Fashion Talk with Alexandra Shulman

So being a creative soul I love the time of year when Newcastle Fashion Week comes around. Being part of it & knowing other creative friends who showcase during the events of this week is always a great time of the fashion year. This year it is sponsored by Mercedes Benz & Terry De Hallivand.

 

 

This year NE1's Fashion Future's Week held a series of talks, the first starting at 1pm yesterday from founder/head designer of luxury lingerie brand Michelle Taylor, founder/head designer of luxury lingerie brand; Tallulah Love. Michelle is also a good friend of mine and a beautiful human! Also  Charis Younger, designer at All Saints; Kate Ablett designer at Berghaus, alongside Darren Spurling, MD of international footwear designer Terry De Havilland. The 2pm slot was filled by a talk from the amazing Henry Holland! An old university acquaintance of mine interned for him and then worked for him so I knew a lot about the brand and company. I didn't manage to make his talk unfortuantley but I heard he was very honest about his worries of sending collections out in the wrong seasons & his signature graphic printed t shirts. From what I heard he sounded very endearing & funny.




(From left to right) Elaine of Dimesso Designs who creates head pieces, Michelle Taylor from Tallulah Love, Mel Kyles accessory designer & myself (wearing my Miss Taylors coat.) Elaine & Mel collaborated & showcased with Michelle.  

 

 

The 3pm slot was covered by OBE & Editor in Chief of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman. I am so pleased I made it to this talk. Alexandra portrayed her intellect, knowledge, humour & her own talent as a journalist effortlessly.

 

 

She started with her background and her upbringing with 2 parents with who were also journalists and she told us that "actually my overwhelming impression was that the last thing in the world I wanted to be was a journalist, because it seemed like incredibly hard work for not much reward."
 

 

She went on to show us images of herself through the years and one in particular where she is wearing a skirt which she embroidered herself and standing in front of a Vogue poster and she expressed that "now it seems so ironic and incredible."

 

She admitted she didn't really enjoy her academic years but then went to work in a few different music companied and that was not as she thought so ended up doing some temp work for different magazines and journalist companies. She went on to work for Over 21 Magazine (no longer exists), and then to GQ where she revolutionised the thoughts on a male magazine which had a bad launch to a few other magazines and then ended up at British Vogue.

 

 

Shulman went on to speak about her love for the magazine but really didn't think she'd end up working in "fashion." However, bringing in new photographers, models, designers and other creative she seemed to create a vision for the way we see fashion now. There was a mention of bigger brands who back then "weren't so big" and a mention of Prada who used to produce a range of "rather lovely nylon bags." With her own sort of carte blanche given from the top editor, she seemed to have a fantastic time forging a way for Vogue as she carries on to do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 She seems to have a knack for finding the hidden gems of a different world. Having wrote an article about women who appeared to be from a different time period in which she featured Helena Bonem Carter when she was 15 (before she joined Vogue) and went on to feature Kate Moss on the cover of Vogue when she was just starting out... Having the power to use images that are more conceptual and use photographers who she loves (namely Mario Testino among others), seems to be an enjoyable part of being Alexandra Shulman. She spoke about this whilst showing a very fashion/art photograph of a model wearing a crazy outfit on a dirt track.) "I'm only as good as the people I work with." Also her love of showcasing other articles and not only fashion. David Milliband & Sarah Khan were among the people mentioned who have featured.

 

The part I loved was when Shulman spoke about the amount the business of vogue and that their primary business is in print (over digital copies of the magazine.) Personally I love a thick, glossy fashion mag over looking on a screen as we all seem to spend doing more and more these days!
 

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this talk and was truly mesmerised with Alexandra Shulman. Her honesty & humour was really refreshing! If you ever get the chance I highly recommend going to hear her speak.

 

 

You can read a little more about the talk over at the Chronicle: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/vogue-editor-guests-ne1s-fashion-9261786