Abigail Ahern

Interior design, and exterior for that matter is an area I am very much interested in, probably because my mum and I watch all the house programs whether its building them or just redecorating, we read the magazines and I dream of my victorian terrace and the ways I will furnish it. I love mixing the old and new together, I think they make a happy contrast (if you get the balance right) and it also means comfortable living, nothing to sterile but not chintzy either.

While looking through some old magazines I stumbled across Atelier Abigail Ahern, http://www.atelierabigailahern.com/. After admiring the decor of this one house I realised that the pieces in her house what she had actually designed herself, so I hopped on the net to check out some prices and more pieces. One of this things I thought would look fabulous in this huge chandelier (going on the basis of the high ceilings in my dream Victorian Terrace) either a focal piece in the bathroom or kitchen/snug area, it brings glam using the wire and taking the original essence of a chandelier but not necessarily the elegance normally associated with them. Also it's just a snippet at £2,555... (Neo-Baroque Chandelier) I'll start saving now, along with a deposit for the actual house.


The site is definitely worth a look, some quirky and original pieces that will undoubtedly enhance any interior.

BMW

Last night I tuned in for my usual Sunday night viewing of Top Gear, during the news segment they announced BMW were to release a new eco car, and the photo for press below...


I believe this is the true definition of the word teaser, gives you enough information on shape and the classic features like the BMW grill but you don't actually get the whole picture. A question I have is why do all hybrid cars seem to be a bit space age esque, these two look similar to moon buggies you see on the tv. The other thing is no production car will be available until 2013, definitely a bit of early hype to get people interested in the new 'i' series, the first releases will be an i3 and i8, both plug in hybrid cars. It will be interesting to see final results as BMW don't do things by half measures and this could be the automotive industries future in the making.

21

I had to give Adele's recent album 21 a quick mention. This album is immense, and anyone who has not listened to it should nip to the shops and purchase it. I cant believe at the ripe old age of 22 she can produce such amazing music, very talented. A variety of songs but an album you just cant get bored of. Before this I wasn't a huge Adele fan, but after Rolling in the deep and this album I was hooked.

On a slightly separate note, one thing I did find rather funny which is similar for a number of brands too such as Apple and Orange, take them out of there context and they are merely in this case a fruit, not a leading network or technology company. Same with Adele's two albums 19 and 21, named after her age at the time of writing and composing but it's one of those things that if you suggested it to your friends as a title it would probably get laughed at but if the right person releases it or it has the hype it needs the word no longer has its original meaning. Apple as we know it is 'the' leading company for phones, computers and gadgets, were not talking Pink Lady or Granny Smith here.

Burberry's Prorsum Collection, London Fashion Week

Burberry was originally renowned for it's check pattern, that saw it copied across the masses, for me it was probably one of the first introductions to the Burberry brand. I have to say when it was ripped off and you saw it everywhere I have been put off the brand ever since, maybe because you would see some youth with cigarette in hand and rip off Burberry in the other shouting one thing or another. Not that I keep up with fashion but ever since it has been a brand that gets even less of my small fashion attention. Until now that is.

After reading about there show in the London Fashion Week and seeing a couple of pictures I was intrigued, at first I got confused with Mulberry which I think has some design classics that will never go out of fashion, still waiting to get one of those in my collection... But for me this has totally re-established Burberry as a top fashion label up there with the big boys. To be fair they have had Emma Watson as the face of Burberry for some time, a great household name to be the face of the brand.

Anyway, the setting - 1000 seater tent in Kensington Gardens and if you couldn't get a ticker for the show you could always pull up a pue at Piccadilly Circus and watch it live on the 32m digital screen, a first for everyone. I personally thing the collection is pretty realistic, people could wear it in everyday life, sometimes I wonder how some creations make it to the catwalk. There was bright bold colours and everything about it allowed you to focus on the fashion. Music that has impact but doesn't steal the show, a white setting and I love the fact that the cat walk Is not raised, that the models are literally walking right in front of the critics. For me the highlight was not the clothes but more about the show, I am big on the whole experience thing and making things the best you can, not only does it help the brand or product but it gets people talking and viral spreads the word quicker than anything else. Below is pictures, highlights and the full Burberry show. The highlights gives you a great snippets of everything going on, Piccadilly, some of the stars attending the show, best bits and the grand finale. The show ends with snow coming down (in a tent...I know, wonder if Emma Watson had her wand spare...) and all 52 models parade in their outfits sporting a clear mac which is also pretty cool. A slight military feel with the ending of the models marching down the catwalk, which also resonates through some of the designs. With everything going on, the music, models, fashion and snow its a fantastic ending to the show.










I would love to experience a live catwalk, especially after seeing the show Burberry put on, almost intense at times and just to see how it all comes together for the overall experience.

Enjoy the show, I know I did.

NYFW 2011

During the New York fashion week Moncler Grenoble made there own catwalk... In the middle of Grand Central station. Great idea location wise, many people passing through the only slight issue is that it's not necessarily flashmob in my eyes. To me flashmob indicates people blending in and then all of a sudden standing out for one reason or another. However from what i have gathered it was quite orchestrated in some senses, all walking on the terminal floor (obviously standing out fashion wise) but good to see that everything was not taped off bit like a school assembly in that essence and the other nice mix up is that it looks like the models are having fun, whenever you see photos from the catwalks either in New York, London, Milan, you name it and the models always look so serious, whether its because if they put to much effort in it may side track from the clothing who knows, either way it's fun and what a great venue to capture an audience. Grand Central Terminal is a fantastic hub of activity, always busy whether it is people on the move, others having meetings or simply meeting friends for a drink, everything can be done under the one roof. I remember when I went to New York nearly four years ago now and we met my friends cousin at the Michael Jordan's Steak House in the middle of Grand Central on one of the upper parts were we met for a drink, banter and a good bit of people watching, a fabulous atmosphere, sadly no flashmobs though...

The second video is one I saw quite some time ago and was pretty amazed, another version of flashmob, however this time it's quite the reverse...



I really like the contrast of the hustle and bustle of the station (the city that never sleeps...literally) and the stillness of the flashmob. It's great they dont even flinch with poking and horns, amazing. It would be a pretty surreal thing to view and you could almost question if something had actually happened with the number of people joining in. The other good thing is it doesn't go on for to long to cause annoyance but is there enough for it to have an impact. This scene was made by Improv Everywhere, there idea - to cause scenes of chaos and joy in public places, sounds good to me.

Every little helps...

It certainly does Tesco, if only your petrol was so cheap...

Life's for Sharing

One of the most recent and popular adverts has featured flashmobs, T-Mobile has outdone all the other networks, Im not necessarily a fan of the actual network but they have definitely raised the bar and the concept of 'Life's for Sharing' sums up mobile phones and our need to have up to date information and share everything with everyone. The first advert they released was Liverpool Street Station -



Followed up by Trafalgar Square -



This is the first time I have really seen the Trafalar Square one, and the extended version has 'Hey Jude' by the Beatles which I think could of made a better advert but love how pink was there with her hood up in the middle of the crowds and just appears. It would have been great as it was but just to make the scene that bit more special and Pink is amazing live, saw her Funhouse tour a couple of years ago, what a performer, fantastic. The most recent advert is at Heathrow airport, fittingly 'Welcome Back' is the theme -



I have to say I love all of the adverts, I get tingles watching them, it just makes me happy and it would be immense to be apart of concept but probably more-so to be lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. What would we do without mobiles...