MET GALA NO'S

Although there were a lot of really cool looks at this years met gala I found the majority of them really uninspiring and to be honest gaudy. I feel like there was lack of depth into the research by the designers and they just thought of the first thing that popped into their heads to do with religion and went with it.

SARAH JESSICA PARKER

This was a huge no for me. More is definitely not more in this case and I feel that she even gets lost in the garment. The nativity scene on her head is the worst part for me as it really is the first thing you think of when you think of Jesus, not to mention that the cut and style of her dress were just regurgitated and boring. I feel like with this look there was no real new viewpoint and rather just another copied template with a crap thing shoved on her head!!

SELENA GOMEZ

This was an absolute sh*t show from head to start. Firstly I dont see how it fits the theme apart from maybe white for purity? which is just so basic. The fact that the cut of the dress makes her look with child just adds to the disaster of this. Stuff like this really irks me, the fact that this look was probably approved by at least 100 people before it even got to Selena and not one person pointed out the flaws, it's kind of sad that some people put so much effort and time into the Met Gala and then theres, well, Selena Gomez.

RIRI

I never thought I'd see the day where I said anything remotely negative about Rihanna, but this was  a miss for me. Something was just off, each of the components themselves are beautiful and overall its not the WORST look of the night however theres something not working for me. Maybe its the dress length or the bleached eyebrows but for Rihanna this really isn't up to scratch. Being the guest host of the met gala this year and well, RIHANNA I expected more, it was good but she really didn't outdo herself.

SHAUN EVANS

GRACE JONES

Grace Jones has always been a being that fascinated me and has stuck in my mind from the moment I first heard of her years and years ago.  Only recently have I started to learn more about her through documentaries, photos and stories and all I have to say is,

 I think I might be straight for Grace Jones.

The woman just oozes sex appeal and in the most unconventional of ways, she never flaunted her body round provocatively more male attention, she didn't have long luscious locks or a flirty personality, she was just undeniably herself. I love how she said what was on her mind, wore whatever she wanted and acted however she wanted. Her sheer style alone is worth drooling over as she always looks so effortlessly chic and sophisticated even if she only has a sheer fabric covering her lady parts. 

Even with her amazonian looking and often referred to as "manly" exterior she manages to be an amazing figure that doesn't belong to any stereotypes. She's not butch, but she's not feminine, she's not a stereotypical "black woman" but neither is she any other stereotypical race. 

I feel like she was really before her time and I only wish that I could have been alive during her prime, she still looks incredible now and if you ever doubt the saying black don't crack then Grace Jones is a prime example of why the saying is true. 

SHAUN EVANS

FORUM FINDINGS

As I was conducting research for our club culture inspired perfume brand I came across forums where people discussed their times at infamous clubs from iconic eras and reliving their memories onto this forum. I instantly became obsessed with reading on and seeing what amazing or horrific things people got up to!

I also enjoyed how people were telling strangers all the intimate and gory details and how people can bond over just experiencing a same venue. It was cool to read especially for clubs like studio 54 that are no longer around so just by reading other peoples adventures it helps me grasp what the atmosphere and vibe was like which just makes me even more jealous that I wasn't around within these eras.

Here are a few quotes from the different forums for the different clubs that I found inspiring / interesting / just outright disturbing: 

BERGHAIN

“It’s mecca for techno and house heads”

“they were turning away at least 40% of the people in line”

“if you're a woman in heels or in a gaggle of women it's pretty much 0% chance you'll get in. large groups of straight looking men were also getting turned away.”

“couples, gays, solo people? no problem.”

“All I can say is Berlin guys have giant dicks.”

“If you want to get in wear rubber with a zip at the crotch”

1520 SEDGWICK AVE.

“The first hip hop party that changed the world”

“There was just one turn table, three rooms and endless lines of coke”

“The block parties were insane and youd be shocked as to what went on”

“Dj herc made the walls vibrate”

STUDIO 54

“I may have been the only person who wasn't on anything. But I do remember that a whole lot of sex was going on”

“Whatever you were there for . . . music, dancing, sex, drugs, celebrities . . . it was there for the taking”

“I never left any disco without a pounding migraine”

“Woman were thriving in their sexuality, it was the time to be gay”

WORLDS END

“All I remember was bloodstained glass and cigarette burns”

“Worlds end was always a night to remember”

BERGHAIN

As part of our project to launch a new perfume brand we have decided to look into club culture and I came across the infamous club called Berghain in Berlin. 

It's a club that allows no phones or photography and has a very selective process when it comes to letting people in and apparently 40% of people that try dont even get in! They really depend on what you look like, what you're wearing and how you act. Also drug use and even sex is very popular within the club and supposedly an integral part of the experience.

The exclusivity of it all really intrigues me and I am desperate to go, I love the idea of in such a digital age that theres a place where social media etc doesn't exist and its all about living in the moment and remembering that moment through memories rather than from an image.

Berghain is definitely on the bucket list.

SHAUN EVANS

NICOLA NAPOLI

After trying to piece together our final presentation I decided to find some visuals to put in for the club bargain and I came across artist, Nicola Napoli and have completely fell in love.

I love their use of subject, whit, colour and style in each of their works and literally cant stop looking at them. They are only cartoons but are done in such a mesmerising way. The one about the club Berghain is so cool as Berghain is a really hard club to get into so it shows a huge like of clubbers dressed in their best to get in with a serpent like figure at the door (depicting the bouncers) judging them and seemingly eating them alive! 

His work is just really playful and interesting and very visually stimulating. Sometimes its nice just to have art that is easy to understand and easy to enjoy rather than full of subliminal meanings and open to interpretation.

I feel like artists that aren't majorly popular/ well known are always the best as they have less pressure and constraints and just make their work about exactly what they want and show their personality through it and their love for their job. 

SHAUN EVANS

BURBERRY'S GONE OVER THE RAINBOW

In their london fashion week show Burberry unveiled a big change to their infamous british print, RAINBOW! They did this in honour of the many LGBTQ members of the world and decided to support three LGBT charities in aid of this. 

Christopher Bailey stepped down from burberry and this was his final collection, he was quoted saying, “My final collection here at Burberry is dedicated to - and in support of - some of the best and brightest organisations supporting LGBT+ youth around the world,”. 

I enjoy how Burberry took this step not only to modernise the brand and play around and have fun with the iconic check print but also show support for the LGBTQ community as it shows that they care and actively want to improve the world and not just make money. 

SHAUN EVANS

MET GALA GOALS

Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination was the theme for this years MET gala last night. Heres my top picks of who snatched the titles of best dressed this year. 

SOLANGE KNOWLES

From the weave halo to the avant garde dress Solange killed the red carpet this year as she does every year. I fell in love with this as soon as I saw the halo-esque piece but after looking at it even further I saw that it was actually made out of hair. The doo rag look was EPIC and really styled out and modernised the whole look, Solange saying my god wears a doo rag was just iconic. 

ARIANA GRANDE

The cute vail esque intertwined into Ari's hair makes the outfit, I loved this look from head to toe and I liked the simplicity of it, it suited her figure and made her look very flattering, fit the brief perfectly and led Ari to look like a beautiful angelic angel.

KIM KARDASHIAN 

Kim was by far my favourite. The simplicity of the look only made it better and showed off that godly figure. Her makeup by Mario was stunning and the sleek black hair was a perfect back drop to let her show off the gorgeous versace dress. She's a perfect example of the saying less is more. 

SZA 

On the contrary SZA's more is more approach looked amazing and was a perfect twist on the theme. I loved how she styled an outfit that could have gave of a princess prom vibe into a god/ holy masterpiece. Lots of people went for the halo/ headpiece approach but I enjoy how SZA's is more abstract and almost gives alien vibes.