it, and how I could develop it.” Evidence of how the circular tree trunk has inspired the collection is clear in the structure of the garments, everything is round: the hoods, the panelling and zips. Usually inspired by a story, Beekay used the pressure he felt for a second collection and cycle of his thoughts as a point of inspiration.

The collection is entirely black, broken up by denim trousers coated with latex glue to add a silver sheen, and a frenzy of YKK zips. YKK, the globally recognized zip company, have played a key part in assisting Beekay’s current collection and he is due to sign with them for further involvement in the future. The jackets and t-shirts are made from suede and jersey to create a very comfortable, wearable collection.

After working three seasons for Aminaka Wilmont, there is definite evidence of how this influenced Beekay, not just in the grungy, moody tone of the collection but also the use of print, which you can see in his t-shirts, and leather. Julius Garden, Beekays favourite menswear designer, has helped mould his designs in to a distinctive, experimental and wearable brand.

Beekay explained how the work of Vauxhall Fashion Scout is important platform when it comes to showing menswear as an up and coming designer, “I’m really happy with all the support and exposure and I’m looking forward to showing with them again next season.” His next collection is remaining under wraps although Beekay hinted that “bugs” may be an element of his next concept.

Words: Christine Pettman

Images: Eddie Blagbrough