The Magic of Yin Yoga

So you may have noticed that I haven't posted any articles in a very long time (!) I can only apologise; my teaching has really taken over & I've not found the balance between working & resting (but that's for another post!).

And something else that's been keeping me busy recently was my 8-day Yin Yoga teacher training course with the inspirational Sebastian Pucelle & Murielle Burellier.

Before taking the course I was already sold on the benefits of yin yoga - after each Yin class I'd taken I would literally feel as though I was floating, and any crap that had been hanging over me prior to the practice would seem like it had magically melted away. And since taking the teacher training course I am even more sold! I now have knowledge of some of the science behind the practice & it is impossible to deny the endless benefits it provides the practitioner.

Typically in Yin we hold the postures for 5 minutes (but it can be anything between 2-20 minutes if the practitioner wishes to experiment). The reason for this is that it takes at least 2 minutes for the muscles to relax, and then we can get into the nitty gritty...releasing tension from the fascia (connective tissues) which envelopes every single muscle & joint in the body. Fascia is the most intricate, complex & fascia-nating (sorry not sorry!) network in our bodies. Physically it holds everything in place - without it we would be a heap of bone & floppy muscle - and emotionally it can hold the key to our emotional wellbeing. Therefore, through yin yoga we can release tension from our connective tissues & minds, leaving us open to express ourselves with freedom and spaciousness.

On our course we were encouraged to disregard "The Rule of Alignment" when teaching any form of yoga. "The Rule of Alignment" is a concept that was never mentioned in the Sutras, the Upanishads or the Vedas, it is something that only came about with the popularism of Ashtanga & Iyengar in the 20th century. Instead we have been encouraged to start thinking about teaching through "The Functional Approach to Yoga" - not a very sexy name, but a very sensible approach. This approach takes into consideration that every single yoga practitioner is a different shape - not just in their outer body, but down to a skeletal level - therefore each pose will look different on each person. Rather than being concerned with how a pose looks, it is much more important how a pose feels. Where are you engaging? What are you lengthening? Where can you feel the stretch? These are the questions we should be asking. Not: how do I look?

Yin yoga, and "The Functional Approach to Teaching Yoga", is the yoga of feeling into a pose, rather than being preoccupied with how the pose looks aestheically. It encourages true connection to what is happening within - emotionally and physically.

To conclude, I have learned so much, and am eternally grateful to Sebastian and Murielle for sharing their wisdom and passion. They have truly shown me that Yin yoga is a gift to our bodies and minds. It is the chance to just “be”: nowhere else to go, nothing else to do, no-one else to be. It is the anecdote to our busy, fiery, yang lives. It is finding stillness amongst the chaos. Yin yoga is a homecoming to ourselves, an awakening of body, mind and spirit.

Love & light,

L x

Join me at my Yin & Yang: Finding Balance workshop on Saturday 30th September in Ascot, Berkshire. Email me for further info: lucyvicjackson@gmail.com

Yoga in the clouds

Yoga at nearly 800ft might not be everyone's idea of a good time, but for me it was the perfect way to start my 26th year! My very clever (and lovely) boyfriend arranged it as our anniversary gift (extra "awww" points as it was at the top of the Shard that he first asked me out), but seeing as it was a Saturday morning and I usually teach at least two classes myself every Saturday, the only weekend I felt justified to take off was my birthday. (Don't feel sorry for me, I really couldn't love my job more!). So on Saturday 11th June at 8.15am we ascended to level 68 of the Shard...

These kind of yoga events take place at the Shard (and in other significant London locations) on select Saturdays throughout the year. We booked ours via Virgin Experiences but the event itself is run by Yogasphere. We were therefore a little surprised when we showed up that the event didn't seem overly organised...no one quite knew where to queue or even if we were standing in the correct location (we assumed that the array of 50 different coloured lycras indicated we were in the right spot though!). Even when an event organiser did show up it was still rather muddled...we definitely accidentally queue jumped as she turned to our side of the queue first and let us all in, even though the other side had been waiting longer...(it was a complete accident though, I promise!). 

The staff from the Shard, however, were wonderful - they smiled us all the way up to the top and we found the right room with ease. We were lucky to be some of the first ones in,  and so we got top pick of which view we wanted! Whilst the other students filtered in we were lucky enough to have some time to take a few photos of the stunning view. Despite being up there once before it was a huge novelty and I just couldn't get over the excitement that we were about to do a yoga class up the Shard! Lucky duckys! (I'm not sure Chris was so excited!). 

The yoga soon began and I tried my hardest to sit with my eyes closed, knowing the beautiful view was all around me. The teacher opened the class in a rather surprising way...she didn't introduce her name or the class, but opened with a line about getting our collective energy going. I am all for working as one and spreading the love, but this was a little bit of a surprise! I was expecting a class that was accessible to people who were fairly new to yoga - to me this kind of yoga experience is something that people who aren't overly into yoga would do for the novelty factor, or because their girlfriend wanted to do it (sorry Chris!). But this was serious yoga time...

It was a great class, quite difficult, and not overly beginner friendly, but I did really enjoy it (I also got a great adjustment which is always wonderful). The teacher was obviously very experienced and a wonderful yogi, but I did feel a little bad for those who were struggling around me. (I know, I am such a terrible yogini - definitely should have been focusing on my own practice and not what those around me were doing, but it's so so hard to switch off from yoga teacher mode especially when you see people shaking in a dodgy downward facing dog - I just want to help them!). 

After the class there were further opportunities to take a few photos and to grab a goodie bag to take home. All-in-all it was a really wonderful experience and it really was the most amazing way to start my 26th year. But I would say if you're planning to try it just go with a really open mind, and don't worry if you can't keep up with the whole class. Go with a smile and simply enjoy it! (If it all gets too much you can always pretend you're popping to the loo and just go up a floor to enjoy the view!). 

Has anyone else tried yoga up the Shard? Or in a similar situation? I'd love to hear your experiences.

Love & light,

Lucy x

5 ways to get outside and get exercising this summer

I don't want to speak too soon, but it feels as though summer could finally be here... It's been touch-and-go these last few weeks as to whether we'd ever see some sun this summer, but right now I'm sat outside typing this in a bikini (oh the life of a freelancer!), so fingers crossed that the sun is here to stay...

That being said, come rain or shine I fully intend to spend as much time as possible in the great outdoors this summer. There is nothing quite like a jog in the park, a walk on the beach, or a swim in the sea. Nothing can compare to breathing fresh air, feeling the sun on your skin, or hearing the waves crashing into the shore. Being outside is good for you.

Polzeath, Cornwall, 2013

In my yoga class this week my teacher described our outer edges as being like a lake. We live in our bodies, but the outer edges of our being are fluid. Our extremities connect us to the outside world, to each other, to the earth. Before you think I'm sounding all hippy, just think for a moment: how do you feel when you have sand between your toes? How do you feel when the sun connects with your skin? How do you feel when you jump into a freezing cold lake? You feel alive. You feel connected. You feel free. See? Being outside, with nature,  is good for you ;)

So my friends I urge you to get outside this summer! And what better way to get outside than combining it with some exercise? I can guarantee for some of these suggestions you won't even realise you've exercised until afterwards - it'll be that fun - promise! Without further ado here are my 5 ways to get outside and get exercising this summer:

1. Get out of the gym and into the park. Most of the exercises you do in the gym you can do outside, so why not take your next workout to your local park? (Yes, you may have paid for that gym membership, but save it for a rainy day, the most important thing is that you actually do workout). Up until recently I've used my local park for long jogs, walks, and cycle rides; these are all wonderful activities and, God-willing,  I will continue to do them in the park until old age. However since completing the half marathon back in May I decided that I wanted to mix up my training to include some higher intensity sessions in the hope to get more lean for summer. So instead of going on my usual 4-miles run 3-4 times a week, I've started to change 1-2 of these sessions for some sprints and strength building exercises. And guess what? I can do all of it in the park! Yipee! Here's what a typical work out looks like:

5 x 30m upward hill sprints with 5 x squat jumps at the top of each one
10 x 15m acceleration sprints (repeat twice)
2 x 15m hopping (on each leg)
3 x 20 reps of mountain climbers
3 x 10 reps of lunges
2 x 10 reps of burpies (I want to get to 3 sets but boy are they hard!)
3 x 30 reps of step ups onto a big log (make sure it's a stable one!)
3 x 15 reps of tricep dips on the same log
3 x 30 secs of dolphin plank
3 x 20 squats

Be creative. Mix it up. Find an incline outside, find a patch of grass, find a tree, find a log - use what nature can offer you - and I promise you'll be knackered but happy by the end of it!

2. Go wild swimming. There's nothing quite like feeling water on your skin, and when that water doesn't contain chlorine it's even better! Go for a swim in the sea, find your local lido, or find a safe lake to take a dip in. Do check beforehand whether the conditions are safe and whether there are lifeguards nearby. You could even sign up to an event like I did last summer - I swam in the British Heart Foundation Bournemouth Pier-to-Pier charity event with my best friend last year and it was the most amazing day. The atmosphere was fantastic, the event well organised, and most of all afterwards I felt totally invigorated (a little knackered too, but the excitement definitely outweighed this!).

BHF Bournemouth Pier-to-Pier swim, 2014

3. Plan a day at the beach. There's nothing quite like a beach day. You can go for a nice long rambling beach walk, you can take a dip in the sea, and don't forget that game of beach rugby/cricket/bitbat (whichever your preferred sport may be!). Everyone knows the beach is where it's at. Need I say more?

4. Explore your city on foot. If you live in a city it's likely that you're a pretty busy bee. A busy bee who most likely relies on public transport to get around town. But this summer why not plan a few weekend days where you explore your city on foot? Plan a route - maybe a part of town you don't know well - and go for a long walk. Stop at coffee shops, pub gardens, and markets along the way; it's the perfect way to get some gentle exercise whilst discovering new places and seeing your city through fresh eyes. This one isn't just for city dwellers - if you live out in the countryside why not go wild and head into town for day? As beautiful as trees and fields are (and trust me, I LOVE trees and fields), it's always fun to explore urban jungles too.

London, 2013

5. Try something totally random, new, stupid (any or all of the above). Zorbing down a hillside. Paintballing with mates. Surfing down in Cornwall. Zip-lining at Go Ape. Water skiing at your local lake. Pop-up Park yoga (click here to find out about my session in London next week!). Anything that's different, fun and will get you outdoors. Not only will it be great to learn something new, you'll also be outdoors and exercising without even realising it. Whatcha waiting for? Book something fun! Go, go, go!

Surfing, India, 2015

So my friends, I hope that this little post has inspired you to a) get outside and b) get off your ass - I'm kidding about b) as I know many of you are active already, but I do think that lots of us get stuck in exercise routines that are keeping us fit but not necessarily Beautifully Healthy. Being Beautifully Healthy is all about making the most out of life and our health, and if we're just doing the same old gym session 3 times a week then we're missing out on so much! So go on, be that lake - let your extremities connect with the great outdoors and I bet you won't regret it!

Namaste y'all <3

Love Lucy x

The perfect summer dress

Summer is jam-packed with one event after another and it can be tricky to know what to wear to each different occasion. There's weddings, BBQs, festivals, picnics, and garden parties galore - but how do you keep up with needing a different outfit for each event? Could there possibly be just ONE dress that could negotiate the minefield of summer events dressing? Well it's time to explore the Beautifully in The Beautifully Healthy Project as I think I may have found THE dress.

A few weeks ago I was given a Topshop voucher for my birthday (how I love birthday Topshop vouchers!), so I simply had to go in to have a look and see what delights they had in store. And then I came across this little number:

Topshop

Island Animal Print Maxi Dress

£50

www.topshop.com

Well actually it was my Mum who spotted it first, and I was convinced that the spaghetti straps wouldn't work on me (let's just say that it would be impossible for me to go braless!) - nevertheless Mum was adamant that it would look good on so I took it to the changing rooms and slipped it on. I knew immediately that I had to buy it - it felt gorgeous on and actually you could hardly see any bra strap (nothing that a bit of long hair can't hide!).

It's the perfect dress to dress-up or dress-down; I've already worn it for a BBQ in the park followed by a night out in London, and next weekend I'll wear it to a friend's wedding. I paired it with chunky black heels and a denim jacket for the BBQ, and to smarten it up for the wedding I think I'll wear some strappy heels with a smarter black jacket. I then probably won't wear it again until next summer as although it is gorgeous I don't want everyone to think that I only own one dress! However it'll be comforting to know that if a posh picnic does pop up I'll have just the dress to wear.

Summer is all about having fun and enjoying yourself, and if you have the perfect dress to wear whilst out and about then you'll feel all the more confident and Beautifully Healthy. This particularly dress may not suit everyone, but really my point is to find at least one summer outfit that makes you feel as fabulous as you deserve to.

Do you have a go-to outfit that makes you feel fab on any summer occasion?

Love Lucy x

Simon Frederick: a photographer you should know about!

On March 27th I wrote a post about an upcoming portraiture exhibition by photographer Simon Frederick. You can read that post here. So I went to the opening night of the exhibition titled "My Mates @ Work", and it was a real privilege to be one of the first to view such an impressive body of work.

The atmosphere was uber-chilled, but you could also feel an overwhelming buzz of excitement amongst the attendees. Most importantly of all, every person in the exhibition room could not move away from the walls; they were fixated by Simon's work. He has an incredibly rare gift. He's able to capture that part of his subjects that they thought were hidden, or that they didn't even know existed, making them feel totally at ease to reveal their inner-most personality on film. The portraits speak for themselves, so take a look at the below pictures to see Simon's refreshing work for yourself.

Mark Powell

bespoke tailor

Trevor Nelson MBE

DJ and presenter

James Barnor

professional photographer

Bayo

fashion designer

Jason Jules

style consultant

Gil Carvalho

shoe designer

David Adjaye OBE

architect 

Highlights of the evening included Mark Powell standing proudly by his portrait for the entire evening, meeting the delightful Peter Howarth from the band The Hollies, and being in the same room as Sadie Frost!

Watch this brilliant video to get a feel for the night, and to hear from Simon and his "Mates @ Work". And have a read of this Daily Mail article to see Sadie Frost standing next to her beautiful portrait at the opening night.

Unfortunately the exhibition has now closed. However there may be another opportunity to see this wonderful collection of portraits in June... stay tuned!

What do you think of Simon's collection? Be sure to like his page on Facebook!

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

An Easter Weekend Idea: Simon Frederick Exhibition @ Gallery Different

Simon Frederick is a very talented photographer who is potentially on the brink of major recognition for his work. He has spent a number of years perfecting his work in Lisbon, but has now returned to London and is keen to mark his arrival with a (super cool) bang. His upcoming exhibition "My Mates at Work" is set to be a pivotal exhibition in his career, and will certainly mark his homecoming aptly. The exhibition will be showing at Gallery Different on Percy Street in London from Friday 29th March - Friday 5th April, so be sure to make the most of the Easter Weekend and make it a priority to go and see Simon's unique work.

The exhibition is packed full of portraits of the rich, famous, and industry giants (from various different industries). I am lucky enough to have had a sneak preview of some of the portraits that will be displayed at the exhibition, and there are some beautiful images of Johnnie Sapong (above - hairdresser to anyone who is anyone), Mark Powell (a well-respected tailor), David Adjaye (architect), Azzi Glasser (perfume designer extraordinaire), and David Harewood MBE (Actor). And two images that I am really looking forward to seeing are the portraits of Sadie Frost (actress) and Steve Lazarides (art dealer and curator). This truly is an exhibition not to be missed!

On the exclusive opening night, Simon and the gallery have very generously offered to support the charity that I work for - Street Child World Cup - and so I am incredibly excited to be attending the launch night to represent the charity. I'll be blogging all about the night after the Easter Weekend, but I just wanted to share the exhibition with you all in case you wanted to take advantage of our bank holidays that are coming up to go and see Simon's wonderful set of work. 

Let me know if you do manage to go along!

Love Lucy x

My better-late-than-never review of London Fashion Weekend

I know London Fashion Weekend happened a few weekends ago now (between 21st-24th of February to be exact), but as I wrote in my last post, work has been ridiculously busy so I haven't had time to give my blog the love that I would like to.

LFWeekend is the commercial sister of London Fashion Week, and is held by Vodafone at Somerset House in London (the very same venue as LFW). It gives us mere mortals the chance to grab some great fashion bargains, whilst waltzing down the corridors of the glamorous Somerset House, followed by catwalk shows displaying either the upcoming trends of the next season, or showcasing a designer show from the previous fashion week.

This was my first LFWeekend experience, and I attended with my beautiful Mummy on the Saturday evening. We had tickets which allowed us into the shopping area for a few hours, and which also included entry to the designer showcase of the Issa SS13 collection, a Radley designed tote show bag, and the latest copy of Elle Magazine. I wore a rather adventurous leopard print coat from Karen Millen, with black jeans, and my black Topshop Chelsea boots (you can read my post about those boots here).

The closest I'll ever get to the catwalk!

My Mum and I had a great time browsing all of the pop-up mini shops in the rooms of Somerset House. There were some beautiful clothes and accessories on offer, mostly bang on trend for the coming season. Unfortunately we didn't quite have enough time to make it to the beauty section, but it did look great, with hair cuts from Toni & Guy on offer! There was also a room dedicated to the launch of the Marc Jacobs Diet Coke illustrations, to mark 30 years of Diet Coke.

After our little shopping session we got in line to watch the Issa SS13 collection go down the catwalk. Excitingly these shows are in the same show space as the LFW ones in the Somerset House courtyard, so it really is a great way of experiencing the fashion industry. 

I was delighted to be watching the Issa SS13 collection as it is based on the vibrancy and exoticness of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as tt made me that little bit more excited about going to Rio next March/April! Daniella Helayel is of course Brazilian, so what better theme for a collection than her native country?

The music echoed carnivale and the rainforest, the clothes were bright and billowy, and the headdresses were reminiscent of the exotic flowers and birds that can be found in Brazil. It was an exciting show to say the least. I just loved the colours and the excitement. To view the original show photos, as archived in Vogue, please click here.

One important thing that I learnt from LFWeekend (and that I had failed at rather miserably the week before at LFW), was how to better capture photographs of fast moving models! The lighting on catwalks actually makes it rather tricky to catch that perfect photograph (unless of course you are a Vogue photographer and have years of experience and thousands of pounds worth of equipment!). 

I really did enjoy my LFWeekend experience (thank you Vodafone!) - and think it's really important for these commercial shows to take place; yes, fashion is often described as "exclusive" but actually more recently it is becoming more "inclusive" and is gaining a lot of inspiration from the hight street itself, so consumer shows like LFWeekend are vital for the industry to show its fans that they are valued. 

Love Lucy x

Issa London AW13 show at LFW

Last night was, without a doubt, my favourite fashion experience yet. Courtesy of Vodafone VIP I won tickets to see the Issa London AW13 collection at LFW, and I simply couldn't believe my luck! Daniella Helayel is one of my favourite designers - her understanding of how a woman wants to dress is remarkably en pointe. She designs flirty and fun pieces that wonderfully flatter most female figures, and this is what sets her apart from most other designers. Her collections look fabulous flowing down the runway, but are equally like commercial gold.

Me at Somerset House post-show

I attended the show yesterday with my beautiful Aunty, and we had a great time celeb spotting in the run up to the show. The Issa London front row was graced by Zandra Rhodes, Jodie Kidd, Molly and Rochelle from the Saturdays, Laura Whitmore, and Rosie and Proudlock from Made In Chelsea. The pre-show vibe was contagious: you could feel that this was a show the fashion elite were very much looking forward to. 

Cara Delevingne opened the show. From the moment she stepped onto the catwalk she sent out seismic waves of vibrant energy that were warmly absorbed by the excitable audience. Seeing her walk in the flesh really did give me goosebumps. She has It. Whatever It may be! She embodied Issa's woman of AW13, who Daniella describes as "cooler, she wants to explore". 

The collection was designed around the concept of a free-spirited woman exploring the Navajo terrain. Inspired by the gorgeous Navajo landscapes of rolling sandy hills and infinite azure skies, Issa's collection delivered a rich array of gorgeous prints, perfect for that curious and confident explorer. Each piece floated down the catwalk, often with the loose silk fabric flowing behind the willowy models, echoing the winds of the Navajo. Some of the pieces were stunningly topped off with feathered hats by Piers Atkinson, and although some the of models struggled to keep them on, they were the perfect compliment to Issa's collection. Enough writing! Here are some of my favourite designs from the show:

The show was truly inspiring. I love the concept of the explorer woman in the Navajo, and the distinctly Seventies feel to the pieces will surely be popular come the Autumn time. Daniella was clearly more adventurous this season, and her gamble certainly paid off. The inclusion of Cara just made the show that bit more special - she really knew how to wear Daniella's designs as she floated along the runway - in the finale she looked like she was about to take off in her cape!

Post-show was nearly just as much fun! My Aunty and I had a couple of friends in the crowd, so we stayed behind chatting for a while, and when we finally left we bumped into Zandra Rhodes on our way out! 

Zandra Rhodes and my beautiful Aunty 

We also tried to get a few outfit snaps, but just like at the Mary Katrantzou showcase, that didn't really go to plan! But I wore a Zara coat, a black Topshop dress, black French Sole ballet flats, and Collection 2000 lipstick in Shock Pink. See the top photo of this post to see the best snap we got.

If you weren't an Issa London fan before, then I hope you are now! It's a brand that will go from strength to strength (it's got to - Kate Middleton is a fan). So do keep your eye on what they're up to in the future - I know I certainly will! 

Here's to two more days of LFW - I don't want it to end!

Love Lucy x

Pre-London Fashion Week Hype

LFW has nearly arrived! Only two more sleeps until the fashion elite descend on the capital and make their judgement on what our British based designers have to offer the fashion world. I for one am far too excited! Although I'm not an experienced enough blogger to be part of the LFW "press" (although this didn't stop me from at least trying to get a Press Pass!) - I have once again hit lucky in some of the Vodafone VIP LFW competitions. I really hardly ever win anything, but for this fashion week I am extremely lucky to have won tickets for an exclusive pre-LFW Mary Katrantzou showcase (my boyfriend has been wonderful in agreeing to come with me on Valentine's Day!), and then the Issa AW13 show on Saturday evening.

I really can't wait to go to Mary Katrantzou's showcase tomorrow night. Her SS13 collection was her most exciting yet - more commercial but still with her wonderfully unique explosions of pattern and colour. I am intrigued to see where she's going to go next, and I wish her Sunday show was being streamed live, but alas, I shall have to wait!

I am equally as excited for the Issa show, and have been a huge fan of Daniella Heylal ever since Kate Middleton wore that dress in her engagement announcement photographs with Prince William. I'm interested to see how Daniella can mix it up whilst keeping her signature style of gorgeously feminine fitted dresses. 

Other shows that I'm eagerly awaiting are: Felder Felder, PPQ, David Koma, Mulberry, Temperley London, Unique, Christopher Kane, Erdem, Burberry Prorsum, Anya Hindmarch, Meadham Kirchhoff, and Ashish. Luckily quite a few of these shows are being streamed live; have a look at the LFW schedule to see exactly which ones: www.londonfashionweek.co.uk If you're favourite shows aren't being streamed, then your next best option is to keep a close eye on the Vogue website, as they show each outfit of each show, and write short but sweet reviews about each collection: www.vogue.co.uk

Which shows are you going to/most looking forward to? 

Love Lucy x

Fashion Forward 2013

The British Fashion Council is one of the most supportive in the fashion industry. They are keen to foster talented UK based designers, who might not otherwise make it in a tough industry. Each year they award three designers a "Fashion Forward" grant to enable them to develop their collections and to establish themselves within the fashion world. Previous womenswear recipients of the grant include Erdem, Meadham Kirchhoff, and Mary Katrantzou - all of whom are continuing to wow the industry. This year's winners were announced on Thursday, and I must say that I'm incredibly excited about one particular recipient: David Koma.

Those of you who have read my blog since September will know that I attended the David Koma SS13  show at London Fashion Week. If you'd like to see my entry about the show then have a look: London Fashion Week: David Koma SS13

His SS13 was a truly stunning collection. His trademark contouring was perfection, his theme was energetic, and his colours bold. He is a designer that plays with shapes and structure, and this innovation has made him a truly deserved recipient of the BFC Fashion Forward grant. To see Vogue's photographs of his SS13 collection, click on the following link: www.vogue.co.uk

The BFC are obviously supportive of his work, and here are a few of my guesses as to why:

SS10

AW10

SS11

AW11

SS12

AW12

SS13

His collections have all been eccentric and exciting, however his SS13 was the most marketable yet. So with the Fashion Forward grant who knows where he could go next? Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be lucky enough to make it to the AW13 show, but I'll definitely be keeping a very close eye on the collection.

I wish David, and the other two recipients - Holly Fulton and Michael Van Der Ham - all the best of luck for their AW13 shows. 

What do you think David Koma's future holds?

Love Lucy x

Tim Walker: Story Teller

Yesterday I finally found the time to go to Tim Walker's Story Teller exhibition at Somerset House, London. I'd been wanting to go since it opened in October, but hadn't found the time since starting a new job and generally doing too much! As soon as I walked into the first exhibition room I couldn't believe that I'd left it so long! His work is utterly captivating. I'll try to sum it up: he's like a child who has been tainted by the darkness of adulthood, and can perfectly translate his anxieties into mesmerising photographs, that are beautiful, intriguing and disturbing all-in-one.

I am often captivated by fashion photography; the photographs of legends such as Nick Knight, David Bailey, and Mario Testino regularly stir up emotions of wonder in me. However Walker is unique in his ability to both horrify and delight in one photograph. His photographs are not for the faint-hearted. He has a way of re-telling the whimsy of fairytales with a dark twist.

Story Teller combines his work from roughly the last 5 years all into one exhibition that barrages the mind. His photographs really make you think. And not only that, but there are crashed spitfires, delicate swan-boats, over-sized china dolls, and giant cello playing wasps interspersed amongst the photographs - props from his extravagant shoots. The photographs containing these props are so intricately put together, often tripping up the person studying them - they're designed to baffle and amaze, and they certainly manage to do so.

The exhibition also includes much more intimate photographs, such as Walker's iconic shot of Alexander McQueen with a skull. His portraiture work is truly fascinating, and the models in these photographs have done a magnificent job - Karlie Kloss, Vivienne Westwood, Helena Bonham Carter - to name a few. Walker has a way of capturing people with the most intriguing expressions. His work is truly unique. But, enough writing, take a look for yourself!

These photographs were just a few of my favourites (there were so many), but hopefully I have given you a flavour of what to expect from the exhibition. 

This exhibition is truly exhilarating, and perfectly celebrates the disturbed genius of Tim Walker. If you want to see it for yourself (which I highly recommend) you only have until next Sunday (27th January) as this is when it closes, so do get down to Somerset House as soon as you can! 

For more information visit the Somerset House website: www.somersethouse.org.uk

I hope I have offered you some Sunday inspiration!

Love Lucy x