Bring it on!

My script writing mojo is back. I'm actually loving my script again which is key to good writing and creative visualisation. I might be the worlds worst blogger over the next few weeks or so - my mind is not on fashion as the passion is all for writing.

I've inserted my MA short film for old times sake. Sometimes I'm amazed I made it given:
a) I'd never made a film before
b) I raised all the money through graft as a stylist to pay for it
c) Negotiated with major companies to use their locations - once again thank you Oasis, Pret & Charlton Athletic
d) Manage to shoot it over 3 days with Swine Flu - one day I will be able to share the whole gruesomeness I suffered.
e) Combined the film making with an 18,000 word dissertation

Still it was worth it!

Have Mortar Go Pose

On a personal note I continue to need your votes in this last 24 hours of voting for my short film.
And I couldn't resist a good old pose in my gown last Friday. Sometimes the stylist likes to take centre stage. I promise you some good old fashioned fashion stuff and budget blah will be back soon!

Diary of a Graduation day

Friday July 16th was a momentous day. It was the culmination of 18 months of academic slogging. I was awarded a Masters in Fashion and Film with Distinction from the London College of Fashion. the same day Emma Hope was made an Honorary Fellow of LCF and Margaret Howell was awarded an Honorary Doctorate. Both are wonderful fashion icons in their own area. I was thrilled to share the stage with them. Emma Hope actually examined every ones shoes as they went past her, it was brilliant! As was her accepting speech which ended with 'as my Uncle Tom used to say "it's not everyday you get to see a woman become a fellow".'

7:30am dressed and ready to go

7:31 still dressed and ready to go, needing to pace

8:45 in Le Pain opposite Royal Festival Hall consuming cappuccino to steady nerves
I stare a lot in to the bowl, it reveals nothing to me

9:20am being dressed in gown

10:00 am pre sitting in seats pose with fellow MA course friend Allison

11:40 ish accepting the Rector's handshake on the stage after my name is read out and people applause including Emma Hope and Margaret Howell (they clapped for nearly everyone!)

Multiple Malfunctions

The idea that things happen in three doesn't apply to three things in a row. When I suffered a bodily wound (trolley to back of ankle), a wardrobe malfunction (jumpsuit zip) and computer malfunction (power cable blowing) I smugly and was roundly assured 'things happen in threes'.

Yes three of each! Two minor stab wounds (pins and scissors )to hand later and my body has had its three. The computer cable has a three part drama too. Blowing, half an order and a part on its way. With this drama playing out in 3 parts, I have only had my most prolific need to be on email, the internet and all manner of technological issues. I have to borrow access to a laptop and have no picture load capability. Hence wordy post. Shame blogger doesn't have a crayon function.

But it is the wardrobe malfunction element that is the most disturbing. After the jumpsuit moment, I had the graduation gown matter. When you choose the size of the gown you get two options, up to a 52" chest or over a 52" chest. I was actually drowned by gown. If I wasn't of above average height then ridiculous would not cover the visuals. I loved wearing my gown and I was particularly pleased that a Masters gown has sleeves and hand warmer arrangement. This amused me no end. But why oh why can't gowns and therefore the hoods be made to fit women too. I spend all my time pining and repining with really big safety pins and falling down to one side if the gown slipped.

There are photos and I promise I'll share. As a stylist I couldn't resist a few posed shots!

Then wardrobe number 3 happened. There was I on the way home after a splendid graduation lunch at Skylon, sitting on the bus, whilst Mr MDS drove to the Cotswolds for a stag do, happily sated and sat in splendid Moschino dress. It was a hot day and as I stood up I thought the back of my dress feels a bit damp. Then I thought, the damp doesn't feel like tube/bus heat perspiration and looked...to find my dress was sodden on the posterior. How I groaned. It appears I had sat on a wet seat. Now if I were to further inform you that near to my bus stop is the last remaining few blocks of the London & Surrey mental health provision which cares for long term patients; I knew that either someone had spilt a drink or I'd sat in some mad person's wee!

Back in time...

I was sent these pics the other day by Lucas Kroulik a MA Photography student of the MA FAshion & Film showcase evening at LCF in February, where my short film was premiered and we had a panel discussion with Coco's Tea Party and Melanie Rickey of Grazia, plus Pamela Church Gibson LCF and Tamar Jeffers McDonald of the University of Kent, who has a forthcoming book out called Hollywood Catwalk

Moi, caught multitasking with phone balanced on shoulder and ear rammed next to it,
plus putting out business cards! Hardly an elegant pose - ah well.

l to r Ella (Coco's Tea Party), Tamar Jeffers McDonald,
Pamela Church Gibson & Melanie Rickey

It's been emotional...

Finally after what seems a lifetime to me so goodness knows how you lot have borne with me, I can announce I'm fully mastered up. Yep, it's official, I have an MA in Fashion & Film and an MA with a distinction.

Along the way I have had such great support from countless bloggers (they know who they are) and well over the course of my MA, sadly Mrs Fashion is no more but I would like to thank her for her advice in choosing my MA course and blimey LLG has come out - in person! It all happens on a Tuesday.

Look forward to all who are coming to premier on Thursday at LCF xxx

Don't forget to 'Dress Up'!

Oh my oh my

This week is MA results week and the not knowing is killing me. I had hoped the stress would make me unable to eat but I seem to be addicted to Ritz crackers. And of course next week is the first public viewing of my short film 'Dress Up'. I don't know what is worse waiting or showing a piece of work.

I'm besides myself with nerves but have decided to build the event up (it makes it seem less real in my head for some reason) with stills taken from the film. Apart from this post, these will be put daily on my Fashion and Film blog.

still from 'Dress Up'

London Fashion Week and LCF Short Film Premier

Regular readers and fellow bloggers will know (seriously I might have bored you on this subject) that I've completed a Masters in Fashion and Film for which I have made a short film.

You can hear more about this here - London College of Fashion MA-sters Showcase. And I hope to have a trailer for the film shortly but weather is hampering access to all manner of things at the moment.

The premier for the short will take place on Thursday the 18th of February - the eve of London Fashion Week at the London College of Fashion with a panel of experts (fashion journalists, academics and retailers) discussing the issue raised by the film! Plus drinks on the wonderful terrace overlooking Oxford Street before and after

Invites are being sent out shortly but I suddenly realised that some of you non London/British fashion bloggers might be coming to London for LFW. If so, and you'd like an invite then please let me know. I'm not sure of numbers as it's not me in charge of the guest list, except those I've specifically noted although I nearly forgot my mum and dad! But I can forward your details to the lovely events team. Let me know.

My latest video

I've just made a video to showcase the work of my MA course. It's not all about me but also my lovely fellow student chums. It will be revised, this is the full length version before the cuts are made. I will also wait for La Belette Rouge to email me with her suggestions for botox for my forehead. I've had a wrinkly forehead since my early twenties - I'm too expressive, but that's all the damage to date!

Just click here to go to the Fashion and Film blog to find out more about the MA outputs, if you've got a spare moment or suffer from insomnia!

PS update - I realise my throw away remark about botox is potentially a sign that I'm considering it. I'm not! La Belette is a big fan of botox and always tells me to get some as a top tip for skincare. I just don't think I'll ever succumb because a) cannot afford it and b) a fringe will do instead!

Just as I finish my dissertation...

...yes, yes, bar the final few bits of proofing and the typesetting offer from the marvellous Delicious Industries, I done it!! 'That Red Dress Moment - Hollywood’s continuing love affair with the red dress, the ultimate motif for narrative change and character revelation' is complete.

Having 'nailed it' I decided to indulge in browsing and imagine my surprise when The Times current fashion slide show happens to be the red dress.
This Vionnet number is my favourite. I saw the model in a red dress on another blog (don't remember which one as my mind is on halt mode) and didn't even register the fact as the discussion was how lovely the female model is ... and she is.

Mundane Matters

Firstly birthday presents, a cute collection of niceties were received and I still have a night at the opera to look forward to courtesy of the MDS parents.

Toast Woodrose Flannel dressing gown with Floris bespoke perfume voucher, Belle perfume by Jigsaw which is reduced from £50 to £25 as they are discontinuing it, I got two as a gift, Jigsaw organic body cream and two reissued books from the V&A museum, Edith Head's Dress for Success & Christian Dior's Little Dictionary of Fashion

Secondly, the dissertation is nearly done and the end is in sight. It has to be finishes, proof read, typeset and bound all by the 4th of December. I will be a gibbering wreck soon.

Dissertation Demands

Apologies to all as this week I will mainly be occupied with my final spurt on completing my MA in Fashion & Film dissertation. Once written I will begin a mammoth edit process. Yikes, it is all very demanding so I'm sorry if I'm neglecting your lovely blogs by not commenting. It is but a short period of time to be so neglectful...

PS Update - I'll still be posting I'm just mindful I'm not commenting or responding to comments and I have standards!!

An LCF night out on a capsule wardrobe

Duty called and I went to LCF last night to welcome the new MA students. I managed to make the change into the evening look with my capsule wardrobe. Off with the skirt and the loafers and on with the dress, belt, jacket and boots.

A quick pose in the LCF canteen before mingling.

Roy Peach Dean of the Graduate School at LCF and Nilgin Yusuf Course Director for Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism and ex Sunday Times fashion editor.

New MA students studying for MAs in History and Culture of Fashion, Fashion Curation and Fashion and Film

Anna Burel from Paris studying for the MA in Fashion and Film

Another pose in capsule wardrobe outfit with MA Photography 2nd year student Lukas Kroulik

More new MA students studying for MAs in Buying and Marketing, Footwear and Fashion Design & Technology

Finally my last pose with my fellow MA Fashion and Film 2nd year course mate Lindsey Zyzyck ex Fashion Institute of Technology NY graduate and USA citizen. Good luck to all the new MA grads at LCF!

The Red Dress (part 2)

My seemingly forever MA comes to an end in December. I have called upon you very recently for primary research on my dissertation. This is my final time of asking (I feel quite weepy).

I present to you four images of 1950s screen icons. You may or may not be familiar with all of them. Please tell me who is your favourite and why. I also have a vote in the right hand of the blog on the same four actresses.

Doris Day




Audrey Hepburn



Grace Kelly


Marilyn Monroe

Sex and the City...

...questionnaire! Are you a willing participant? Would you complete a SATC form for me as part of my MA??

Go on! If you'd be a happy to do so then email me at kate@katebattrick.com and I'll send you a form to complete.

All will be revealed...

image:HBO episode one promo shot!