REDROCK S/S 12 COLLECTION

  So I think it’s safe to say that the new S/S REDROCK collection is totally banging! Patterns are very prevalent, with a variety of florals and block prints, with a somewhat seventies feel to a few of the pieces [e.g. Florence Denim Shorts, £44.99] Summer brings out the best of many things- our moods, awesome summer fashions, and this collection is no different. Whilst maintaining a thorough summery feel to all their pieces, they get it right with different patterns and colour trends. Polka dots, old school prints, tribal pattern and summery florals all work well in the same collection, whilst saying the same thing- IT’S SUMMER. Well, it nearly is…

Pastel Flowers Shorties, £27.00

Dotty Cropped T, £24.99

Florence Denim Shorts, £44.99

Tribal Bitch Shorts, £27.00

          The cropped tee is an ultimate summer statement, paired with an awesome pair of shorts, which this collection has quite a few of!  Their selection of cropped tees is huge in this collection, and there’s something for everyones tastes.  Fringe makes an appearance, which is a must for this years festival celebrations [The Fringe, £21], and I’m pleased to see some studded appreciation in this collection too- featured on not only a tee [Hard Candy Cropped Tee, £24], but on collars too! Studs are a huge deal at the moment, much like the collar, so this look combined is a total fail-safe fashion must-do. It’s interesting, and I love it, that this collection has included collars and ties. Just because it’s coming up to summer, does not mean that accessorizing with these badboys isn’t a good move!

Hard Candy Cropped Tee, £24.00 

The Fringe, £21

Viv Collar - Cream, £13.99 

   So REDROCK isn’t just for the masses of us, dying for bitchin’ vintage and handmade clothing, it’s celebrities too. Requests from Paloma Faith, to Peaches Geldof and Audrey Kitching; REDROCK is attracting some of the coolest fashionistas. I mean, you’ve gotta be a pretty cool brand to be mentioned in Vogue UK, right?!

          But, what’s that you say? An exclusive pop-up shop in Northampton, May 4^th? It’s your chance to get your hands on some awesome vintage and handmade pieces so don’t miss out! 

To see more of the collection, go to the REDROCK website, and have a gand at the goodies they've got! :) 

Enjoy! 

Bea xo 

Celebrating the Titanic- tacky or a tribute?

Titanic 1912 (Image: www.wikipedia.com)

 Come 15th April, it will have been 100 years since the RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean, after colliding with an iceberg. I won't bore you with such details, as I'm sure you've heard it all before and/or seen the film. Let's be honest, if you've not seen the film, well... it's kind of a classic. But whatever, this rather memorable and landmark moment in British history will, I doubt, ever be forgotten. Especially not this year.

 To commemorate the centenary of the catastrophe, the cruise ship MS Balmoral, is currently making its way across the Atlantic Ocean, re-tracing the journey it took on that fateful night. It plans to make two memorial services on its travels- midnight April 14th, when it hit the iceberg, and early morning April 15th, when the ship eventually sank.

  There is something fascinating (well, I think so anyway!) about the Titanic. The historic occasion and its tragic demise is incredibly well known worldwide. Many a time I would get the Titanic Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Guide from the library, and marvel over the intricacies of how the deck was set out, the period dress and old-fashioned entertainment. I loved it!! I think my childhood love of the Titanic is the nagging thought in my head, questioning whether or not I like the idea of this commemorative journey.
  Now, I have mixed feelings to this, as do many others. The Guardian's Hadley Freeman says:

"Questions involving words such as "poor taste" and "seriously, do you have nothing better to do with your time and money?" have been posed by those who query the morality of treading in the footsteps of tragedy."

Commemorative Coins, celebrating the centenary of the Titanic
(Image: www.westminstercollection.com)

   But is this not just another occasion from which masses of money can be made, all for the sake of 'commemoration'? Many of the passengers aboard MS Balmoral are relatives of those killed in the Titanic tragedy, but did they actually ever know these relatives? In 1914?... Tickets for this venture have cost their passengers up to £8,000, and I doubt highly that the money paid will go towards a charity, or the further exploration, excavation and research into the Titanic's remains. I can't help but feel, perhaps, that more than just Fred Olsen, the company which MS Balmoral belongs to, could see some of the income. After all, this is to celebrate the lives of those lost 100 years ago...not just to make money, isn't it?

Port side of the Titanic, 1912 (Image: www.titanicuniverse.com)

  Parallels have been made with 9/11, and how a 'commemorative' flight to America would be in bad taste. I mean, I can see and understand these parallels. The fact is, they were both tragedies, with the defining difference being one was an act of terrorism and one was an unintentional disaster... Either way, lots of people were killed, and surely it's death of loved ones which is the reason to remember these disasters?

  One thing is for sure, Titanic is still attracting media attention. With the commemorative coins, the release of Titanic 3D at the cinema and general Titanic buzz everywhere, media attention is definitely not lagging. Can't say I'd be one to jump on the Titanic cruise bandwagon, but I am loving reading about it. Might just pop to the library to check out that DK Eyewitness guide...

  I may have grown up, but the fashions I loved to ponder over all those years ago, well, I still love them. They're so feminine and luxurious. Perhaps, with all the media buzz, someone will take inspiration from and use the fashions to create a new trend? I'd definitely jump on that bandwagon, that's for sure...
  Here's some Polyvore and photos of just why I love it so much...

  Here are some of the articles I've looked at on MS Balmoral and Titanic if you wanna take a look :) 

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/10/titanic-anniversary-tacky-souvenir
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/11/titanic-anniversary-cruise_n_1418399.html
• http://titanicmemorialcruise.co.uk/
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/10186056

Enjoy :) 

Bea xo

Kate Winslet - America's Autism Advocate?

www.goldenhatfoundation.org

 Kate Winslet. Probably best known for Hamlet or Titanic, the 36 year-old actress has founded a charity The Golden Hat Foundation to raise public awareness of autism. So what is autism? According to The National Autistic Society, it is 

"...a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them."

   Autism is a spectrum condition, which means that regardless of the same difficulties they share, they will be affected in a variety of ways. As someone who has spent the past three years looking after autistic children up to the age of sixteen, it becomes very clear to see that the ability to function varies dramatically from child to child. Some children will grow up to lead relatively independent lives, whereas others will never get the chance to move out of their parents house due to severe learning difficulties. These children will need a lifetime of support and additional care from professionals. Another common aspect of autism which, if you have experience with autistic children, you'd have seen is over-sensitivity. This is often seen in regards to the senses, such as sounds, touch, taste, smell, lights and colours. The characteristics of autism vary from one person to another but are generally divided into three main groups of difficulties with 1. social communication, social interaction and social imagination. 

(www.prasannaautismcentre.com)

  You may have heard of Asperger Syndrome- this is a form of autism. Children who suffer from Aspergers have high or above-average intelligence. Speaking is often much less of a problem for them, however language and communication in social situations can still remain a problem for them.

WHAT IS SHE DOING? 
  Winslet is attempting to raise awareness and the funding for specialist education centres to help children who suffer from autism to fulfil their full potential. In order to do this, Kate is asking her celebrity friends to wear an old Trilby of hers, and take a snap of themselves... Rather odd? Well, perhaps. Celebrities donning this hat include Sting, Ben Stiller, Christina Aguilera, Jude Law and George Clooney, including many more! These have been compiled, along with personal words from the celebrities, Winslet herself, but also poems written by a boy by the name of Keli Thorsteinsson. Keli, aged 12, was the inspiration for Winslet, after she narrated the Icelandic documentary 'A Mother's Courage: Talking Back To Autism.'

www.jglxellen.tumblr.com 

   Kate's long-standing association with Lancôme has resulted in a fund-raising limited edition line of make-up. The Golden Hat Foundation Collection includes basic partying staples, comprising of blusher, lipstick and nail polish. All are embossed with the Golden Hat Foundation logo. 

"Lancôme's instant offer of support was a huge display of confidence and generosity and I knew it would open many doors"

Check out the website, facebook and twitter here.

Take time to have a look... A very worthy cause that's pretty close to my heart...
Bea xo