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

Glad Rags

 Everyone's partial to a pair (or five) of gladiators when the summer season rears its beautiful sunny head. Whether black, white or my favourite (as seen below), tan, these badboys are key to any successful summer outfit. Worn with a maxi dress and cropped denim jacket, or denim shorts and tee, these versatile staple piece of your wardrobe will match everything, adding a summery something to your ensemble. 

1 - H&M suede sandals, £15 
2 - ASOS flat leather sandals, $32 
4 -  Low heels, €269 
5 - H&m shoes, £25 
6 - Roman gladiator sandals, $79 
7 - J.Crew j crew shoes, $98
8 - Steve madden shoes, $56 
9 - Bruuns Bazaar flat leather sandals 
10 - Wet Seal roman gladiator sandals, $20 
11 - Oasis strap sandals, $48 
12 - Oasis glitter sandals, $35 
13 - FOSSIL flat thong sandals, $78 
14 - Charlotte Russe ankle wrap flat sandals, $18 
15 - Mulberry flat shoes, $270
16 - Flat sandals, €89
17 - Topshop flat heels, $44

Here are two examples I made on Polyvore, of how glads can be worn...

1 - Wet Seal crochet hat, $18 
2 - Strapless dress, £21
3 - H&m sunglasses, £4.99 
4 - Dorothy Perkins wood bangle, $25 
5 - FOSSIL genuine leather handbag, $198 
6 - Wet Seal roman gladiator sandals, $20  
7 - Topshop t shirt, $40
8 - Mango square aviator sunglasses, £18
9 - Flower hair accessory
10 - Ksubi denim shorts, £150
11 - Bottega Veneta platform sandals, £329
12 - J W Hulme Co soft leather handbag, $370


 So get out and snap up some glads before all the good ones are gone! You can get some really nice summer sandals on the high street this year, including Topshop (no shock there!) but also Primark. Give them their due, they have some pretty nice glads in this year. Granted, they may not be the most long-lasting shoes you'll buy, but they sure are worth the money. And for £2.50 a pair of simple 'wear 3 ways' thong-type sandals, you can't really go wrong for some bumming around picnic-in-the-park gladiators!

Bea xo

Hi to the Tops

 So I've given in, and decided to blog about a trend that has appeared in amongst glossy magazine pages for the last month- hi tops. Whether they're branded Nike or Converse, or from highstreet shops like River Island or New Look, the sport luxe feature footwear item is becoming all the rage for this summer, and we're all loving it.
 High-tops have been around for years- popularity starting with old style high top Converse. Since then, brands have been recreating their own versions of this shoe (some nicer than others!) and the Sports Luxe trend just isn't complete without a pair. 

1 - Nike sneaker, $116
2 - High top sneaker, $52 
3 - Nike sneaker, £67
4 - Converse sneaker, £45
5 - ASOS high top sneaker, $63
6 - Adidas sneaker, £67 
7 - Nike shoes, $120
8 - KG Kurt Geiger high top sneaker, £90
9 - Gucci sneaker, £230 
10 - Dc shoes, £63 


And it isn't just us who are loving on the hi tops, all the celebs are rocking them too!... 

Little Mix loving their 'tops (Image: www.leblow.co.uk)

(Image: www.zigoti.com)

 Whether paired with ankle socks, denim shorts and a festival tee, or finishing the cool and edgy look with blue skinnes and a band tee, hi tops are definitely the staple of an effortlessly cool look.

Topshop crop tee, $40
Ksubi cut off shorts, $180
Converse hi top sneaker, £45
Triangle ring, $25
Dorothy Perkins wood jewelry, $25
Mango skull jewelry, £15
Ray-Ban folding sunglasses, $251
Phase Eight floppy hat, £30

 Summer is the perfect time to purchase a pair, so get down to your local Schuh or Office and check out some of what they have to offer. Alternatively have a flick through Company's April edition or their High Street Edit, for an awesome selection! 
Links to check out - 

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/gallery/2012/mar/21/best-high-tops-in-pictures 

ENJOY- IT'S SUMMER SOON!! Eeee!


Bea xo