A Right Royal Wedding

Post by Evie Kemp

I'm absolutely going to watch the Royal Wedding tomorrow and if you say you're not, I won't believe you.

The wedding of the 'century' (just 11 years in to it) has been hyped to within an inch of it's life but I'm still excited. Grumble about the Royals all you like, they are still the closest embodiment we dreamers have to a real-life fairytale. Dear William is Prince Charming and Kate is Cinderella (with a lot more money and better schooling, but still), their relationship has already stood the test of time and they really do look very happy. It's romantic. We love romance.

Oh and we love the opportunity for a party. Any excuse right? Next Friday has become a huge excuse for a party, get digging out the tea set, the bunting and the gin and party like it's VE day all over again. I rather think that party girl Kate would say 'Hoorah' to all that. So get in the spirit, dress up and gather your friends round the tele. To her credit, noone quite does that classy, appropriately gorgeous formal dressing, quite like our Katie. So, for a little inspiration for your own outfit on Friday here are some of her key looks.

Don't forget your hat.

We'll do royal maternity next year (Jokes…I think…)

Leaving on a jet plane

fashion friday by Evie Kemp

I spend far more time waiting at the airport to pick up/drop off people than I do travelling myself. Don't worry I'm not too sad about it, I make myself feel better by scrutinising the attire of everyone who comes through those arrival doors. Looking good while sleeping upright and eating off your lap for 20 hours is no easy feat and most people either look totally awful or ridiculously over dressed. I believe looking good after long haul (or even short haul for that matter) is a fine art but totally worth perfecting. There are a lot of people on a 747 and you really do want to be the one the hundreds of other passengers stare at enviously as you strut down the aisle to depart (that's right, you strut now). Also, at the end of a long journey there are usually old friends waiting and you don't want their first thought to be ' Wow, she's looking a bit rough these days'.

So where to start?

• Firstly don't wear anything that will get excessively crumpled.

• Don't wear a skirt or dress, if you insist on it make sure you wear leggings. It doesn't matter how many times you walk up and down, you might still get swollen ankles (cankles) and will look totally awful. A nice pair of trousers or jeans will hold you in much better stead.

• Wear a pair of shoes that are easy to slip on and off, are casual but not slippers. Ballet flats are great for this. Heels are terrible and try hard.

• Wear a nice jumper/sweater. A stripy one always looks nice, cashmere is always great for that first class feeling (and budget). It won't crumple, you can pull it over your crumpled top and you'll look all casual and cosy which will help create envy amongst fellow travellers.

• Do take a neutral coloured pashmina/giant scarf. It's what magazines tell you to do but it makes sense. It can double as an extra blanket and an extra cover up while whizzing past the paparazzi (of course).

• Don't try and get on the plane with numerous plastic bags and don't take on carry-on luggage you don't really need. A nice, big lightweight handbag is the best because you can get everything you need it and still squish it under the seat in front of you. You can always add a proper carry on bag full of shopping on your return journey. You want to move through the airport effortlessly and you don't want to be that person dropping things from the overhead locker in the middle of the night.

• Never underestimate the power of mascara to make you look refreshed. Ditto, never underestimate the power of a dry shampoo (a travel can of Batiste) to make you look (comparably) like you just stepped out of a Pantene commercial. Also, I can personally vouch for those weird little disposable toothbrushes called 'Wisps', they are actually quite great and you can brush your teeth without water if needs be.

• Always buy yourself an indecent amount of m&m's or your preferred snacks. You're essentially going to be watching movies all day, you may as well make the most of it. Besides, you never know quite how bad the 'fritatta' is going to be.

Finally, if you've finished a magazine. Leave it in departures for someone else. They will love you for it.

What are your travel tips?

Linkys

Topshop striped jumper and Topshop apricot cable jumper both £38

Aqua canvas shoes £18 and Leopard print flats £25 also from Topshop

Skinny Jeans $34NZ

Pieces Virabello Canvas Travel Bag £38

The important role of Project Runway

fashion friday by Evie Kemp

Here in New Zealand, the arty crafty fashion posse that we all (albeit unofficially) belong to, go gaga for Project Runway. Last night, season 8 began on our screens (if you already know the outcome I BEG you to keep your lips sealed!) and I actually did a little dance when I found out it was playing.

Project Runway really is just your typical reality TV show. The contestants are for the most part melodramatic airheads and half of them seemingly can't sew. The projects are more often than not tasteless and tacky and the entire show is one hour of hardcore product placement (yes we noticed you HP, BlueFly now Piperlime, L'oreal and Mood). So, what makes it so enjoyable to watch and so hard to look away from?

The answer is simple really. It's the ability to sit there and cringe, bitch and criticise. In this lovely handmade and indie designed world we are just so nice to each other. Don't get me wrong, I love that and I think we should be nice to each other. But it is so refreshing and fun to sit and mime throwing-up in front of the tv while yet another Project Runway catastrophe comes down the catwalk. It all gets very critical but then when something genuinely good comes out we can get all excited about that.

When you create your own designs/art/jewellery/clothing for a living you can get caught up in feeling like you're the one being judged. Once a week, Thursdays at 9.30pm to be precise, it's fun to be the judge.

If you want to join in with some healthy criticism at that time, feel free to come on twitter and follow me @eviekemp, Colleen @DearColleen and our merry group of PR critics.

Is this why you watch Project Runway?

the 30's

fashion friday by evie kemp

Colleen was lucky enough to go the re-opening of The Roxy, a Wellington Cinema that exemplifies the glamour of the golden age of Hollywood. It has been painstakingly restored to it's former 1930's glory and now in super-modern 2011 it appears absolutely opulent, lavish and over the top. It is a total novelty to us to imagine a trip to the movies as something so glamourous.

The 30's did dressing up so well but in ways that we can relate to. It wasn't the roaring, frivolous decade of the 20's nor the entirely somber and restrained 40's. The 30's had style and a modern attitude. Designs were simple but refined, elegant and sophisticated even by todays standards.

The aspects of 30's fashion that I especially adore, is the way in which women wore the trousers. High waisted, wide legged ones that gave a silhouette not all that different to an evening gown. Trousers were still not common female clothing so weren't worn with the kind of day-to-day mundanity we tend to now. I love the way that an underlying practicality was given such a fashion focussed twist. See: Katherine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich.

The 30's were 70 years ago now but in so many ways those times weren't all so dissimilar to the present and today in 2011 much of the style and fashion would still look incredible and contemporary. Imagine walking into the office dressed as Katherine Hepburn, I'd argue that everybody would consider it a pretty modern take on corporate attire. That's the beauty of fashion and design, as time passes, aspects and influences come back and are re appropriated. And, if you're asking me, the 30's could do with a bit more of a comeback.

If you're looking for some great 30's fashion cinematic action spend the weekend watching Atonement and The Aviator.

What's your favourite fashion decade?

all warm and fuzzy

Fashion Friday by Evie Kemp

Last week I wrote about nice girly hairstyles, in fact I ALWAYS write about girls. It's not very fair, so in the interest of fairness this week we're going to discuss/analyse facial hair. Please understand this is not a gratuitous, trawling-the-internet-perving-at-manly-men post but a genuine critique of structure and form. I swear.

Facial hair has the tendency to be a bit like marmite (and I don't just mean full of toast crumbs), you either love it or hate it. Regardless of your personal preference you can't deny that it does lend a certain masculinity that nothing else can because only men (not boys and only special ladies) can grow a proper beard.

Now I'll stop before I get all prehistoric on you and present: The Bad.

Clive Owen, The big mo. Makes you look like a creepy old school teacher. I think this is the worst facial hair I've seen in a long time. It shocked me to the core.

Brad Pitt, playing the 'look how big my beard is game' results in him looking like he hasn't seen a shower in years and completely dissolves any of that handsome jawline we know and love.

Matthew Fox, aka that guy from Lost. Soul patches are so lame. So, so lame.

And in the interests of a fair analysis: The Good.

Zach Galifianakis, ok he's not your typical heartthrob but he's cool and he wouldn't be half as cool without his fuzz. It's just the right balance of wild and tamed.

Justin Timberlake, he's a bit of baby face but his light covering lends him a certain something.

George Clooney, he's previously done terrible, terrible things with his beard but this gorgeous silver specked creation is perfection, like he spent the weekend at your house and forgot his razor.

So, beards or no beards? Who's your favourite furry fellow? (I just wanted to say that!)

Oh and if you're reading this and you have a beard, you have to check out this blog http://beardcoach.com/. It's brilliant.

the messy mind

I keep thinking of that John Lennon quote lately, you know the one "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans". I should learn not to post anything on this blog about my life as nothing works out the way I think it will.

I've just gone through one hell of a stressful seven day. In fact I can't believe it has only been seven days. I have been asking myself some very big questions and on the whole not been getting any solid answers. Maybe when it comes to life there are no answers, you either do or you don't. Well this has been my conclusion but like I said I've not really been thinking straight, so I would take everything I say with a pitch of salt:)

My big dilemma is really that I strongly feel that I do not want to return to the UK. I'm about as English as they come so it's a bit of a shock to find that I feel like this. When I think back over my the past 14 months in Wellington I can honestly say it has been one of the happiest times of my life and even over this past week, which has been filled with lows, I have had so many amazing friends looking after me both in life and online. In short I do not feel ready to leave New Zealand yet... I do not wish to state this as fact but it's close to being the case. I am very lucky to have a loving family who are supporting me and I have made my mind up not to think of it as anything more than what will make me happiest for the next six months. After that I can ask some big questions again.

these are the days of miracle and wonder

Before we get into 'fashion friday' I just wanted to do a bit of house keeping - it's been so long since I have posted anything on my blog. Since the earthquake that hit Christchurch nearly four weeks ago now I really haven't been feeling like myself, I think it was the strew that broke the camels back. I was already so stressed about moving back to the other side of the world, leaving my job and working out what's happening with my business that I'm not sure what happened but I honestly feel like I lost the plot a bit. Not in a bad or dramatic way, I've just been going out and having fun. I've pushed myself more and in ways I didn't expect and I've just been glad to be alive. Of course 'Carpe Diem' can only go on so long and my head is now coming back to where it should be. I very much plan to get this blog and my business in general back on track over the coming weeks. I totally know now that I am doing the right thing in moving back to the south of England for myself and my work, but it comes at a cost as I will miss New Zealand very much. Just to finish I would like to say I'm sorry for being so rubbish but I promise I'm back on form and ready to write:)

Miracle & Wonder tote - Miss Ellie May