Flame & Citronella

Last night I attended the exclusive preview of VICE’s new series Fashion Week Internationale at the VICE offices. A treat all round.

First there were Fashion Week Internationale cocktails made with Hendricks (the classy gin) and an acai berry drink called ‘28 Black’, so far, so fashiony. THEN there was sushi (tick tick) and of course the appearance of the obligatory fashion crowd dressed and ready to see miss Charlet Duboc present a series of videos documenting fashion weeks unlike anything i’ve ever seen before.

The series, already featured on elle.com  and The Guardian, documents a very different side to the traditional bi-annual fashion presentations we’re so used to, what with their front row faces, fads and upcoming fashion trends. No, in this series the focus also covers bombs, powercuts, politics and plastic surgery.

Filmed in a documentary format with Charlet Duboc as our host we are treated to the sartorial offerings of Islamabad, Columbia and Full Figured Fashion Week providing the viewer with a range of dodgy characters and even dodgier outfits:

From Episode 1 - Islamabad Fashion Week

The series is both funny and informative, and I thoroughly recommend you watch it. And you can! 

Islamabad Fashion Week is now online. Watch Pakistan’s second ever fashion week (the first, held last year in Karachi, was plagued with power cuts and bomb threats) where a thriving, progressive fashion scene exists led by Pakistan’s irrepressible style guru, Tariq Amin who is awesome.

(Click Through Image)

You can also meet “Pakistan’s only rapper”, who’d prefer three porn stars to the Koran’s promise of 72 virgins, and the designer who really thinks “the whole Muslim world needs to relax…big time!”.

To watch the first episode follow this link - http://www.vice.com/en_uk/fashion-week-internationale/islamabad-part-1

and stay tuned for the other two……..

Do you remember your first gig? Your first festival? Of course you do, because firsts stay with you always.

Dr Martens wants to celebrate your firsts with their campaign for their A/W11 collection by having their first series of free in-store gigs for the First and Forever Festival which will visit Cardiff, Leeds and London Dr Martens shops and culminate in a three night ticketed festival at the Barfly in Camden.

To win tickets visit: http://firstandforever.drmartens.co.uk/

So the final part of the 3-part series with Daisy Lowe and Sony Ericsson is out. This is the one where they follow Daisy around as she goes about a typically busy day in her life cooking a dinner party for her pals in her swanky new North London flat.

She wears a beaut of a dress as well - toates feeling the tight but unbuttoned burgundy maxi dress for A/W.

Watch le vid Here or click the image below.

Duck and Cover, the brand named after the 1950’s American government’s advice on what to do in the event of a nuclear bomb, are searching for their new campaign model in a different way. 

Instead of hiring a po faced professional, these guys are holding a competition called “We Want Your Face”. The winner will receive £1000 in cash, £1000 Duck and Cover apparel and will get to see his face all over the internet and a million magazines. 

It’s not all for boys either! The female winner will be styled and photographed by the VICE Style team and will get their own editorial feature too.

The competition can be entered here: http://www.wewantyourface.com

But best of all, even if you don’t have a face that could launch a thousand ships there are still tons of prizes and gifts to be one including ipod shuffles.

Palladium have created a beautifully shot 5 part mini documentary series featuring Pharrell Williams and his visit to Tokyo post 3/11 named ‘Tokyo Rising’. The series explores the creative forces that have been a constant source of inspiration for the musician throughout his many projects and we see the architecture, fellow musicians, artists and the parts of the city itself that have been an inspiration as well as an insight into all the hidden gems Tokyo has to offer.

Pharrell has been a great supporter of relief efforts for the Japanese citizens affected by the incidents of 3/11 and he jumped at the chance to visit the metropolis that has had such an impact upon him as an artist and as an individual as this beloved city faces a new reality after the tragedy of 3/11. 

While persistent challenges still lay ahead, the city’s creative class is hell-bent on making sure that their hometown thrives. Innovative and resilient, they are defining the future of Tokyo on their own terms.

Visit here for the full series: http://www.palladiumboots.co.uk/video/tokyo-rising#part1