CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES

It's come to that time of year again when CSM throws another few thousand young talents out into the art, fashion and design world. The exhibitions at Charing Cross and Southampton Row were as strong as ever this year (thank you Southampton Row for your free wine... textiles never looked so good) - and here's a sneaker of our fave from Performance: Design and Practice at the Back Hill exhibition.

Costume by James Barnett.

Over and out. Ashx

Less Chardonnay more Chanel . . .

Now I’ll be frank about my blog today, I am probably going to leave myself open for a barrage of insults from my uber cool colleagues as well as risking my job BUT I am a massive WAG fan. Yes you can throw as many images of Victoria Beckham and Coleen Rooney my way and I want to cry with admiration for these felines.

Take VB who has a collection of Hermés handbags worth £1.5 million, surely that deserves some respect, I know there is world famine and people loosing their jobs left right and centre but this is dedication. Coleen Rooney 7 months pregnant and still in 5 inches of Louboutin’s, that’s determination and hell if by some miracle (possibly involving Brad Pitt and a turkey baster) I became pregnant I would to.

But what I find more impressive is how WAG’s as an overall have developed their look from velour tracksuits to haute couture. Okay admittedly there’s probably a professional team of stylists etc sorting it all out but let me just throw some examples out there.

Look at Queen B of the WAG’s, Mrs Victoria Beckham . . . early days of waggishness consisted of her with hair extensions shipped in from China, implants from Donatella Versace and a wardrobe fit for a 12 year girl, you’d think she was from Woolwich working as a pole dancer. Now she has her own label with fans such as SJP and Gwyneth Paltrow. Gone is the weave and goodbye Aylesbury acrylics, hello high necks, a Bentley Convertible, a Rolex for everyday of the week, short hair and a handbag I would do illegal things for, VB I salute you.

Abbey Clancey . . . where do I begin, she began looking like she was entering a beauty contest in out back America, frazzled hair, naff sparkly dress and a tan that Dale Winton would die for. Looking at her now I don’t see a Swarovski insight, and good lord did she leave the house without the rollers . . . now I like my men like an anorexic loves celery but I would go there.

Anyway it’s time we stopped slating these ladies, okay they might not have started out top of the league but we have all made our fashion mistakes . . .

Portia

-x-

Above - Portia circa 2009