Karlie Kloss for Nike

Last week supermodel Karlie Kloss was unveiled as the new face of the Nike Pro Bra Collection. As someone who regularly endorses exercise, healthy eating, and eating cookies (Karlie’s Kookies no less), this is a campaign that The Beautifully Healthy Project is rather excited about.

Vogue Australia has previously reported on Karlie’s relationship with exercise; she says: “Movement is everything. A body in motion stays in motion and I have a lot of body so I like to keep it moving.” 

Yes Karlie is very slender and has previously been caught up in a little controversy for being “too thin”, however if her Instagram feed and pictures of her younger self are to go by then Karlie is simply one of those people who is blessed with the slim gene. Like fellow supermodels Kate Moss and Cara Delevinge she could have chosen to rest on her blessed genes by shunning exercise in favour of constant partying, questionable substance taking and smoking, however Karlie has chosen the Beautifully Healthy path of a life filled with exercise and nutritional food.

It is well reported that Karlie grew up doing ballet and has since thrown herself into the modelFIT exercise regime, and her lean but strong figure is a great fit for the Nike brand. In the campaign she looks strong but slender, powerful but feminine – something that is resonating with many other celebrities such as Millie Mackintosh who regularly uses the hastag #strongnotskinny. And indeed, although I shall never be anywhere near as lean as Karlie or Millie, the strong not skinny ethos is one that I aspire to. It is a healthy message which encourages women to focus on their health and fitness rather than their shape and size.

So here are some shots from Karlie’s Nike Pro Bra Collection campaign:

Karlie looks incredible in these photos (there are others in the campaign in which she looks equally as amazing), and I really do think they portray a woman who is naturally slender but also healthy – there are no protruding bones, but instead lean biceps and abs which represent Karlie’s hard work in the gym but also that she does actually eat.

So I hope this neat little campaign inspires you to be Beautifully Healthy and to embrace exercise and healthy eating as part of your day-to-day life. And of course, don’t forget the Kookies! – they are an essential part of Karlie’s lifestyle as she often takes them to shows and shoots. They are vegan and gluten-free, and I’ve heard they’re absolutely delicious and give you that little bit of extra energy. If you don’t believe me have a little look at what the Voguers have to say about them…

What do you think of Karlie’s new Nike campaign?

Love Lucy x

The Vogue Festival 2013: festival fashion hub

As promised in yesterday's blog post, today I will share snippets of all the fun extras that Vogue Festival goers could enjoy. The talks took place in two large auditoriums at the South Bank Centre in London, but in the atrium joining the two halls together, there was what I will call, the "festival fashion hub". The fashion hub was an incredibly exciting place to be. It was the perfect opportunity for outfit inspirations, and fashion lovers could indulge in some beauty therapy, whether that was Dior smokey eyes, YSL gorgeous lip colour, or the incredibly popular Vogue braid bar. All of these beauty indulgences were totally free with any talk ticket!

Unfortunately I didn't have time to indulge in these freebies as I was busy enjoying another pop-up activity in the festival fashion hub... as I had attended Behind the Scenes of a Vogue Cover Shoot, I simply couldn't resist the chance to make my very own Vogue cover photo! Although this experience cost an extra £10, it was such a rare opportunity, and I just had to have a go! My make up was touched up by a professional Chanel make up artist, who decided that I should try Chanel Rebel on my lips (it was so bright, but I loved it!), she touched up my cheek bones, put minimal liner and shadow on my eyes, and made my eyebrows darker. I loved sitting in the make up chair being pampered - it was something I could definitely get used to! The next step was to chose some Chanel props for the shoot, and I just had to go for the sparkly Chanel jacket! The super friendly stylist also dressed me in Chanel pearls, sunglasses, and gold cuff - I couldn't believe I was wearing so much Chanel all in one go, and dread to think of how much all those accessories cost. At this point I should let you all know that I am really not comfortable having my photograph taken, and I was so nervous to have all those fashion professionals staring, so I just had to try and have fun with it (but ended up looking quite stiff and serious!). But... here is my attempt at a Vogue cover (!):

Other fun elements of the festival was the chic Vogue café and the exclusive Vogue Festival shop. I simply couldn't resist splashing some cash in the shop and came away with the Vogue Festival t-shirt, £20, which was made to look effortlessly cool by the Vogue staff,  and a collectable book called Vogue on Coco Chanel, £15. 

The final, and truly novel, highlight of my Vogue Festival experience was the Fashion Journalism Panel that was put on to provide unique advice for any budding fashion journalists at the event. I was incredibly privileged to have a one-on-one chat with Sarah Harris, British Vogue Fashion Features Director. I thought I would use my time to simply ask her about her job and how she got there, and spent most of my time listening to her every word to try and gain as much advice as I could. Her journey into the industry was blessed by the fact that from an early age she knew exactly what she wanted to go into, and she had the confidence and intelligence to go for it. I told her that for a large proportion of my life, the fashion industry was one that seemed as though it was in another dreamlike world, and that in was an intangible concept to me. However I shared that recently I had realised that perhaps it wasn't so unreachable, and if I could, I would really love to have a good crack at being a fashion journalist. She could see that I had the drive, and I am confident that my writing is strong enough, and so she advised me to enter the Vogue Talent Competition. It is something that I will definitely enter, I just need to decided whether I want to do it this year or next. She also said that an incredibly important part of any features contributor is having the ideas and creative imagination. 

My experience of the Vogue Festival 2013 was a truly inspiring one. It made me realise that the fashion industry is actually a lot more welcoming than it may first appear. There really are many people within it who are willing to share their experiences to inspire and cultivate the next wave of potential industry contributors. When my day was over on Saturday, I only wishes that I had bought a ticket to come back for more on the Sunday! Next year I am most definitely going to purchase a weekend ticket, and I strongly advise that you do too!

Love Lucy x

The Vogue Festival 2013: Behind the Scenes of a Vogue Cover Shoot

As I sit here trying to write a blog post about my experience of the Vogue Festival 2013, I simply can't find the words to express how wonderful it was. It was a truly unique experience, and one which offered fashion lovers a real insight into the industry. It was like walking into a room which just was Vogue - British Vogue in motion. Each person had their own style quirks, and the atmosphere totally dispelled the myth that the fashion world is negatively judgemental; instead all I heard were sincere compliments about fellow attendees. As it was such an exciting experience I have decided to split up my day into two blog posts: this one will focus solely on the talk I attended - Behind the Scenes of a Vogue Cover Shoot; and tomorrow's will be more about my overall experience, the fun extras that were available, and the innovative Fashion Mentoring Panel.

The Festival was underpinned by a series of talks and discussions from some of the industry giants. If I could have I would have attended them all, but being a recent graduate on a charity wage, I had to be careful about which talk I treated myself to. I was absolutely delighted to be in one the few discussions lead by Alexandra Shulman - British Vogue Editor-in-Chief - and even more delighted when I found out that it was the only discussion in which "the beautiful tornado" Cara Delevingne would be speaking! Also on the panel was the extremely eloquent Lucinda Chambers - lover of hats and ankle socks! Queen of the smokey eye Charlotte Tilbury, who worked on her first British Vogue cover in 2003. Leading hairstylist Sam McKnight, who has been working on British Vogue covers since the late 70s. So here is what I learnt about being Behind the Scenes of a Vogue Cover Shoot...

Fact number one about Vogue cover shoots: the end result is often not what was planned! Fact number two: you have to be prepared for the totally unexpected to happen! These two facts were wonderfully highlighted by some very entertaining tales from the panel. Not least of all was the story behind Emma Watson's December 2010 British Vogue Cover. Luckily Lucinda could now view the events of Emma's first cover with the light-heartedness that hindsight can offer, but at the time, when they discovered that the Eurostar train manager had stolen all the clothes for the photo shoot, neither Emma nor Lucinda nor Emma's agent could see the funny side. Lucinda recalled how Emma kept saying "But I've waited ten years for this! [for her first Vogue shoot]". Happily, one dress showed up: the Valentino. The Valentino saved the day, and it turned out that Emma's cover was divine. 

But the true professionals showed that they could rock almost any situation. Sam McKnight suffered a similar disaster to Lucinda when none of the hair products showed up for a shoot with Kate Moss on a secluded Caribbean island; he had to make do with sea water to style Miss Moss's do! However despite their professional attitudes and invaluable experiences, it seems that everyone from Testino to Delevingne get nervous when shooting a British Vogue cover. Cara spoke of her nerves on the day of the March 2013 issue (top photo). She felt like it was her first job, despite having worked with the "dream team" a number of times before. However Lucinda interestingly said that she assumes everyone is nervous when shooting a cover, as it has to be that "money" shot. Alexandra acknowledged that it is the one outward facing page of the magazine each month - the one that has to say "buy me", but have the essence of British Vogue at the same time, so it is only natural that the team are nervous. However they all spoke of a sort of magic that can happen on a cover shoot, and Lucinda said it most definitely happened on Cara's shoot; she spoke of a light that comes on behind a model's eyes when everything is coming together, and then she can relax, knowing that they will have "the shot". 

It also became increasingly apparent that a cover shoot is very much a collaborative effort between everyone involved. Everyone on the panel respected each other's professional artistic talents, and spoke of how they had to be open to artistic fluidity on the day of a cover shoot; only then will something special be produced. 

The panel were incredibly engaging, and obviously very passionate about their work. Sometimes perhaps a little too passionate, as Lucinda admitted to dismissing Cheryl Cole's Malaria as a bit of a temperature, pretty much forcing her to continue until they had the shot. She did, however, feel rather awful when she later saw on the news that the starlett had been taken into intensive care - but at least they had the shot!

One last secret that I just have to share with you all is that on Natalia Vodianova's May 2008 cover, Lucinda had to capture the shot in a taxi on her way to the airport, and there wasn't even enough time to get her into the dress! Lucinda simply asked her to lie on the dress, to create an illusion that she was wearing, and the results are stunning - that is what I call true professionalism!

The amounts of pressure that the Vogue team are sometimes under, would be truly overwhelming to most, however hearing them speak has simply reinforced to me that they really are the best in the business. And the fact that they want to share their experiences with others who look up to them is a truly encouraging sign for the next generation.

Do keep an eye out for my next post on the 2013 Vogue Festival in association with Vertu.

Love Lucy x

The Vogue Festival 2013: have you got your tickets yet?

The Vogue Festival in association with Vertu is taking place in London, England, on 27th and 28th of this month. This is an event which is only in its second year; however the resounding success of the first guarantees this one to be a must-attend event in any fashion lover's calendar. This entirely unique opportunity enables those of us who aren't "in" the industry to have a glimpse into the careers and experiences of those who are. It is an event which signals the pioneering attitude of British fashion, as it is open to anyone who is willing to purchase a ticket (priced between £30-£40), and is not just exclusive to those who are already consider as important within the industry.

I am lucky enough to have got my hands on a ticket for the talk entitled "Behind the Scenes of a Vogue Cover Shoot: secrets from the set". This discussion involves industry giants such as British Vogue Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Shulman, Vogue Fashion Director Lucinda Chambers, hairstylist Sam McKnight, make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, and model of the moment Cara Delevingne (ahhh!). Unfortunately the tickets for this discussion are sold out, however in early May I shall be writing a detailed blog post about the things I learn on the day, and promise to share any secrets that may be shared by the discussion leaders. I would also like to suggest that if you have a burning question that you may like to ask any of these people, I may be able to ask it on you behalf, so just let me know...

If you would like to attend the Festival yourself, there are still tickets available, so whip your plastic out ASAP! At the time of my posting this blog post, there are still places for discussions such as "So, You Want To Be a Fashion Designer?", "Paul Smith and Alexa Chung", and "Too Fat, Too Thin...Will We Ever Be Content?". Take a look at the Southbank Centre website for more details: www.southbankcentre.co.uk

For more information for the Vogue website itself, please click on the following link: www.vogue.co.uk

Do you have tickets for The Vogue Festival 2013? If so which discussions are you going to? I would love to hear! I would also love to hear any feedback from those of you who went to the 2012 Vogue Festival, just so I know what to expect!

I am very much looking forward to reporting back from this event!

Love Lucy x

We Need To Talk About Cara

Cara Delevingne. The name that has the fashion world buzzing with excitement. The expression-filled face that is everywhere. The personality that bubbles over with a youthful vigour. There are even whispers that she will be, or already is, "The New Kate Moss". And as her friend Rihanna would say This Girl Is On Fire. Fashion Fire.

Needless to say Miss Delevingne has had a fortunate upbringing. She, along with her elder sisters Chloe and Poppy, attended prestigious boarding schools, and are friends with many an influential person from royalty to rockstar offspring. Her father is a "property man", and the girls enjoyed a luxurious upbringing in Belgravia, London. Not only was she born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but she was also born with extraordinarily good genes and mile high legs!

But, to Cara's credit, where most people would rest on their diamond-crusted laurels, she's used her connections, good looks, and vivacious personality to her advantage, and has worked incredibly hard to prove herself in the ruthless world of fashion. She's fearless. And fashion loves fearless. She's not afraid to make a fool of herself, and I believe that's what makes her such a fantastic model with such a solid fan-base. Her Instagram is overflowing with goofy pictures which make you want to hang out with her, yet on the catwalk she transforms into a fierce creature who can carry any outfit.

She is even loved by Vogue - the ultimate seal of approval for any model wanting to make it. In the British February edition they released some incredible figures about her season - she walked in 38 shows, showcasing 54 different looks, spending an impressive four-and-a-half hours on the catwalk. No wonder she was named the British Fashion Council's Model of the Year.

She's become a regular in the Burberry campaigns and catwalk shows - some of my favourite "Cara" shoots - recently starring alongside Romeo Beckham. Take a peek at my favourite shot below, and also some of my other favourite "Cara" campaigns. 

These three campaigns are impressive feats for a 20-year-old model. She's shown she's versatile and willing to put the hard-yards in. However, the best is yet to come. The cover of the Spring/Summer edition of LOVE magazine was leaked on Instagram, and, you've guessed it, it's a picture of Cara on the front. I think it's her best yet. What do you think?

The issue is out on 4th February in the UK, and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy to see the rest of the shoot. 

So, Miss Delevingne is doing pretty well for her young years! It's not even surprising that "la cara" in Spanish translates to "face" - she really is the face of the moment. 

Now all that's left to do is to wait and see how her career unfolds. What do you think Cara's future holds?

Love Lucy x

January Wish List: Top Ten

Happy New Year to all! I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year, and are feeling refreshed enough to take on 2013 with appropriate vigour and enthusiasm! Personally I haven't made any "resolutions" as such - I already exercise regularly, I don't overindulge too often, and I quit smoking 7 months ago - however I have committed to generally improving my time-management so that I can improve on the foundations that are already there. Do you have any exciting resolutions for 2013?

January's Wish List is very much an actual Wish List, rather than a Shopping List, due to funds being incredibly low this month - however I still dare to dream! Evidently there are not many clothes on my list, as many of us are trying to shift those few extra pounds from the festive period, however I have included a trusty pair of jeans. The jeans are from Topshop and they're on the list as not only am I in desperate need of a new pair, but I have found Topshop jeans to be great for my shape and long-lasting.  The accessories, shoes and makeup I've included are fun and bright, and are ideal to cheer us up during the bleak January period - I know I need to shake off those January blues, and although it isn't everything in life, fashion is a good place to start!

1.

VICTORIA BECKHAM

two-tone crepe dress

£450

www.net-a-porter.com

2.

MULBERRY

leather apple keyring

£70

www.mulberry.com

3.

JAQUIE AICHE

double ring with bezel

£85.39

www.shopbop.com

4.

FRENCH SOLE

henrietta galaxi ballet flats

£130

www.frenchsole.com

5.

TOPSHOP

moto vintage baxter jeans in mid stone

£40

www.topshop.com

6.

AMERICAN APPAREL

leather heart makeup pouch

£24

store.americanapparel.co.uk

7.

TOPSHOP

latch crossover platforms

£58

www.topshop.com

8.

BOBBI BROWN

glitter sparkle eyeshadow

£20

www.bobbibrown.co.uk

9.

RAQUEL ALLEGRA

tie-dyed cotton-blend jersey sweatshirt

£205

www.net-a-porter.com

10.

BARRY M

aqua glitter nail paint

£2.99

www.barrym.com

So I hope that my January Wish List has given you some inspiration in what can often be a rather depressing month. The Bobbi Brown glitter sparkle eyeshadow was included as firstly it is gorgeous, but secondly Katie Holme's first campaign for Bobbi Brown was revealed today, so do be sure to check out the Vogue review: www.vogue.co.uk

What's on your January Wish List?

Love Lucy x

p.s. Please do continue to help my blog grow through 2013 - I really do appreciate all of your support! x

Vogue's London Fashion Night Out: French Sole

Last night saw a dazzling explosion of fashion occur in over 500 cities around the globe. FNO is the brainchild of the highly revered Anna Wintour and is now in its fourth year. This years events promised to be bigger and better than ever and in London the evening was absolutely fabulous - if only it could have gone on for longer!

The main part of my evening was spent in French Sole and Anya Hindmarch. My experiences in each of these shops were simply too wonderful to cram into one blog post, so today I am dedicating this post to the exquisite French Sole, and tomorrow I will focus on the glittering Anya Hindmarch.

French Sole is powered by the talented Jane Winkworth who has always been obsessed with all things "ballet". She established her now notorious brand in 1989, and is often thought to be the creator of the ballet pump. As a lover of comfort and fashion I am naturally drawn to her comfortable, yet stylish and fashion-forward shoes, and French Sole's FNO did not fail to delight!

Neatly nestled at 26 Brook Street the French Sole flagsip is intimate and inviting. On arrival we were greeted by smiling staff and gorgeous Marquis Vodka cocktails. As we sipped on our delicious elderflower, mint, sparkling water, and Marquis Vodka cocktails we browsed the the beautiful A/W12 collection (whilst nibbling the occasional cheeky cupcake or tasty macaroon).

The shoes themselves are desirable and chic. With the likes of Kate Middleton and Olivia Palermo often being snapped wearing French Sole ballets which fashion forward girl wouldn't want a pair? I'm certainly looking to expand my collection! My particular favourites last night were the mirrored Henriettas - they are just divine!

Other highlights in the A/W12 collection include the glitter toe-capped Henriettas and the brand new Driving Shoe. The Driving Shoes are a delightful classic with a contemporary twist, and are fast becoming a firm favourite with the French Sole customers. On the website they come in seven glorious colours, including electric blue, vibrant red, and chic navy. 

www.frenchsole.com

Customers who visited French Sole last night will agree that the event was a complete success. The ambiance was relaxed but with an exciting buzz, created by the ingenious collaboration between French Sole and Marquis Vodka. There were many socialites spotted at the event including Davina Harbord, Poppy Cotterell, and Prince Amar Singh. Lots of customers took the opportunity to try on their favourite styles, such as my good friend Jess, who was more than happy to pose in a beautiful pair of pink snakeskin French Sole ballet pumps. 

Thank you French Sole for a beautiful evening filled with gorgeous shoes and refreshing Marquis Vodka cocktails! I'm looking forward to seeing what you have in store for S/S13! 

Love Lucy x

P.S. Be sure to follow French Sole and Marquis Vodka on Facebook and Twitter!

www.facebook.com/frenchsolefan

www.facebook.com/marquisvodkaus

www.twitter.com/frenchsole

www.twitter.com/MarquisVodka

September Wish List: Top Ten

September is undoubtedly The Fashion Month. Over the next few weeks we will be indulging in all sorts of fashion treats such as Vogue's Fashion Night Out and international fashion weeks. So, with important fashion dates inscribed into our calendars, what will you be wearing? Here's my Top Ten for September (if only I could afford it!).

1. 
   

ALEXANDER WANG 

wool-blend & rubberized-tweed mini dress

£475

http://www.net-a-porter.com

2.

VANESSA BRUNO ATHE

textured pattern-knit coat

£460

http://www.net-a-porter.com

3.

MASON BY MICHELLE MASON

washed silk-georgette and chiffon dress

£470

http://www.net-a-porter.com

4.

FRENCH SOLE

lilac mirrored ballet pumps

£115

http://www.frenchsole.com

5.

ANYA HINDMARCH

valorie in multi-coloured glitter fabric

£350

http://www.anyahindmarch.com

6.

MULBERRY

ipad case in pink glossy goat

£295

http://www.mulberry.com

7.

BARBOUR

cookstown jacket from the heritage collection in black

£299.95

http://www.barbour.com

8.

TOPSHOP

black collar tip shirt

£36

http://www.topshop.com

9.

TOPSHOP

co-ord fluro boucle skirt

£45

http://www.topshop.com

10.

TOPSHOP

parton metal trim boots

£120

http://www.topshop.com

What's on your September Wish List?

Love Lucy x

Model of the Moment: Karlie Kloss

Karlie Kloss is one of the most coveted models in the fashion industry at the moment. I'm sure that I'm preaching to the congregation with this piece, however, I'm going to write it anyway as I really believe that Karlie is the next Supermodel (or, arguably, already is). In my opinion Karlie deserves to be classed with Kate, Naomi, and Linda. And I'm going to tell you why!

Despite her relatively young age of 20 Karlie is already extremely accomplished in the fashion industry. She was discovered in St. Louis, Missouri, at the tender age of 13. With a background in ballet she took to modeling like a duck to water. Since then her career has rocketed (despite a lawsuit between the agency who launched her career - Elite - and the agency who bought her out of her original contract - Next). She has starred in over 20 campaigns (my favourite being the Marc Jacobs Lola campaign). She has walked in countless shows for the best designers (in 2008 she walked in 64 shows in one season). And she has graced the cover of Vogue in Italy, Portugal, China, Korea, Turkey, and most recently in Britain.

It is indisputable that she possesses all of the essentials for a fashion model. Never ending limbs: check. Flawless, glowing skin: check. Enviable bone structure: check. Grace and elegance: check. That certain je ne sais quoi: check. However she possesses something else which is rare, even amongst models: ethnic universality. Although, to my knowledge, Karlie's heritage is Caucasian, she has a face which shows hints of many ethnicities. Along with her asymmetric beauty, her ethnic ambiguity makes her a perfect muse. This makes her extremely flexible and relatable to most girls.

And most of all she seems like a very grounded person who is not likely to forget where she came from; a recent tweet reading: "Such a great weekend in St. Louis with friends and family #STLpride".

https://twitter.com/karliekloss

Be sure to grab a copy of the September issue of British Vogue before the end of the month! Nick Knight's dandy HAZE captures Karlie beautifully. His concept is simple: blank backgrounds to highlight the vibrancy of the clothes and the beauty of the model. It's definitely worth buying!

If you can't get your hands on a copy then here's a sneaky peek:

http://www.vogue.co.uk

Do you think Karlie will become known as the newest Supermodel? I certainly do!

Love Lucy x

The Power of Gray

It seems that Gray is having a moment.

London has awoken to a dull, gray day, Vogue's fashion forecast is suggesting we wear Jil Sander coats in August, and Fifty Shades of Grey has gripped the nation for weeks. Personally, I find these facts rather depressing: give me sunshine over clouds any day; affording a Jil Sander coat is a distant dream when you're unemployed; and as an English graduate I would much prefer to read the romantic and classic Pride & Prejudice than the twisted and classless Fifty Shades.

However there is one Gray who can save this otherwise dreary day... Louise Gray and her vibrant new collection for Topshop!

Her collection offers an exciting explosion of wonderful colours, sequins, and glitter which guarantees to brighten any gray day! This collaboration has kicked against the up-and-coming trends of monochrome and baroque, and has offered fashionistas a fun alternative. Once again Topshop has created a triumphant partnership and is likely to revel in its success!

Will you be brave enough to try Gray's vivacious glittering collection? I dare you...

http://www.topshop.com

Love Lucy x