Athleisure: NOT Just Another Fashion Trend

Written by Dawn Wood

Move over prim and proper, it's time for athleisure to take charge of your smart-casual dress-code. While temperatures outside may be hotting up, nevertheless, fashion continues to hone in on the importance of comfort. July is all about creating a summer wardrobe that's stylish, accessible and wearable. But if the thought of shelving your favourite sweatshirts is making you anxious, not to worry ladies - the athleisure trend has got you covered from head to toe.

Imagine this... if sports and fashion had an offspring, athleisure would be the beautiful hybrid result. Think second-skin lycra leggings with bright graphic prints, slouchy jersey hoodies with modern mesh textures, black trainers with neon laces, oversized sweaters adorned with sporty slogans... the list goes on.

Many of us are choosing to take charge of our health and fitness goals right now. Setting realistic life goals is always a good habit to get into, especially if you want to make exercise a regular lifestyle choice. If you've made joining the gym your number one priority, you've freed up more time to walk the dog, or even if it's something as simple as walking to work and back, there's endless exciting ways to keep moving this summer. And it's reassuring to know that even the smallest active changes can make a big difference to your well being.

When you choose fashion and comfort, this conjures the best of both worlds – you can go about your busy day and look fabulous while doing it!

Let's face it though, no-frills sportswear starts to look a little drab when you're wearing it day in day out. So it's the fashion-meets-function element that really makes the athleisure trend so appealing. If you're the type of person who's always on the move, but you never leave home without a slick of lipstick and a stylish outfit to boot, athleisure pieces are your best friend!

Remember: your wardrobe should work for you come rain or shine, so there's no excuse not to look glam with so many trendy options available online, and on the high street today.

So how should we be channeling this super cool fashion look? Here are two versatile ways to get the athleisure look:

For Fitness

There's a new wave of fashion and lifestyle brands showcasing matching workout top and legging sets, and these are ideal to wear whenever you're hitting the gym. Athleisure clothing offers a wide selection of colours, prints, cuts and fits for everybody, so you can easily mix 'n' match an outfit to suit your fitness activity that day. Whether you're colour co-ordinating a water bottle and towel with your sports bra, or a long sleeve moisture wicking top with UV accents is your must-have outer layer for an evening run; the athleisure trend means you'll be spoiled for practical outfit choices any day of the week.

Outside the Gym

Heading out for a health-kick smoothie straight after your workout? No problem. Go for a lightweight bomber jacket for your outerwear layer. Underneath, your base layer might be a cute crop top, or a slouchy tee if you feel like rocking your favourite sportswear brand.

Athleisure prides itself on layering, so feel free to add or subtract pieces when you're heading outdoors.

Of course, make sure you're dressed for the occasion too. If you want to turn up the colour, include a few neon accents to complement any neutral or darker pieces in your outfit. Fluro soles and laces, yoga pants with striped accents and coloured waistbands work well, especially for hi-vis radar!

Not a fan of neon? Go for lycra leggings with just a few graphic sections on the legs to give your look a fashion-forward touch. An embroidered silk bomber or classic denim jacket are two other popular choices to throw over your casual tee for fun leisure and free time dates.

With athleisure upping the game for sportswear, and steering fashion towards comfort as well as aesthetics - this is one lifestyle trend that's relevant no matter what season is on your calendar.  

Happy Easter Everyone!

Photo Credit: Pinterest. Effects & Font created by myself (Dawn)

Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle Tidbits - A/W '14

Hey Bloggers,

How are we all enjoying Autumn '14 so far?? Here is a selection of fashion, beauty and lifestyle snapshots taken over the past couple of months. As always, I like to document my musings, purchases and trips in visual form, especially as autumn is my all-time favourite season... that and I don't have an Instagram account! ;) Feel free to leave any comments below - which pictures do you like? Also, I would love to read your autumn related blogs, so you're more than welcome to share those too.

Scenery/Street Art

Beautiful Sunset - Docklands, Preston.

'The Butterfly Effect' - Serpentine Wood, Kendal.

Cute Bee Graffiti Art I spotted just around the corner from my sister's apartment - Manchester. :) 

Cafe

You can't beat a smooth Viennese coffee topped with whipped cream during the chillier months!

Flexing my photography skills in Starbucks ;)

Fashion

Killer heels, London Calling printed socks, tartan leggings and vintage pinstripe pencil skirt.

This tee has been worn to death - I LOVE its faded font and simplicity!

Nude stiletto pumps, black lace anklets, monochrome leggings and embellished pencil skirt.

Manicures

Orly pristine white manicure with leopard print nail decal detailing.

Orly green manicure worn with my 'go-to' black accessories. 

Autumn Beauty Essentials

Autumn wouldn't be autumn without a statement red lip!

Novelty lip balm with a fresh cucumber/mint scent - gift from my Twinny. :)

I always keep some Nivea lip care goodies in my travel make-up kit. I'm using the luscious watermelon balm at the mo - it has a natural pink sheen which acts as a good lipstick base, and the scent is out of this world!

From L-R: Lilac Hair Chalk, Rimmel 'Brit Manicure' Polish in Ivory Tower, Rimmel 'Velvet Matte' Polish in Sumptuous Red, Baby Pink Hair Chalk.

Scent

Shay & Blue 'Sicilian Limes' Perfume - officially my new favourite scent!

Note: All Images taken by Myself (Dawn)

Sex Sells: Do Female Artists Need to Strip Off to Stay in the Spotlight?

Enough is NEVER Enough for Fame

By Dawn Wood.

Image Courtesy of Jack Bruunhammond.

When it comes to the music and entertainment industry, sex sells. There's no denying that sex seems to be everywhere: on the covers of magazines, in music videos, and in marketing campaigns. But the question we need to be asking is, do artists need to strip off in order to try and boost their record sales?

The answer to this is both yes and no – there are two sides to every story, and the music industry is no exception. In fact, now more than ever it has become apparent that if you're a female singer in any musical niche, you should be showing some flesh.

However, this idea is not necessarily a new idea. Take a look at the likes of Madonna, Janet Jackson and Grace Jones - all three ladies are incredibly strong artists who have and continue to take extra risks with how creative and sexual their video content is. After all, they were certainly considered to be at the height of their music careers back in the 80's. This just goes to show that either women have chosen to seduce their audiences with their raunchy dance routines, racy stage shows, and empowering imagery willingly, or their record labels are telling them to act a certain way in front of the camera, with the aim of selling more records as a result.

According to a recent article from Hello Magazine, Madonna admitted that starting out in the music business as a young female was no easy task to accomplish, saying "I became an over-achiever to get approval from the world." 

Women definitely seem to have a shorter shelf-life than men, a fact that has almost become common knowledge. It may sound unfair that men don't seem to have to go to such great lengths in order to 'get ahead' in their careers, but rather they are the dominant gender, especially in the tough world of media. This opinion is expressed in further depth in this article.

Modern artists including Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna and Beyonce seem to have stolen the limelight from their 80's icons and taken the meaning behind 'sex sells' to a whole new extreme. For example, in Nicki Minaj's video for one of her most recent singles 'Anaconda', the American star can be seen 'twerking' and lap dancing provocatively in front of male rapper, Drake - her token male interest. But critics have argued that she may have taken her sexuality too far this time. 

Twerking has become a trend in its own right. On the one hand, this can be seen as just a bit of fun for the dance floor, but when female audiences are subjected to constant booty shaking from scantily-clad celebrities, it can actually detract from the credibility of an artist.

That being said, there are some modern day female artists who have stood the test of time and continue to evolve vocally, artistically, and with how they empower us. Beyonce is a perfect example of how you don't have to be 21 and talentless to be able to capture the attention of an audience. She is inspirational in that she always manages to sell records based on her vocal talent. Now of course, Beyonce does experiment with her own sexuality, but she does this in a way that is creative and tasteful, as opposed to cheap and nasty.

As far as the future of the music industry is concerned, we are likely to continue seeing 'the next big thing' in terms of new solo artists, female groups, and reality TV stars, as unfortunately we do live in an ageist society. All we can do is take the positives from our favourite role models and hope that record labels will help to promote women in the best light possible, without having to force them to act in a distasteful manner.

Note: All images not taken by me.

Kit Harington for Jimmy Choo Autumn/Winter 2014 Campaign

Luxury footwear brand Jimmy Choo recently unveiled an exciting Autumn/Winter 2014 campaign starring British Game of Thrones actor, Kit Harington.

Immaculately photographed by Peter Lindbergh in Los Angeles, the campaign images were carefully captured at a private home designed by the late American architect, John Lautner. Known for his progressive engineering and space-age creative flair, there really couldn’t have been a more appropriate setting for Jimmy Choo’s latest luxury effort.

Now I must admit, I'm a huge fan of a celebrity fashion campaign or two, so when I heard the news that Kit Harington would be starring, naturally I was stoked. Kit, who is most famous for his role as Jon Snow in HBO’s critically acclaimed Game of Thrones series, models a series of fresh designer products, including eyewear, footwear and accessories. I love the fact that actors like to elude their talent on projects of all nature, and who better to have starring in a global campaign than a man who has it all. Kit is somebody who can act as well as look the part, both of which are certainly portrayed throughout his dramatic advertorial imagery.

This slick new campaign tells a story of the British actor and a female model in a love affair, with a modern backdrop intertwined with luxurious fashion pieces. Both the campaign video and striking images showcase the new men’s Autumn/Winter collection in an edgy light, as well as introducing Kit as the new face of Jimmy Choo’s first fragrance for men, Jimmy Choo MAN. And if that wasn’t enough to appeal to your senses, the Carrera by Jimmy Choo sunglasses capsule collection is also highlighted.

Lindbergh’s imagery captures the electric atmosphere of some intense romantic emotions, while Kit’s masculinity and sensuality seduce throughout.

Sandra Choi, Creative Director at Jimmy Choo expressed her thoughts on the outcome of her latest fashion campaign:

“Kit was the perfect choice for the campaign – he has an innate confidence and projects a playfully rebellious nature. He has an overtly masculine style that feels effortlessly cool and a great sense of humour. Beneath that intensity he is a true gentleman. Peter Lindbergh perfectly captured the spirit of the Jimmy Choo man.”

Set to appear in September issues of high fashion publications across the globe, the Autumn/Winter campaign is accompanied by an exclusive behind the scenes interview with Kit Harington himself. This can be viewed on Youtube here.

Note: All images not taken by me.

Monochrome Bliss

When it comes to shopping for my love of monochrome, it's safe to say that all logic goes out of the window financially! There's an element to this classic pairing of black and white that just takes my breath away, and it's such a versatile trend. Monochrome is a fashionable look that can be worked all year round, making it stylish to wear in summer AND winter. 

So I've recently been hitting the sales in River Island in search of some wardrobe updates, and I just couldn't resist these chunky black and white ankle boots! Not only were they a bargain on their original price, but they are also incredibly comfortable to wear if you're looking for footwear with some height, but don't want anything that's too elevated. These boots are fantastic to wear in all weather conditions too - I have been wearing mine with footie socks in the hot weather (note the breathable hole in the side of the boot's design), as well as wearing them in the rain (my birthday jaunt around the Lake District yesterday was living proof of this.)

Finally, let's not overlook the sheer attitude these boots add to an outfit! Their striking thick white sole contrasted with a black leather upper, buckle to the sides and zipper to the back scream, 'don't mess with me!' By far the best footwear purchase I've bought this season. 

If you want to read some more of my thoughts on the monochrome trend for summer, and maybe even pick up some styling tips in the process, feel free to have a browse of my article over on Le Reve's blog - you never know, you might just learn a trick or two. 

Thanks for reading! :)

Note: All images taken by Myself (Dawn)

Beyonce “Pretty Hurts”

Never a lady to shy away from starring in a controversial music video or two, Beyonce is back on top form with the newest track taken from her Visual album. “Pretty Hurts” is a powerful ballad which Bey sings beautifully, but the video definitely reveals her vulnerable side. 

Mrs. Carter’s character, Miss 3^rd War portrays the fast-paced ups and downs of beauty pageantry, showing off her first class acting skills in the process. Directed by Melina Matsoukas, the American director wanted to be able to capture what life is often like for young women, and how toxic beauty pageants can be. 

In light of her latest video, Beyonce has also recently launched a campaign entitled #WhatIsPretty. This campaign is inspiring for female fans in particular as it encourages them to upload either a photo or a video of themselves onto Instagram, to promote what the word ‘pretty’ means on a personal note.  

The Art of the Ankle

For me the ankle has always been one of my favourite body parts to decorate not just with jewellery, but with beautiful shoes as well. There are so many ways to customize our own look these days and emphasizing certain attributes only adds to the fun of dressing up as a feminine, fashion-conscious woman. 

When shopping for stilettos I tend to try and look for the whole package: a steady platform that is pretty comfortable to walk in, a quirky design or embellishment, and an ankle strap wherever possible. Stilettos can be your best friend if you choose a pair that has decent ankle support. After all, the last thing anybody wants is a strain after only a couple of hours walking around in that new pair of shoes! Chiropody foam also works wonders for providing additional comfort to arched feet.

Sometimes I like to customize my stiletto collection by adding a D.I.Y strap onto a pair that doesn't already have any. A simple how-to tutorial is all that is required if you have a favourite pair of heels that needs some extra support.

Making a bold footwear statement has always been one of the most appealing things about fashion, and I love nothing more than eyeing up new lines on the likes of Shoespie, Dr. Martens and ASOS. Flats are equally as 'out there' as heels though, which is why I spend a lot of my time wearing boots, pumps and smart shoes in addition to stilettos.



Note: Images are not my own.

Purple Rain...

Hey Bloggers!

Long time no see ;) Hope you've all been keeping as busy as I have lately? This morning's post is inspired by two things: 1. One of the new season's most uplifting shades, Purple. 2. The legend that is of course, Prince.

For those who are wondering how the 2 link together and who may not be huge Prince fans, it was actually revealed at last week's BRIT Awards that he would be performing a 'secret' gig in Manchester. I was so gutted that I couldn't go! But needless to say, his classic hit 'Purple Rain' along with my new American Apparel 'Violet Panache' Nail Polish are making up for that fact whilst keeping me inspired.

I always get super excited when the new season's fashion and beauty colours arrive. In this case I'm all about purple tones at the moment. Not only are darker hues a sultry alternative to black, but if worn in pastel, this is about as Spring-friendly as it gets. Take my American Apparel Nail Polish for example. This is a rich, metallic shade with subtle hints of glitter thrown in for good measure. So if you don't have time for nail art, this is a great alternative as you're getting colour, gloss and glitter all from one polish. :) Take a look at the colour below and let me know your thoughts? Also, what are your must-have colours for Spring 2014?

Midi Rings: Accessorize, Nail Polish: American Apparel Metallic Polish in 'Violet Panache'.

Note: All images taken by Myself (Dawn)

Festive Spirit

Here are a selection of images I took during the last few days of 2013. As you can see I have treated myself to lots of niceties here ;)

Gothic-Glam

Green with Envy

Sparkly Crucifix bracelet I bought whilst on a hiking trip in Kendal

M&S Treats courtesy of my Xmas Gift Card (Love you sis!)

Adorable Momiji Perfume I found in M&S - love the quirky packaging!!

"She believed she could. So she did."

Parisian Chic 

Christmas Cheer

Music is Passion

Two of my Hand Bag Essentials: Solid White Musk Perfume from The Body Shop and a copy of the latest Glamour Mag

Cute little Bunny light-up night light

Kiss me Quick

Fashion Icon: Nicki Minaj

As much as I don't rate her music all that much, Nicki Minaj is truly a style icon in her own right when it comes to pulling off quirky fashion trends.

Ever since she first burst onto the rap music scene back in 2010 with her debut album, appropriately entitled, 'Pink Friday', I have always noticed Nicki's individual sense of style and personality. It just goes to show that some celebrities can stand out from the crowd for any number of reasons... for Nicki Minaj, it's her striking charisma and Hawaiian looks that get my vote.

Nicknamed 'Harajuku Barbie', what I love about this lady's style is her ability to wear anything and everything, and wear it with confidence. For me, fashion is very much about making your own way and not following any one trend in particular. Fashion and beauty are so diverse in that they can transform a person's look entirely, and Nicki is the perfect role model for transforming her day to day look - I would definitely call her a style chameleon.

Although she may come across to some people as slightly O.T.T, I love her eccentric outfits and make-up choices, and I'm always eager to see what style she will come up with next!

Whether she is playing dress-up as a Punk on the cover of Marie Claire Magazine, amping up the neon factor whilst promoting her MAC Cosmetics campaign or wearing just about every type of wig there is, Nicki Minaj is certainly an inspiration to fashion followers and art lovers alike.

Note: All images are not taken by me.