Jeffrey Campbell - Boots to DIE for!!

Okay,  so you may be thinking, seriously, boots in this weather? Well, you have to be one step ahead, you may be wearing your sunglasses right now, but fall is right around the corner! Which means it's about time to start shopping for the next seasons must haves, and today we say; boots!

JEFFREY CAMPBELL has a great range of boots, some are plain and simple, but some are funky and are designed to make you stand out.
These are the Xray wedge boots by Jeffrey Campbell, with leather upper material which you can either wear folded up or down. They are available for a good price of $219.95! Hey, not bad! You can purchase these boots from a number of great websites mentioned on the Jeffrey Campbell site, the best one being SOULSTRUCK, simply because they the best selection! If these Jeffrey Campbell boots aren't your style, I'm sure there will be something on the site that fits you. Don't waste any time, check it out, now!


by Laura Woodbury-Smith

FEED

This past 4th of July weekend, as I was soaking up the rays on Long Beach Island, I couldn’t help but notice all the fun beach accessories worn by my fellow sun worshippers. There were glamorous shades and bright bikinis but what really caught my eye were all the chic beach bags. A friend I was with had an adorable but sturdy straw tote she found on the streets of Kenya. Needless to say, all the cute bags around me led to an intense online search for the perfect beach bag once I got home. Without much difficulty I found what I believe to be the most ideal beach bag. Not only is the “FEED Guatemala 3” bag, handmade by the country’s female artisans using traditional Ikat fabrics, super stylish, but it also supports women artisans and provides funding which helps UNICEF supply micro nutrient supplements to the children of Guatemala. The purchase of a “FEED Guatemala 3” bag for $39 (sold exclusively at Lord & Taylor) helps provide daily nutrient powder for 3 Guatemalan children for 1 year. With this bag you can be the envy of all the beach bums and do something good, what could be better?

By Jessica Best

Fifty Eight Faces

Fifty eight selected works hang in the National Portrait Gallery as part of the 2010 Portrait awards. The worlds most prestigious portrait competition, it promotes the very best in contemporary portrait painting. A lot of people have started to expect these awards, but any doubting aside the standard of skill is near impossible to fault. For in each composition and sitter the artist has found something intriguing to present and there is a certain sense of something captivating in each of the 58. The winning portrait is Daphne Todds the 'Last Portrait of Mother', Todd painted her mother Annie Mary Todds on her death bed, just after she had reached her 100th birthday. In a competition to this standard where the winning prize is £25,000 the winners and winner are going to be questionable. Perhaps this years winner was significant in seeming to move away from the traditional static association between the painter and the sitter, Todds exploration of a invasive and contemporary theme was a far move easily associated with the contemporary notion of 'art' in 2010. However, the idea that there is anything less exciting or fulfilling than great painting is sadly mistaken. Until September at the Nation Portrait Gallery, London.


by Katriona Flynn

Princess Grace

A fitting tribute to a truly remarkable lady. Actress, model, and of course delectable style icon Grace Patricia Kelly takes Centrex stage once more, this time at the Victoria and Albert Museum London. Commonly referred to as Princess Grace, after marrying the Prince of Morocco Grace Kelly was paramount in her role as 'her Serene Highness'. This collection gathers a magnificent array of the stars possessions from jewellery and hats to Dior, Balenciaga, Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent gowns worn throughout Graces career. Her semblance, charm and magnetism meant that although she retired from the silver screen at 26, to dedicate her time solely to her duties in Morocco. She was still named by the American Film Institute as one of their top female stars in American cinema. She has film clips, photographs, and of course the Oscar statuette won by Kelly in 1954 are on show this exhibition, running until September 26th it should not be missed by those who loved Princess Grace and the allure of her style.

By Katriona Flynn

The Revival of a Legend

After the tragic and unexpected loss of Alexander McQueen, one of the most creative and esteemed designers in the fashion industry, many believed that his essence was lost as well. However, after a glimpse of Sarah Burton’s creations for the Alexander McQueen pre-spring 2011 collection, I think that there should be a lot more hope left in all of us. Burton has done a fantastic job of taking McQueen’s signature style (dark glamour with a focus on structure) and giving it her own, more whimsical twist. Inspired by Hans Bellmer’s dolls and samurai warriors, this collection, as explained by Burton, attempts to “juxtapose the pale and the delicate with the bold and armorial. It’s about a highly structured torso that gives way to a more fluid silhouette or drop waists that lead to a finned trouser to skirt.” This vision comes across strikingly well through both the structure and the fabric of each piece. Burton perfectly captures McQueen’s classic tension between the structure and flow of clothing, while attempting to incorporate lightness and femininity. The contrast between pieces such as the armored bodysuit and the nude lace dress works magically, as it showcases an effortless mixture of each designer’s point of view. The pieces in this collection can be worn to events all across the spectrum (the blood-red gown to a Hollywood event, the structured jacket to the office), which makes it so much more marketable than previous collections have been. I am personally very impressed with the collection, and am especially impressed with Sarah Burton’s execution of her vision. She has done an amazing job of subtly weaving her own signature style into a brand that fashion icon Alexander McQueen had so strongly established before his sudden departure. I can’t wait to see what she does next! To view the entire collection, click here.



By Ali Antonucci