Kate Moss: Through the Years...

I would think it almost impossible for someone not to know who Kate Moss is; with a string of spotlight relationships and drug scandals, she is continuously featuring in newspapers and magazines alike. But let's not forget her background. Fashion. Over the years she transformed the idea of a traditional supermodel, been photographed for an astounding thirty Vogue covers, helped promote many top designers. It is because of this that I have decided to dedicate a blog post to her life. Whether you love or hate her, you can't deny she's a intriguing character...

January 1974 - Kate was born on the 16th of the month in Croydon, London.



Kate as a young girl

1988 - Sarah Doukas, scout for Storm Model Management, took a shine to Kate when she spotted her at JFK Airport in New York City, when she had returned from a holiday in the Bahamas.

1989 - A year after being discovered, Kate featured in her first photo shoot titled 'The 3rd Summer of Love' for The Face magazine. The balck and white shot was photgraphed by Corrine Day and Kate was styled by Melanie Ward. Kate soon after became known as an 'anti-supermodel' due to her large contrast between well known models such as Elle Macpherson and Cindy Crawford.



'The 3rd Summer of Love' shoot




1992 - There was much speculation over Kate's weight in the press after the release of a Calvin Klein campaign. She furiously denied accusations that she suffered from anorexia.

The campaign that caused speculation

January 1993 - Kate appeared in her first ever photo shoot for the British Vogue magazine. Two months later she appeared on the front cover, which is now her first of thirty.

First Vogue cover shoot

February 1994 - Kate and Johnny Depp publicly displayed that they were in a relationship at a film premier. They had met a month previously.

1994 - Annie Leibovitz photographed Kate along with Johnny. The shots taken recently inspired actress Lindsay Lohan to appear in a similar, however, nearer the knuckle photo shoot.

Photo from the Annie Leibovitz shoot

1998 - Kate made an appearance in the Oasis music video for their single 'Don't Go Away'. She has appeared in many other videos including 'Something About the Way You Look Tonight' by Elton John and 'Delia's Gone' by Johnny Cash.

May 1998 - Johnny Depp announced that he and Kate had split, although claimed that they were still close and in regular contact.

September 2002 - Kate's daughter Lila Grace was born.

Kate with daughter Lila

January 2005 - Kate meets Pete Doherty at her 31st birthday party and the pair soon enter a relationship.

Kate with Pete

June 2005 - The Council of Fashion Designers of America announce Kate as an official style icon. She has helped with the rise of many popular fashions such as skinny jeans, cropped denim shorts and ankle boots.

September 2005 - The Daily Mirror revealed photographs of Kate snorting what was thought to be cocaine at a Babyshambles studio recording. These were the photos which lost her much work and ended many modelling contracts.

The Mirror's front cover

November 2006 - Kate appeared in a Little Britain sketch for Comic Relief at the Hammersmith Apollo alongside David Walliams and Matt Lucas. She played notoriously chavvy character Vicky Pollard's sister Kate.

Kate with Matt Lucas in charity sketch

March 2007 - Kate was awarded sexiest woman title at the NME awards. She alos made her first appearance on the Sunday Times rich list, being worth a reported £45 million.

April 2007 - Pete Doherty announced his engagement to Kate at a London concert at which Kate also made a performance.

May 2007 - Kate launched her first collection for Topshop in the Oxford Street store.

The Topshop collection launch

July 2007 - There was an announcement of Kate and Pete's break up just weeks before they were due to get married. The split lead to Kate pulling out of many public appearances.

October 2008 - British artist Marc Quinn unveiled an 18 carat gold sculpture of Kate at the British Museum in London. It was titled 'Siren' and some said it was to represent the view of Kate being a Goddess.

'Siren'

October 2010 - Kate appeared on the album cover for Bryan Ferry's CD 'Olympia'. Soon after it was reported that Kate had married her long term partner Jamie Hince at a secret ceremony in Italy over the summer. Kate has since then denied rumours of the marriage.

Kate with Jamie Hince

I ♥ Miss Selfridge

With the wind being a lot colder than should be legal and the hours of daylight becoming more shy by the second, for me, and probably most of the UK population, it is most definitely time to splash out the cash on some new winter woollies. My wardrobe has an unnatural lack of cardigans and jumpers; I've got one that looks like something my gran should be wearing, which I can just about pull off, another one which itches to high heaven and one I adore from Miss Selfridge, and so it's no surprise that, as I begin my jumper hunt of 2010/11, Miss Selfridge should be the first place I turn to. With a gorgeous selection of waterfall cardis and endless collections of colourful knits, I'm spoilt for choice! Everywhere I look, there's something I'm desperate to grab hold of and take into the changing room with me, but the sad truth is, me mixed with trying items on is a very dangerous business. The general rule is once it's on, I fall in love and once I've fallen, I'm not going to be picked back up. I will most definitely spend money I shouldn't be spending on the clothes I so strongly believe I cannot live without, forgetting that I have coped with life perfectly fine without them. Although it's going to be a struggle to stop myself blowing my holiday money when I'm 'present shopping' on Friday, it doesn't stop me posting my favourites for your delight...

1. Intarsia Curved Hem Cardi - £42           2. Embellished Waterfall Cardi - £40           3. Brown Leopard Cardigan - £35
4. Open Pointelle Longline Cardi - £32        5. Fairisle Waterfall Cardi - £36                6. Deco Stitch Cardi - £40
7. Handknit Bobble Gilet - £35                   8. 3/4 Sleeve Stripe Intarsia Top - £36       9. Coral Crochet Collar Top - £34
10. Pink Bobble Stitch Waistcoat - £39       11. Fur trim gilet - £45                            12. Lace Embellished Crop Cardi - £50                     

Fashion: Autumn/Winter 2010/11

Styles

Military - this trend continues into its second fashionable season running. However, the look has become less gothic orientated. Short military jackets are a must have, and can look great teamed with more delicate pieces of the same style, creating a chic contrast between the masculine and feminine. Get the look: Mid Wash Super Skinny Jeans from Miss Selfridge £38.00, Double Breasted Military Jacket from boohoo.com £40.00, Tie Front Crop Top from New Look £16.00.

Kitsch - no longer are those teddy bear knits considered 'bad taste'. Some people may see this image as child like but there's no denying its wintery cuteness. Knitted animal hats and jumpers are the favourite of  this style and they can look great with a pair of patterned tights. The perfect winter warmers. Get the look: Diamond Print Tights from Dorothy Perkins £5.00, Panda Hood Knitted Jumper from River Island £49.99, Vintage Destroyed Hotpants from Topshop £22.00.

 

 

Items

Fairisle Knits - garments of this particular knitting technique come into fashion almost every winter and it appears the older the fashion gets the bolder it becomes. Walk into pretty much any high street store and there will be a whole section of the shop floor dedicated to these kooky but clever designs. Pick of the best: Snowflake Short-sleeved Jumper from New Look £19.99, Waterfall Cardigan from Miss Selfridge £36.00, Knitted Dress from Jane Norman £35.00.

Materials

Faux Fur - this material often causes a division of opinions. Although it cannot provoke animal rights campaigns, it can attract both negative and positive views. Perhaps the most popular faux fur garment this season is the gilet, but there are plenty of other options to choose from. For something more subtle try a faux fur trimmed hood. Pick of the best: Belted Gilet from Topshop £80.00, Fur Trimmed Hood Parka from River Island £79.99, Leopard Print Jacket from Zara £39.99.

 

Patterns/Prints

Leopard Print - it would appear as though leopard print is never going to grow out of fashion. It remains to be popular amongst girls and women of all ages, and can be worn throughout any season. As long as you don't dress from head to toe in the print, it's guaranteed you can't go wrong. Pick of the best: Leggings from boohoo.com £8.00, Poncho from Wallis £30.00, Ruffle Blouse from Oasis £30.00.

 

Colours

Camel Tones - this collection of colours consists mainly of a range of brown tones and shades. Items can easily be teamed with creams and some shades of green. If you're feeling slightly more adventurous try pale pinks.

The Social Stigma of Size Zero

For a while now, size zero has been under the spotlight in the media and recently, negativity has surrounded models of a slighter weight.

Size zero (UK size 4) was often paraded down catwalks and runways in notorious Fashion Capitals. To begin with skinny was what everyone wanted to be; the skinnier the better, in some peoples' eyes. However, views have now changed, which has resulted in disagreement with, and to some extent, disgust at, the use of size zero models within the industry. There has been something of an uproar at the promotion of such a small size which has been criticised for causing many larger girls, in particular teenagers, to follow drastic diets which have sometimes lead to bulimia or anorexia.

Tiny Charlotte Carter on the catwalk

In 2007, model Charlotte Carter was banned from the London Fashion Week catwalk after being branded ‘too thin’. She was told by her agency that she had an unhealthy appearance. At a height of 5 foot and 10 inches, Charlotte should have been weighing around ten and a half stone, which is the ideal weight for a female of this height. She was thought to have weighed somewhere in the region of 7 stone to maintain her size zero figure. She admitted to having suffered from an eating disorder since being a teenager.

Body Mass Index Chart

But should this mean she is banned from the catwalk? And who decides what is ‘too thin’ or ‘too fat’ for the fashion industry? Initially it is agencies who decide which models are chosen to display clothes on a catwalk. However, it’s really the media who makes judgement on what sizes and figures are appropriate for the public eye. If newspapers or television give a bad representation of larger women, young girls will feel it necessary to diet so that they do not look this way. However, if the media then decide to show smaller built people in a negative light, girls will feel the need to gain weight so that their appearance mirrors that of what is popular at the current time.

Recently, pressure has been mounting to enforce a total size zero ban. A few weeks ago, Madrid made sure that all ‘unhealthy looking’ mannequins were barred from its annual fashion week, with London being strongly urged to follow suit. Anyone found to have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 18 or below would not be allowed to take part in any runway shows. It is alleged that two of Mark Fast’s design team quit after he challenged the size zero obsession, choosing instead to parade his knitwear on size 12 and 14 models at the London Fashion Week.

Size 12 modelling Mark Fast's 'bodycon' dress

So, everyone has their own opinion on what looks good: large or small, slight or curvy. However, this opinion will always be influenced by the media, whether we are aware of it or not. The issue of size zero will cause controversy for many years to come, but people are who they are.

High Street vs. Designer

  From Versace to Armani, many people wonder what all the hype surrounding designer labels is about, to some extent, myself included. But are they correct to wonder? With popularity of High Street stores such as Topshop and River Island rocketing, are designer brands and boutiques really any match for these persistent, reasonably priced retailers? Take this item for example...

  Hooded scarves ('Snoods') are set to become fashion must-haves over the Autumn/Winter 2010/11 Season. This particular item costs £195 when purchased from the Dolce & Gabbana official website. The design of the knit is basic, and not difficult to produce cheaply.

  This item is a very similar knit to that on the Dolce & Gabbana website, but can be bought for a fraction of the cost. New Look prices this 'snood' at a mere £7.99. There is little difference between the two items, visually; your purse would be the only indication of extravagance, which would have suffered a massive weight loss of 187 pounds (and 1 penny!). Where as many consider this to be an unneccessary indulgence, there are plenty that don't.

  So what is it that makes people decide that they would rather pay almost 25 times the price for practically the same item? Perhaps status? Money is often thought to equal power, and walking around sporting a D&G scarf may assist the particular individual in feeling superior amongst a  high street clad crowd. Or maybe it could be insecurity about the way they look? If they lack confidence, they may feel the need to showcase expensive clothes to enable them to feel better about themselves. There are many minor psychological or slightly egotistical reasons as to why people may choose designer over high street labels. However, if you look at the facts, designer garments are often much more likely to be higher quality and therefore better value for money.

  There are a couple of things to consider when declaring items 'worth the money'. Firsty, how well they fit. If you are going to splash out the cash on designer clothing, you need to make sure they are the exact fit you are looking for, whether it be snug or loose. Just under a month ago I was on Oxford Street in London and decided to pay a visit to Selfridges. It was there I found this Tuelle cami dress, also from D&G.

  The dress, in store, was available in sizes 8, 10, and 12. It could also be purchased at a size 4, 6, and 14, and although these sizes were not currently held in store, they were not difficult to get hold of. This shows how diverse designer brands can be, as it offers sizes for smaller frame and somewhat curvier ladies, while also caters for every size in between. This enables women of many sizes to fit perfectly into this little black number.

  Secondly, an item must be very well designed and made in order for it to be worth its price label, down to every tiny, intricate detail. When spending a large amount of money, you would naturally want to be assured that the quality of the item is the highest possible. In hindsight, this dress should last you many, many years without developing any faults such as stitching become loose. When compared to high street labels, it is likely that the much more expensive items would last substantially longer than their inferiors.

  So... next time you hit the shops, if you're an indulgent spender, maybe try becoming a high street convert for the day and seeing what bargains you can bag yourself. If you swear by Primark, try treating yourself to something a little more upmarket for a taste of the glamorous lifestyle. Who knows what you might learn?