Sophie bought her wedding dress from Beyond Retro and as champions of self-love, and people doing whatever they want in general, we are excited to announce that four years after her ceremony Sophie will be launching her new book with us in Brighton! READER, I MARRIED ME! is Tanner's first novel, described as ‘engaging, uplifting and empowering’, the book follows the main character Chloe’s journey to self-discovery.

After captivating the attention of the media for her radical act of self-love, Sophie’s book is sure to inspire and encourage other women to abandon the relentless cycle of dating and take time to appreciate and love themselves.

We can’t wait to celebrate with Sophie at our Brighton store on the 18th of May and ahead of the launch we spoke to Sophie about love, life and living as a sologamist.

Q- First off, how have the first four years of sologamist marriage been for you?

I can honestly say these past four years have been the best in my life. Making a public commitment to face my disappointments and embrace my dreams has been more powerful than I ever imagined. Obviously, I’m never going to be perfect and I’m always going to make mistakes (because I’m a human!) but I’ve learned so much on this journey of self-love and met some amazing people along the way. Sometimes, when I’m having a bad day, I have to remind myself of my vows to love and respect myself and it really helps! 

Q- What was it that inspired you to marry yourself?

Well, I was recovering from a bad break up. It wasn’t the first time I’d been cheated on but, somehow, this time it had really knocked me. I couldn’t help blaming myself and feeling like it must be my fault. Then, one morning, a few months down the line, I woke up and was so relieved to feel my usual sense of optimism returning. The sun was streaming through the window and I looked around my bedroom and realised that I wasn’t the loser; I loved my life - my family, friends, home and, most importantly, myself! I wanted to jump up and celebrate the fact that I knew I could be fully happy without another ‘half’ to complete me. In our culture, everyone blindly applauds you when you announce you’re ‘in a relationship’ but you don’t get nearly the same reaction when you decide to focus on your relationship with yourself. In fact, everyone pities you when you’re single. I decided it was time for that to change and I figured - what better way to celebrate self-love than with a wedding?! 

Q- What does sologamy mean to you and how do you deal with people who don’t understand?

For me, sologamy is an ongoing commitment to self-compassion. After all, kindness begins with the self. And, once you start to acknowledge and accept things about yourself, I think you’re in a much better position to have more meaningful relationships with other people. Not everyone gets this, there are many who read the clickbait headlines and react in anger or ridicule. It’s kind of bizarre how nasty the trolls are, I don’t really get it, because there’s nothing more harmless than working on loving yourself! However, the way I deal with it is to write a novel about it - it’s been very therapeutic.

Q- Tell us a little about the book and what did you find most difficult about writing your first novel?

READER, I MARRIED ME is based loosely on my own experiences of sologamy but it is fiction. I’ve dramatised all the different layers there are to self-love. It’s a light-heartedly subversive challenge to the traditional rom-com narrative which suggests you need to find ‘the one’ for your ‘happily ever after’. I’ve always wanted to write a book and this has been such an awesome learning curve. I guess the hardest thing was realising that the action in a book isn’t like the action in real life - where you might be in lots of different locations and meeting lots of different people every week. I had work hard to keep the story arc focused on the key themes; luckily I had the excellent guidance of my publishers at Trapeze Books.

Q- What does self-love mean to you?

Self-love is a bit of a buzz-word at the moment. For me, it’s more than taking a hot bath and treating yourself to a glass of wine or chocolate. It’s about paying attention to what’s going on in your body and mind, it’s about acknowledging that there are some things you can change and learn from and others that are out of your control. I think self-love is also about gratitude and being ‘happily ever now’ - it’s important to want what you have and not always have what you want. 

Q- Your wedding dress was vintage from Beyond Retro if you could have had the wedding dress of any celebrity from history who would you choose?

Oooooh, if I get the choice I’d probably have to go with the queen of style - Gabrielle Bonheur ‘Coco’ Chanel!

READER, I  MARRIED ME! is available from the 18th May and you can get your free ticket to join the celebrations in Brighton here.

words by Eloise Gendry

In 2019 mindfulness and self-care are buzzwords often thrown-around which might signal you to nod and smile blankly when thrown around in conversation, but these are actually quietly radical ideas that in troubling times can help us through.

Tahmina Begum, of XXY Magazine, often uses similar terms when posting on her Instagram (if you don’t follow her on Instagram then go do it and get yourself a daily dose of all things uplifting). The 23-year-old editor is a wunderkind of sorts, known for her thought-provoking takes on what it means to be female, Muslim and a creative in the 21st century and she certainly isn’t afraid to talk about things which others might deem to uncomfortable.

We are excited to be hosting the What I’m Taking With Me event on the 13th of June in collaboration with XXY Mag and Good Girl Gang, for a day of workshops intertwining printing, zine-making and mindfulness. In all the noise of a constantly-changing, divided world we can’t wait to have a day to take ourselves out of this space and focus on what we can do to ensure our minds aren’t only filled with external problems.

Ahead of the event, we spoke to Tahmina Begum to discuss what mindfulness, self-care and feminism mean to her.

 Tickets for the mindfulness workshop including screen printing, zine-making and feminist book swap are available here.

words by Eloise Gendry

There’s no doubt that over the last few days your news feeds would have been full of run-downs of what everyone wore and ‘omg these two celebs are definitely dating, they were having fun at a festival together!’ Coachella articles. Whilst it can be fun to gawk at supermodels in festival outfits that cost more than a year’s worth of my rent it’s also a weekend rife with problematic behaviour.

Described on social media by one Twitter user Coachella has been dubbed the ‘Influencer Olympics’, which seems to fit when you consider the number of people flown out by brands for an all-expenses-paid weekend of content creating and selfie-taking. Whilst this uber-luxurious glamping experience does have the glossy veneer of our wildest dreams, this year there has been a lot of media attention pointed towards Philip Anschutz, the owner of the festival, for his sizeable donations to anti-LGBT and pro-gun organisations; the money for which he accumulates in part through Coachella. For a festival that has a carefully-constructed air of freedom, peace and love it is apparent that actually, these sentiments are more likely to be found on an insta-stars slogan tee shirt than the ethos of the festival organisers.

A million miles away from the tinny-drinking, rollie-smoking, Allan-shouting, mud-clad festy goers of the biggest British festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Coachella is a manicured and manufactured exercise. Whilst we will always be interested in what our favourite celebs are wearing, we’re not sure that we can in good-conscience care too much about Coachella.

Instead, we present the 10 best British festival moments ever-

1. Daphne & Celeste- Reading 2000

Ooh stick you, the crowd were not having any of it when pop duo Daphne & Celeste took to the stage. Whilst they didn’t get a great reception, the flared-jeans and zebra print chunky sandals are definitely going to be my summer wardrobe inspo.

2. Damon Albarn falls off stage 2003

“I’ve always been uncool” Blur frontman said about his epic tumble from the stage whilst performing their hit Beetlebum at Reading Fest in 2003.

3. Beyonce Pyramid Stage Headline 2011

We obviously don’t need to say any more on this. She really did THAT… and whilst secretly pregnant.

4. Jeremy Corbyn Introduces Run The Jewels at Glastonbury 2017

Known for their left-wing, politically-charged lyrics and crowd-pleasing beats RTJ performed at Glastonbury following a passionate and rousing speech of freedom, equality and acceptance given by the leader of the opposition Corbyn. Of course, there was a lot of Oh-Jeremy-Corbyn chanting too.

5. Michael Eavis singing ‘My Way’ with Coldplay at Glastonbury 2016

Glasto owner treated the crown to a gravelly, impassioned rendition of My Way accompanied by headliners Coldplay.

6. Nirvana- Reading 1992

Still heralded as one of the best and most important festival slots of the last century, a defining moment for the band that was largely unexpected from the relatively new band.

7. 50 Cent booed off at Reading 2004

Over the years Reading has taken a move towards slightly more mainstream billings but 50 Cent was deemed a little too big of a jump at the time by the unimpressed crowd- they began throwing rubbish at the stage and booed the ‘In Da Club’ rapper. The difference between this in 2004 and Kanye being largely welcomed to the Glasto field in 2015 shows how the music landscape has changed, in many ways for the better, since then.

8. The debut of the ‘dance’ tent Glastonbury 1995

It’s hard to imagine a festival without a dance field where you can go and see your favourite DJ's live but until 1995 this was the case. Glastonbury introduced the tent with an inaugural lineup including giants such as Massive Attack and Carl Cox.

9. Jay Z’s cover of Wonderwall opening his headline set 2008

When Jay-Z was first announced as a headliner at 2008’s Glastonbury there was a lot of criticism and of course Liam Gallagher piped in with his thoughts on the matter however HOV proved he was more than capable of being a headliner. He came on to a slightly tongue-in-cheek cover of Wonderwall and then wowed with his live version of ‘99 Problems’.

10. From Glasto to Calais

Every year the festival site is left awash with discarded camping equipment, including a huge amount of wellies. In 2015 a wellie donation station was set up at the end of the festival to encourage revellers to donate their wellies to be sent to the Calais ‘jungle’ to help equip migrants. Over 500 pairs of wellies were sent as well as 2,000 brand new rain ponchos and first aid kits.

In summary, don’t have FOMO about not being at Coachella.

 Polyglamorous and Alright Darling are coming together to bring you a late night shopping event celebrating sustainable fashion and everything green in our Brighton store!

Join them on Thursday 18th April for DJs, vintage shopping, NYX makeup booth, competitions and free beers from Two Tribes Brewery. For more info on this FREE event, check out the facebook page.

We spoke to the people behind Polyglamourous to chat queer pop, vintage and all things drag.

Tell us about Polyglamorous

Polyglamorous is a Brighton based poly-chromatic club night. We’re a monthly queer dance party that aims to create a fun and safe environment for Brighton’s lovely queer people. Expect a different colour theme every month, a chance to dress up and let your hair down, all whilst dancing the night away to queer pop and gay anthems.

What inspired you to create the collective?

We're a creative collective that has all worked in different areas of Brighton nightlife. We have DJs, drag queens, makeup artists, photographers, you name it. We wanted to combine our talents to create something for the Brighton queer community. We sometimes felt like we'd be all dressed up with nowhere to go, so we wanted to create a space and throw a party for people to who felt the same.

How would you describe the contemporary drag scene? Why do you think the drag scene is so important in modern culture?

Drag is considered to be the new punk. If you look through the Polyglamorous Instagram and Facebook, you'll see how diverse, talented and unique our guests are. We think this reflects on why the drag scene is so important in modern culture because unfortunately there aren't always welcoming spaces for this kind of diversity. It's been so incredible to see new and returning faces let their creativity and self-expression thrive.

Why do you think vintage clothes are such a big part of the drag scene?

What are your favourite vintage pieces in your wardrobe?

Alfie Ordinary: I recently bought a gorgeous black rhinestone hat from Beyond Retro. It's like a crushed top hat with a huge silk bow. It's simultaneously the ugliest and most incredible thing I've ever seen. It makes me feel like a gay Mr Man. Currently, sourcing trousers to match!
Cat Atomic: A black jumpsuit with art deco style lapels. It's also from Beyond Retro! It's powerful and from the '80s, which is definitely my favourite era. They weren't afraid to blur the lines of gender.
Emily Meow: Mine has to be a baby pink bishop sleeved, a high necked dress that's very 60s/70s. It's fascinated at the back with a cute pink chiffon bow. It was such a gorgeous Beyond Retro find, I'd never be able to find something like it on the high street!
Lydia L'Scabies: It's definitely a gold lamé prom dress from Beyond Retro. It's served me well over the years!

What are your plans for the future of Polyglamorous?

We're continuing with our monthly parties that have a different colour theme each time. On Saturday 11th May we're taking over the Spiegeltent at Brighton Fringe to present a fabulous gold ball. Tickets are on sale now! Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming colours, exciting things are on the horizon!

Follow Polyglamourous on Instagram & Facebook for more events!

Beyond Retro has recently been teaming up with Brighton pop up cinema crew White Wall Cinema as they put on a series of secret 80s themed film screenings in our Brighton North Laine store to celebrate 10 years of the legendary Brighton 80s party It Is Still 1985.

If you want to celebrate 10 years of 80s dancing each and every Saturday then you can join It is still 1985 weekly at The Haunt nightclub in Brighton, and also you can apply for free tickets to one of their upcoming secret 80s White Wall Cinema film screenings located in our Brighton store. The identity of the movie being screened is kept a secret until it actually starts on the night, there is only one guarantee, it will be VERY 80s.

To explore the decade a bit further we asked White Wall Cinema to pick another six of the best 80s movies that represent the era to them. They might not be the most obvious choices from the era like The Breakfast Club or Back To The Future, but these are White Wall Cinema's picks of six movies that quietly defined the decade.

Das Boot (1981)

Wolfgang Petersen's epic tale of WW2 submariners was originally released in West German cinemas in 1981 and then later became a sensation around the world even garnering six Oscar nominations, an unheard of feat for a foreign language feature. It uniquely allowed viewers worldwide a look at World War 2 from the much lesser seen German perspective. That coupled with its literal visual perspective from inside the confines of a U-boat has made Das Boot a classic of cinematic invention and a virtual byword for claustrophobia and tension.

The 149 minute Theatrical Cut, and 208 minute Director's Cut however are both outstripped by the almighty 'uncut version' (which can also be viewed as a miniseries) which clocks in at just shy of 5 hours, blurring the line between feature film and TV series just as David Lynch did recently when he confirmed he saw the new Twin Peaks, not as a TV series but as a 17 hour feature film. The fact that 5 hours is watchable in one go (it is, we have done it) and that the beautifully nuanced characters can be so deeply empathised with on a human level despite the fact they are literally fighting on behalf of Nazi Germany, shows the brilliance of Petersen's creation. It is this human connection that perhaps makes Das Boot the most effective anti-war statement ever committed to celluloid.

Down By Law (1986)

Whereas the 70s saw the blossoming of young auteurs like Scorsese, Coppola, and Spielberg taking over and redefining traditional Hollywood movies, the 80s perhaps saw an even more rebellious streak from directors that would never truly integrate with Hollywood as the independent movie scene started to truly emerge from the shadows and clear a path for its almost full-scale mainstream acceptance into movie culture by the end of the 90s.

The undisputed king of American indie cinema has always been Jim Jarmusch, one of the defining moments of his career would perhaps be one of the most defining moments in cinema history as Jarmusch took Jim Lurie, Tom Waits (yes the musician) and Roberto Benigni (director/lead actor of Life Is Beautiful fame) and cast them into the American deep south as three escaped prisoners on the run. Shot in cool black and white tones and with it's opening Robby Muller camera pan soundtracked by Tom Waits’ 'Jockey Full Of Bourbon' it's a moment that opened the floodgates for rebellious D.I.Y. filmmakers the world over.

The Terminator (1984)

These days it's easy to forget the simple brilliance of James Cameron's 1984 Sci-Fi flick, and indeed the how vibrant the concoction of familiar elements mixed in a new way would have been. Several decades of Arnold Schwarzenegger playing it more for comedy as opposed to just relying on his brute force (purely as a reaction to the public persona he created in this film) plus his term as governor has diminished the legend of this film, alongside Cameron's own follow up with Arnie in what is now more popular and comedic sequel T2: Judgement Day. Terminator 2 in many ways represented the big box office sequels of the 90s, but the original Terminator film is both a purer and somehow also a more bastardised form of cinema.

It took elements of low budget horror and Sci-Fi, teamed it with a great John Carpenter like concept to create one of those movies with a premise that is brilliant in the way it allows the viewer to imagine a million ideas that lie just beyond the edges of the film's vision. But despite the premise being a certain kind of brilliant, it is also essentially ludicrous, but the way Cameron mixes previously well-trodden B movie territory into a unique new formula the silliness somehow matters not as his unique concoction of old elements remixed for the 80s offers a blueprint for the shape of Hollywood cinema to come. Despite only having a handful of lines (perhaps for the best) Arnie became an instant icon of the 80s overnight and the phrase "I'll Be Back" has been echoed over and over again at all levels of pop culture continuously. The Terminator manages to take something a bit dumb and actually make it very exciting, stylish and even possibly slightly intriguing without ever really pretending it's something more than it is. Deceptively brilliant, it provided the raw materials for Cameron's future productions that would smash all box office records in Titanic and Avatar.

Wall Street (1987)

Oliver Stone is a giant of cinema who isn't oft discussed in the temporary landscape of cinema. Era and cinema defining movies like Platoon, Natural Born Killers and JFK have sort of been lost from the discussion these days. During the series of screenings we at White Wall Cinema have been organising in order to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Brighton's legendary 80s party It is still 1985, we have focussed on 80s movies that have a specifically 80s feel to them. Many truly great movies from any era have a timeless quality to them. If you look at a movie like The Matrix, for example, it actually looks rather dated and very 90s when compared to say Blade Runner, despite Blade Runner is more than a decade older than the Keanu Reeves bullet time bonanza. This is because as fun as The Matrix is, it can't compete with the inspired classic production design of Ridley Scott that can (when watching the restored print) fool you into the thinking the movie could have been made yesterday. In this case of a classic movie, however, Wall Street is that most 80s of movies. It feels 80s to its very core, not just because the theme from the movie is Talking Heads "This Must Be Place (Naive Melody)" which opens the film, but because of its central preoccupation which is perhaps the central preoccupation of American society at the time,... greed. Capitalism dripped from the screen in Hollywood like never before in the 80s, as climbing the economic ladder and the pursuit of money at any cost was seen as virtues in a whole host of movies from the era.

Superficiality was the order of the day, and even movies like Blade Runner which were essentially quite arty in nature had much more of a bent towards the aesthetic. Even France's filmmakers of the day were known as being part of "Le Look", a cinema movement classified as being style over substance. Quite the departure from the French New Wave of the 60s. One of the things that appeal to us about Wall Street is that it's actually a very moral movie, but most famously it's "greed is good" mantra espoused by Gordon Gekko (the movie's central villain played by Michael Douglas) accidentally inspired a generation of city trader types to be even more ruthless than those Stone was trying to portray, because compared to Charlie Sheen's character, who ultimately comes down on the side of morality, and Douglas's character getting his comeuppance in the end, for most of the movie it looked like it was the bad guy having all the fun.

Much like Stone's earlier screenplay Scarface, Stone tried to show (realistically) the bad guy was engaging in these risky immoral behaviours for a reason, the money, the power, and it's perks. It seemed like so much fun in fact that future real-life gangsters both those engaged in the drug trade and the 'legitimate' gangster types known as Wall Street traders were willing to ignore the eventual fall from grace of Tony Montana in Scarface and Gordon Gekko in Wall Street simply because there were big rewards to be had in the meantime. In Wall Street's case, we see it's an evolution into characters like Jordan Belfort, in Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street and ultimately the financial crash of 2008. Very rarely has a movie so vividly held a mirror up to society's ills highlighting the climate of the day and then later become such an extreme case of life imitating art, with Stone's Wall Street essentially predicting and perhaps even partially causing the madness to come.

Batteries Not Included (1987)

The 80s were a golden age for family films, thanks in large part to Steven Spielberg's masterpiece E.T. It's not often a film is both such big a box office success and yet also so full of charm and heartfelt sentiment. Spielberg would go on to try and recapture these elements numerous times by producing (but not always directing) a string of family movies (with varying levels of success) that often had Sci-Fi Fantasy elements like Back To The Future, Innerspace, The Goonies, Hook, Jurassic Park and this 1987 minor family film classic ostensibly about a group of tiny robots from outer space "Batteries Not Included".

Films attempting to recreate that Spielbergian Sci-Fi family touch were rife across the industry at the time with efforts like Short Circuit and Flight of the Navigator seemingly all over the box office, but it was Spielberg produced Matthew Robbin's directed "Batteries Not Included" that perhaps had the most success in recreating that central element that was so important to the formula, in that the movie actually had genuine heart. Despite feeling a bit dated in a number of ways, the film is imbued with a real sense of care and love for its ensemble cast. The virtue of loving and caring for those around you is sensitively imparted in this 80s tale that, in itself, is a kickback against the unrestrained capitalism of the 80s, as unscrupulous property developers attempt to nefariously run sitting tenants out of their old shabby apartment building in order to free up more land for yet another New York City skyscraper.

The film is the screenwriting debut of Brad Bird who later brought us such wonderful family fare as The Iron Giant, the two Incredibles movies, the much loved Ratatouille, the somewhat underappreciated Tomorrowland: A World Beyond and not forgetting his action movie, the genuinely brilliant Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. Bird's script and characters in "Batteries..." are surprisingly touching and heartfelt throughout, and despite the intervention in the property developers plans seemingly coming from outer space, the tiny robots and the human residents of the building are so lovingly rendered and beautifully expressed it feels very much like it's the small acts of kindness between the films different characters that succeed in holding back the evil tide of the money grabbing developers. Even the most cynical of viewers will likely fall in love with the cast of this cheesy but worthwhile 80s family film.

One From The Heart (1982)

Tom Waits makes another appearance on the list as he scores this insanely brilliant and wonderfully idiosyncratic musical... where no one sings. Wait's duets with Crystal Gayle continuously soundtrack the lavish soundstage pseudo musical production that essentially bankrupted legendary Godfather and Apocalypse Now director Francis Ford Coppola. We at White Wall Cinema screened this at one of our secret movie clubs previously and seemingly no one in the room had ever heard of the film, let alone seen it, but it mesmerised the whole audience. It's this sort of hidden gem we aim to dig up at White Wall Cinema screenings and this one really hit the mark. It's a mix of lush music, a brilliant cast of players including Raul Julia (Yes! Gomez Addams!), Nastassja Kinski, Harry Dean Stanton and it's exceptional cinematography, lighting and set design enchants in an off-kilter way that most viewers have never seen before. It plays with the traditional artifice of the classic big-budget Hollywood musicals of yesteryear by adding a contemporary and arthouse feel to its mix and pumping the artifice (and neon) up to 11.

It's a forgotten masterpiece the likes of which only a legendary director breaking away from the major Hollywood studios, totally intent on complete artistic control, and totally hell-bent on bankrupting himself, could possibly create. Coppola was only in a position to make this movie due to the financial success films like Apocalypse Now and the first two Godfather movies afforded him, but Coppola has noted that every movie he ever made after One From The Heart was essentially to pay for the cost of making it! We think it was worth every penny Francis, and so too did everyone at our screening that night.

For more information on White Wall Cinema and It Is Still 1985 please visit www.whitewallcinema.co.uk and www.itisstill1985.com. The next free screening at Brighton Beyond Retro takes place on Friday, April 19th (Good Friday). 

If you haven't already heard, our brand store is now open in... BRISTOL!

Our new Bristol store is now OPEN in Bristol's famous Broadmead shopping quarter, and is now the home to over 10,000 incredible vintage items just waiting for you to take home!

We're really excited to offer sustainable, trend-led fashion to a brand new city, and to bring our vintage knowledge and our ever-changing, handpicked collection to become part of the amazing Bristol fashion scene.

With must-have brands such as Levi’s, Adidas, Carhartt, Dr Martens, and more,  Bristol shoppers can expect not only quantity but quality, with key staples from the 40s to the 00s.

Our brand new location is:

20 Broadmead

Bristol

BS1 3HA

Opening from Monday - Saturday 10am - 7pm & Sunday 11am - 5pm 

Expect big things from the UK's leading vintage retailer and keep your eyes peeled for more events, we can't wait! 

Naomi is a bonafide fashion icon, that is undisputed and with such an awe-inspiring style, of course, people will be looking to copy it. In a world of fast fashion some brands and celebrities, *cough cough* The Kardashians, try to imitate an iconic look without giving credit or making it clear they are paying homage.

A muse to many designers and seemingly ageless, Campbell continues to be flawlessly dressed and always pushing artistic boundaries with her looks. In a world of knock-offs, we believe in celebrating authentic vintage style and today we’re giving thanks to one of the industries biggest players. So here are our 10 favourite Naomi Campbell looks.

1. Doubling Down

A vision in blue, we will always love a bit of double denim but Naomi went all out with these flared jeans and matching sequined denim bandeau. Summer party inspo? We think so!

2. Lowkey who?

A satin bias-cut skirt is a wardrobe staple for summer 2019 but Naomi knew this way before anyone else. The square tinted sunglasses and fur jacket are just the icing on the fashion cake that makes this look feel so effortless. Shop our selection of coloured lens sunglasses and midi skirts online and in-store.

3. Versace Vixen

Whilst she can do OTT like the best of them this Versace outfit from the ’90s is a sophisticated and fun look which is glamorous yet toned-down.

4. Safety Is Sexy

At Beyond Retro we are all about supporting important causes through fashion and 2003 Naomi in the rhinestone embellished halter emblazoned with the slogan ‘Use A Condom’ is the kind of thing we can get behind. The top was part of a collection used to support AIDs awareness by London Designer Katharine Hamnett.

5. All That Glitters

Floor-length, shimmering gown and Gianni Versace as your date; G L A M O U R!

6. Moss & Campbell; A Powerful Friendship

There’s a reason that so many ‘going-out’ inspiration Pinterest boards feature a billion pictures of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, this friendship is a serious fashion powerhouse. Not only are they style icons and supermodels but incredible business women.

7. Fashion Queen of England

A lot of British icons were present at the 2012 London Olympics and whilst our GB teams did well Naomi really showcased our homegrown talent. In a floor-length gown and towering heels, she took to the stage at the Olympic closing ceremony and stunned.

8. Power Dressing

We love a good suit and this white two-piece looks so incredible on Naomi. An iconic 90’s look, the rectangle sunglasses turn this outfit up all the way to 11.

9. Gingham Goddess

We definitely did not look this put-together on our 22nd birthdays but of course, Naomi managed to pull it off in a blue gingham dress with signature 90’s baby blue eyeshadow..

10. No Filter Needed

A legendary look, this Versace mini dress is exquisite and perfectly encapsulates Naomi’s icon status. Even the guy in the headset in the back of the picture can’t believe his eyes.

See more of Naomi's greatest style moments along with some of our other top style icons in our favourite animal print looks.

Words Eloise Gendry

As a response to the hostility and turmoil surrounding Brexit, our good friend's Birdsong have collaborated with creative project Still European, and XXY Magazine - a cultural platform focused on marginalised voices. Together they have launched a limited edition range of locally embroidered t-shirts, zine and panel event.

This incredible collaboration is an exploration of community, nuance behind the concept of ‘Europe’, and positive recognition of migrant workers, during the Brexit era. 

Join Birdsong and XXY Magazine at our Cheshire Street store on Thursday 14th March from 6pm for a panel discussion on 'Reaffirming Communities During Brexit', with guest speakers Nahir de la Silva from the Latin American Women's Rights Service, Pink Protest activist Grace Campbell, and founder of cultural platform Amaliah, Nafisa Bakkar and finally chaired by XXY editor Tahmina Begum.

Tickets are on sale now, from £10 for the event or £15 for the event and the zine!

But don't worry if you forget to get your zine ticket, as hand embroidered t-shirts form the collection and the XXY zines will also be available on the night!  

With each t-shirt sold stimulates the local economy, generating revenue for the migrant run workshop where they are embroidered. With two designs to choose from: a ‘Still European’ emblem or ‘Still Friends’ motif based on Picasso’s ‘Woman With A Dove’, each t-shirt is a visual symbol of internationalism and collaboration.

Find out more about Birdsong here.

Just Another Girl on the IRT (1993)

Daughters of Dust (1991)

Holy Smoke (1999)

We Need to talk about Kevin (2011)

American Psycho (2000)

Bend it like Beckham (2002)

Mustang (2015)

But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)

The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

Orlando (1992)

From punks to pop icons check, tartan, houndstooth and gingham are eternal favourites. Each type of fabric has a rich history and they continue to be updated every season, their popularity never faltering. We’ve taken inspiration from these fabrics and the likes of Gucci, Kenzo, Versace and Charles Jeffrey for winter, piling up kilts, plaid shirts and scarves.

Whether you choose to go all-out, head-to-toe, full-on with the trend or keep it more low-key by styling up a patterned piece we have some inspiration for you. Check out our Criss-Cross icons.

Clueless

Probably one of the most iconic and memorable costumes from the film, Cher and Dionne’s plaid two piece looks still have us bugging out. Whilst the idea of wearing a completely tartan outfit might scare you as much as driving down the highway in a car driven by Dionne, style this look with a simple graphic tee underneath and it becomes easily wearable.

Malcolm McLaren

Former Sex Pistols manager, artist and musician Malcolm McLaren was an integral part of the London punk scene during the late seventies. His iconic look was truly rebellious, putting two fingers up to the fashion of the time.

Rachel Green

A moment of silence for this outfit, please. Rachel was a style icon of the nineties, wearing some of the best outfits to ever grace the small screen and a haircut that many viewers would later regret copying. Possibly the preppiest she ever looked, this outfit is still inspirational today. The knee socks and roll neck perfectly compliment the plaid mini skirt in a kitsch and cute look that is super simple to replicate. You can shop our selection of laid skirts here.

Gwen Stefani

From performing at Glastonbury to a day out with her baby there’s No Doubt that Gwen is a fan of a plaid pant. Suiting her punky, fusion style statement, red and green checks seem to be her go-to. Easily paired with chunky boots and a crop-top you can recreate this look in an instant.

Tartan Queen

Naomi Campbell is known to make an impression on the catwalk and Vivienne Westwood 1994 was no different, she graced fashion week head to toe in Scottish heritage tartan. The classic Westwood silhouette and the top to toe styling makes a real impact. Go all-out and shop our selection to create your own all-tartan look.

Aunt Viv, Fresh Prince Of Bel Air

Aunt Viv’s costumes were always impeccable, as was her hair and this yellow skirt suit is a perfect example exquisite looks she wore. Shop our selection of blazers here.

The People’s Princess

We all wish we could have raided Princess Diana’s wardrobe as she had such an iconic and versatile style that to this day is #goals. This teal check coat and hat combo is one of her most well-remembered and made an impact whilst also being very simple.

Beyoncé

What’s more iconic than the classic Burberry check? Beyoncé in custom Burberry check. When Riccardo Tisci took over from Christopher Bailey he updated the brand’s logo and the check itself, making it more modern. Obviously, Queen Bey can do no wrong when it comes to her outfits but this stage look in particular deserves a round of applause.

Dorothy

A gingham-clad beauty, Judy Garland’s Dorothy is known for her iconic dress. The pale blue and white pattern perfectly suits the sweeter-than-pie character, especially with the matching hair bows. Gingham screams sunshine, summer and picnics in the park but a gingham skirt paired with a knitted jumper and boots can be a perfect transitional look.

Lady Gaga

Not one to shy away from a bold look, Gaga went all out with this monochrome houndstooth look. The pearls are the perfect finishing touch for this loud but feminine look.

Vans - the iconic skate shoe

The waffle-sole, checkerboard print Vans trainer might be more commonly connected nowadays with the spiked-belt-wearing indie/emo tribes of the early 2000s, but their roots lay firmly in a history of skateboarding. The black and white checkerboard design is a design classic and is still as popular as it ever was. Shop our selection of Vans here.

The late, great Alexander McQueen

One of the biggest designers that Britain has produced and a legend in his own right, McQueen created many collections inspired by his father's’ Scottish heritage that incorporated traditional tartan fabrics. Accompanied by Sarah Jessica Parker to the 2016 MET Gala, the pair looked dreamy in tartan creations, McQueen in a classic kilt and Parker in a tartan-wrapped ball gown extravaganza.

Liv Tyler, Empire Records

The ultimate girl crush, Liv Tyler…. Need we say more?

Audrey Hepburn, 1961

There are not many lists of style icons where Audrey Hepburn wouldn’t appear and this one is no different. Her pairing of colour coordinating green check skirt and polo top clash brilliantly with her opaque red tights, an elegant and fun twist on criss-cross styling.

The laundry bag.

THE biggest criss-cross icon is undoubtedly the humble laundry bag. A true unsung hero, the classic red and blue check has inspired designers and even been incorporated into collections from big brands such as Balenciaga. We stan a criss-cross legend.

Words Eloise Gendry

It is no surprise that the news of Karl Lagerfeld's death spread across social media within a heartbeat, his popularity and influence within the fashion industry is unrivalled. In his 36 year span at the helm of Chanel, Lagerfeld created some of the most iconic moments and took the brand to its highest heights. It is a tragic loss to the industry and to creatives the world over who were inspired by his designs, his work ethic and his approach to style. His death comes after a tragic battle with pancreatic cancer, which he fought bravely yet quietly, with little media attention. His passing will be mourned by millions across the globe, but as Lagerfeld’s death comes during fashion week the effect will undoubtedly be felt intensely across London, Milan and his home, Paris.

His legacy will undoubtedly live on for as long as the fashion industry continues, unrivalled and unwaveringly.

In celebration of his life and his work, we take a look back over his most iconic moments;

Chanel AW14

This show sent attendees into a frenzy as once the show had finished many journalists and celebrities tried to get their hands on cellophane wrapped handbags that looked like packaged steaks and Chanel branded cans of beans. AW14 was just one of the time Karl created a set as visually exciting as the clothes themselves.

Devon Aoki closing Chanel SS01

Fendi Favourites

During his 50 (!!) years at Fendi, Lagerfeld created bold, bright and outrageous designs that captured the attention of the media all over the world. One of the most iconic creations at the brand are the furry charms that have become a cult favourite, including the Karlito charm made in Lagerfeld’s likeness.

Chanel Haute Couture 1992

Karl and Anna at the CFDA Awards 1993

That hula-hoop bag; SS13

A handbag worthy of the celebrities that carried it, the iconic quilted Chanel handbag got an upgrade in 2013 for Spring/Summer and turned it into a hula-hoop style piece.

Lagerfeld & Gaga

Chanel Ready-to-wear 1994

The kind of imagery that appears in moodboards and 90’s inspo Instagram time after time, Lagerfeld’s 1994 Chanel collection was full of supermodels and bright colours that wouldn’t look out of place in 2019. This show highlights his talent for taking the classic Coco Chanel silhouettes and creating something fresh and fun

Sci-fi styling; SS17

The most famous cat in the world, Choupette Lagerfeld

Famous pets are not so uncommon nowadays, but Lagerfeld’s pampered kitty Choupette is such a worldwide phenomenon that she even has her own book and makeup line.

Shalom Harlow in 1997 Couture

Lagerfeld for Chloe

Whilst his reign at Chanel is likely his most commonly associated, Lagerfeld also created collections for Chloe in 1974 and 1992.

Words Eloise Gendry-Hearn