2015-10-31

SUFFRAGETTE


The Women's Power had Arisen

SUFFRAGETTE is an intense drama that tracks the story of the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement. It focuses on the women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State – it is a sage reminder of what women had to do to get some basic rights. Fighting for the right to vote, these women were not only from the genteel educated classes, there were working women among them who had seen peaceful protest achieve nothing. Radicalised and turning to violence as the only route to change, they were willing to lose everything in their fight for equality - their jobs, their homes, their children and their lives. Maud was one such foot soldier.


When Maud is sent out to deliver a parcel, she finds herself in the middle of a riot in Central London – the first militant protest at having their decades-old request for the vote ignored by successive governments. Both shaken and quietly inspired by the protest, Maud is stunned to see a fellow laundry worker Violet in the crowd of militants.  Sensing her interest, Violet convinces Maud to join the fight and become one of the foot soldiers, even at the expense of her marriage and being a mother. She’s further drawn into the struggle when she’s introduced to the inspirational Edith, a local chemist who together with her husband operates a covert base for the Suffragettes in the back room of her shop.


Carey Mulligan as Maud is the centrepiece of this movie and she is truly inspirational in this role, watching how she thinks it is none of her business, but realising that the very place in which she works has abuse of women, not to mention the injuries and diseases (not a place for the faint-hearted), for which she can do nothing about, and so her journey towards the fight begins. She plays the downtrodden mother and laundry factory worker from the East End (then one of the poorest areas of London) with such grit and determination that you completely forget all her previously plummy accent roles and believe in every bit of blood, sweat and tears she puts into this role.


There is also a great supporting cast, with Helena Bonham Carter as Edith, Ben Whishaw as her husband Sonny, Anne-Marie Duff as Violet, and George Bell as Taylor, Maud’s laundry boss. There is also a small cameo role from Meryl Streep, but her presence is not really necessary, although she throws herself into the role with her usual aplomb (any English actress could have played this role, but maybe it helped to get the project up and running).


 There are many other characters of note, as it is a great ensemble film that tells a story that still needs to be heard by a new generation. It is a film with a very strong message that words are sometimes not enough in the fight for rights (one hates to condone the militarism, but it was the only way that women finally achieved the right to vote and be heard). This film should be watched by a wide audience as a testament to a very important time in world politics for women that is played on the screen with grit and determination and a passion for life that one can hardly believe took place a century ago!



Rating: 3.5/5

2015-10-30

Louella Odié Autumn 2015 Collection


 Louella Odié Autumn 2015 Collection

A local Hong Kong brand, Louella Odié is heading away from the beaches and towards with the hills with a textural collection of cross body bags in sumptuous hand-printed vegan friendly handbags. This Autumn capsule collection brings with it fresh perspectives featuring 4 different designs in 2 colour ways, all of which were hand printed in the Louella Odié studio on Lamma Island, using traditional old-school printing techniques. An added virtue of this material is it's complete stain-resistance, despite looking and feeling exactly like fine suede. This helps the bag cope beautifully with wine soaked parties, rain soaked hillsides and all manner of wild living! Louella Odié is building a reputation for quirky design as well as elegant patterns. The patterns come in two colours on a soft mocha background, with a choice of Nearly Black or Cream. The witty Lattice Print combines modern Hong Kong icons such as mobile phones, lunch boxes, coffee cups or headphones against a background of traditional Chinese lattice windows. Continuing the Asian theme, the next print features a traditional abacus as well as inspired by the alternative vibes of Lamma Island where she lives featuring elaborate fringing with a bohemian streak. Louella Odié adopted a rescue dog from Hong Kong Dog Rescue charity last October, and Trundle has not only taken over the whole office, but is now also celebrated in the fourth print, available only in Nearly Black and in a Limited Edition of 15 pieces. We have a word with both founder and designer aka mother and daughter duo of the brand, Karen & Lauren Mead.


What inspire you on this collection?
This Autumn Louella Odié is heading away from the beaches and towards with the hills with a textural collection of cross body bags. The new season brings with it fresh perspectives, including a resolution by the Louella Odié team to search out more environmentally-friendly and sustainable materials for their gorgeous products. Following feedback from vegetarian and vegan customers, the team decided to treat their vegan-friendly material with the same lavish attention normally reserved for the finest suedes and real leathers, which all feature unique prints created in-house by Creative Director and Print Maker Karen Mead.

What influence you on the oriental element design?
Louella Odié has become known for its strong graphic style and colour and the new collection does not disappoint! Elements related to Hong Kong have always been presented overtly or more subtly in Karen's personal art work as Hong Kong is home and a continued source of inspiration, this translated easily into designs for Louella Odié. In the first few designs, the visual link to place was deliberate and obvious, for instance using the city skyline in one of our first collections. Later products have less direct connections (although they are there) as the team gained confidence that the bags had more than local appeal. For Autumn, we have been inspired by traditional Chinese lattice window frames and the abacus, which sellers in the vegetable markets still use everyday.


How/Where do you get your resources and where is the production take place?
We only work with the highest quality material and a number of different suppliers to make sure we are always providing the best for our customers. We like to base our production in Hong Kong or Guangdong so that we can meet often with suppliers and check on all stages of the production process.

What does the brand would like to achieve?
That is a massive open-ended question! The short answer is obvious go "global domination"! The nuanced answer is that we want to build a brand that reaches out to strong women who are not afraid to carry pattern and whose heart is enhanced by island life.


Is there anyone that Louella Odié would like to collaborate with? Why?
Karen used to be a mural painter and is always looking for other surfaces to put her artwork on! Id you have an interesting pace in your home, business, restaurant, anywhere really that could do with a lot of colour then in touch! We're also actively pursuing licensing deals at the moment, so we hope you will see Louella Odié's prints poping up in new places from next year.

How many collection do you produce in one year?
We aim to release two collections a year, sometimes these will be a variation on a theme.


What are you working on now?
We are busy working on Summer 2016 at the moment and looking forward to seeing our first samples from those new designs soon. Karen is taking the opportunity to get out and do some drawing and sketching when the weather is cooler and some of these drawings will become the basis of future collections.

What is the distribution channel for the brand? Only online? Any shop?
We sell  online through our own website www.louellaodie.com but we are also stocked with independent retailers in Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore, check out our www.louellaodie.com for a full list of stockists as well as working with the Four Seasons Hotel in Hopng Kong and Macau where Louella Odié handbags and scarves can be found in their gift shop and spa shops.


What is your favorite possession?
Apart from Trundle, our office Dachshund who features in the collection as one of our Limited Edition prints. Karen's favorite possession is her box of lino cutting tools which she uses to hand carve all of the patterns which you see on our products. Lauren's favorite possession is probably her phone (an iphone 4, still hanging on) although it's a love-hate relationship!

What is your ideal way of a living lifestyle?
We wanted to have it all, a country lifestyle on the edge of a city with a relaxing work space within our living space and luckily you can do all of that on Lamma island where we are based.


The founder and designer aka mother and daughter duo of the brand, Karen & Lauren Mead enjoying a relaxing afternoon with the latest Louella Odié collection.


We are giving a way this Louella Odié  abacus clutch. Tell us how you would like to style it with by sending us an email to king.lifestylenews@gmail.com We will select the best answer and winner will be notified by email. mylifestylenews reserves the rights of final decision in case of disputes.

Liu Wen wears Tiffany Jewelries


International Supermodel Liu Wen wears Tiffany Key Pendant 18K yellow gold with diamonds as well as 24 inches 18K yellow gold necklace worth more than HK$70,000 in total during her visit in Hong Kong recently.


PINKO FW2015 @ A Daily Glamour Fashion Presentation

  
PINKO FW2015 presents A Daily Glamour Fashion collection that enhances the stylistic codes of the brand and strives to meet the needs of a contemporary woman, dynamic and always looking for the latest trends. A transverse proposal, edited in detail,  that complements the woman from day to night.


The new collection overturns the occasions of use, combining commonly daywear elements to evening ones and formally opposing styles: glamour meets sport, luxury street wear, menswear romanticism. Contrasts, that have always characterized and made personal the style of PINKO, return protagonists: the lace is proposed for the day, the cloth miniskirt and the men’s suit for the evening, the duchesse skirt is worn with sneakers.


Clean and elegant lines, warm colors- mustard, burgundy, deep blue, emerald green and forest- camouflage, check and floral prints describe the collection. The jackets- double-breasted, deconstructed or boyish- and the coats are available in different lengths and highlighted by contrasting details like patent leather trims or golden buttons. Kimono is the new model: oriental inspired shapes and prints for an item that, depending on how combined, dresses the woman from day to night.


Knitwear completes and defines the look. Angora, Shetland and jacquard patterns are matched to light and fluid pieces for a casual chic look. The long cardigan is a must of the season. Denim is hyper decorated. Patchwork of materials, studs and sequins embellish the pants proposed in different fits: super skinny, skinny, boyfriend and flare. Mini, midi and pencil are the skirts, that are presented in different fabrics and embroidered by 70s inspired decorations. Opulent and bright materials-lace, lamè and duchesse- are proposed for formal occasions: maxi skirts, asymmetrical and structured tops, midi skirts and embroidered shirts, dresses of different lengths.


Minimal shoulder and tote bags and precious clutches are worn in contrast or matching the outfit. The materials: calf leather, soft napa, pony skin and saffiano. For the shoes, flat and boyish structures come alongside cuissard and high heels. Sneakers are the focus of the season. Shine Baby Shine revolutionizes the aesthetic codes and the time of use of the shoes with the introduction of elements typical of the female wardrobe: couture embroideries and precious details define the character of the sneaker perfectly aligning them to the DNA of the brand.


 PINKO presents “SHINE BABY SHINE”, a new collection of bejeweled sneakers entirely Made in Italy. “SHINE BABY SHINE” revolutionizes the sneaker’s aesthetic code, as well as its moment of use, thanks to the introduction of elements typical of women’s wear: couture embroidery and premium details define the character of the collection, perfectly aligned to the brand’s DNA: feminine, contemporary and transversal.


 The right balance between fashion and creative exploration. The collection responds to the needs of a practical, dynamic woman who doesn’t want to be without trendy footwear at any time of day or night. The sneaker thus becomes a unique accessory completing and defining her look.


PINKO revises the slip-on in a sporty-chic key, made in high-performance technical fabric with breathing power that makes walking comfortable and light as air. Leather-lined neoprene embellished with appliqued rhinestones in gradation of color and a full-sequin piqué with Vichy pattern and piping in leather characterize the two top models in collection.
Each comes in seven color variations.


Pringle of Scotland FW2015 @ Men & Women Collection


Pringle of Scotland FW2015 Menswear Collection interpreting the signature codes of the brand by featuring the argyle and tartan patterns as well as Scottish cashmere hand knits and traditional Prince of Wales checks. The evolution of knitwear as outerwear is seen throughout the collection. Exploring the brand's heritage and inspired by Nicosia's grand tour of Europe: the final destination being Scotland.


The colour palette consists of black, petrol blues, s;ate, black plum and mocha, punctuated with offerings of Earl Grey to off white, which are used throughout, highlighting the use of digital printing and modernising the first Pringle of Scotland textile prints of the 1960's through pixelation.


Elements of Edinburgh's Prestonfield House are brought to life with Birdseye jacquard jackets, inspired by its tapestries and interiors. Embossed quilted effects can be seen in cashmere silk jumpers and biker jackets, while the traditional overcoat has graphic heat sealed leather details. Exaggerated knits add depth and texture that is highlighted through the use of sheen against opaque, adding contrast. An iconic tartan coat is exclusively woven in the birthplace of Pringle of Scotland, Hawick.


Technical boundaries evolving 3D printing are pushed further through cashmere hand interlacing. This is seen on sweaters with front paneled 3D printing. A weaved chunky handknit features interlacing, while additional knitwear techniques are used.


The women collection inspiration comes from the brand's birthplace with stunning images capturing the raw nature of the isle of Skye. The work produced by Albert Watson are references using colour and organic textures throughout the collection. Nicosa integrally knits beads that would traditionally have been embroidered to mirror the landscape, particularly the mineral grain and rock.


Elements of flora and fauna reflected throughout using a fil coupe with thistle motif, while a raised wavy jacquard is used to give multiple layers creating a leaf stitch. Prestonfield House Flemish tapestry fades into a floral motif inspired by Gibbon's woodcarving; this translate through raised macrame and embossed leather.


Textured fur almost resembles a silk moire bark while other pieces are ordained with carved mink argyle, once again giving a nod to tradition.


Technical boundaries are being pushed with 3D printing on complete garments, reinventing traditional techniques by cutting a skirt on the bias and embroidering 3D chain mail with cashmere yarn. Heat formed knitwear is moulded to achieve memory formed shape and around silhouettes.