'Making Connections' E/P Project - Kathryn MacKonochie

Sunday, 9 March 2008

A slice at the Big Apple

The Big Apple – sounds fruity, but New York does not count as part of your five a day. The city famed for its fad-diets and extreme exercise regimes should probably be seen as more of an indulgent snack, every now and then, rather than on a daily basis.
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, so it feels slightly inconsiderate to describe this fashion capital without us actually meeting first. I’ve spied it from afar, on TV and in films of course, but I am sure they don’t all ask for ‘Cwoffee’, in that cartoon New York drawl, or eat out every night in restaurants serving only raw food. I will hold judgement on this classy city until I’ve seen it in the flesh.
New York has always formed a shiny, silver-lined image in my head, from the glossy silhouette cast across the sky, to the rows of canary yellow taxis; the city is just the perfect pin-up for urban living. London may be on my doorstep, but when it comes to impressive locations, for me it’s more of a noisy neighbour than a glamorous acquaintance like New York.
Like the city, I imagine that New York fashion is BIG, big hair, big labels and high-heels. Glamour and sophistication oozes from the Fashion Week schedule, only the cream of the crop are allowed to flaunt their wares on this stage. London may boast exciting newcomers to Fashion’s top table, but New York is the place for Fashion nobility. New York is plastered with designer labels, the bigger the price tag the better. Rather like an exclusive nightclub I imagine New York has a similar strict dress-code, if it’s not Manolo Blahnik or Calvin Klein, it’s not coming in.

Wednesday, 20 February 2008

Fashion from the not-so-big smoke

London is always placed second-best to its fashion capital rivals. Almost as a last resort do they add London-town to the list of the fashion high-flyers, but the little sister of the fashion world provides the perfect arena for new, up-and-coming designers to flourish. New York, Paris and Milan may have laughed Gareth Pugh’s horse-hair covered gimp masks back down the runway, but London said ‘walk on’.
British designers like you to know where they’ve come from, the designers may not plaster I ♥ London onto their t-shirts but it’s clear to see where their loyalty lies.
London fashion is not afraid to stand out. So you may not actually want to wear any of the clothes down to Tesco for your Saturday shop, but hey, it’s still nice to look at them hanging in the wardrobe!

The shy kid in the fashionable playground is slowly coming out of its shell, and the well-documented return of Britain’s other queen Vivienne Westwood will certainly boost its confidence.

Thursday, 31 January 2008

The unlikely Fashionista

One look at this Dorset Darling and fashion journalist might not be the words that first spring to mind. The wardrobe says more high-street than Haute Couture, but don’t be fooled by the initial appearance, this fashion forgoer knows more than she lets on…

Trying to write about your Journalistic aspirations is immensely difficult when you don’t exactly know what you want to do with yourself. I know I want to write, but where, for whom and about what, I am totally open to suggestions. There isn’t one designer or one style that influences my work, its a little mish-mash of everything a little like my wardrobe. I take inspiration from things I read, hear and see, always jotting things down, when they pop mysteriously into my head. As to the future, as ridiculous as an un-stable salary and sporadic working hours sound, I think freelancing is where my journalistic career will go, unless, by some miraculous occurrence I end up being snapped up by This Morning to be their regular fashion correspondent!

The closest I’ve got to New York, apart from a brief trip to Atlanta Georgia which I’m told is a million miles away, is my regular visit to Manhattan and Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment, but I think it is probably time to switch off Sex and the City, and try the Big Apple on for myself!

Kat

Tuesday, 22 January 2008

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