KOPPARBERG KLASH X VICE

Passion for film?  Check!  Passion for music?  Check!  Passion for fashion and photography?  Check, check!  Then Kopparberg Klash in association with our friends over at VICE has got your name written all over it.

The Swedish cider Kopparberg has teamed up with VICE to bring you the newest wave of talent in all of the afore mentioned areas.  Selcted by an uber-cool team with their fingers on the pulse, finalists will have their work showcased at one of four events at different locations across East London, with the winners of these being celebrated at one final Kopparberg Klash.

September 1st sees the big finale and the end result of the weeks of hard work with one final, almighty celebration of the talents that have been discovered.  The band will play, the short film will screen, the photographers and stylists will have their work on display and AGENT2 will be there with a cold Koppaberg firmly in hand (well, it would be rude not to).

The finale takes place at the Queen of Hoxton, September 1st.  Get yourselves down there and check it out for yourselves.

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DERMALOGICA EVENT

Beauty bloggers and journalists were invited to get under the skin of the Dermalogica brand earlier this week at Dermalogica Kensington. Taking us on the 25 year journey of the cult skincare range was founder Jane Wurwand, whose presentation proved to be super motivational.

Focused not just on the professional skincare industry, the talk touched on entrepreneurship (‘identify the pain and you’ve found the opportunity’), the power of marketing via word of mouth and a good dose of feel good, girl power -98% of skin therapists are women, after all. Jane quoted from former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (which I enjoyed so much I just had to include it) by stating that ‘there’s a special place in hell reserved for women who don’t help other women’. It was all unifying, sisterly stuff, which left you with the feeling that, as a financially independent and ambitious woman, anything is possible.

Jane is also the brains behind The International Dermal Institute and it became clear that the Institutes cutting edge research on the Dermalogica line is what gives Dermalogica its point of difference, and goes a long way into accounting for its massive global reach. The foundation of Dermalogica as a ‘skin wellness’ range, as opposed to a beauty brand consisting of luxury skin products, all over-priced packaging and cryptic content, remains refreshing and relevant.

Education over, it was hair bands on (very fetching) and we were all digging into Dermalogica’s ‘hero’ products under the guidance of a skin therapist (the Daily Resurfacer was a resounding winner in my group). A Face Mapping skin analysis was available at the end of the evening, which assesses and detects your problem areas and recommends a treatment prescription, a free service that’s available for anyone feeling complexion curious.

I left the evening something of a Dermalogica disciple, ready, in true Dermalogica style, to spread the word.

dermalogica.com

Words Emma Harding

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COCOSA WEBSITE LAUNCH EVENT

Cocosa, the industry insiders favourite online fashion fix, hosted an event last week to rediscover the brand and to reveal their new look website.  Held at he beautiful House of St Barnabas in Soho, the stately interiors added to the luxury retail experience as guests sampled purchasing some goodies online. The location acts as a pop up members lounge and the Quintessentially Soho events raise money for various charitable foundations, which gave the event some added feel good factor.

The exclusive members only site offers fabulous flash sales at up to 80% off from a range of labels including Edum, Karl Lagerfeld, Peter Jensen and Valentino, which shoppers are alerted to via email. ‘‘The fastest selling sale was Alexander McQueen which sold out in 6 minutes!’ divulged Kelly Kowal, Cocosa’s charming Marketing Director. With a soon to be launched Cocosa menswear site, stylish males should keep their eyes on their inbox.

cocosa.com

Words Emma Harding

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SAPPHIRES MODEL MANAGEMENT LAUNCH

Sapphires Model Management launched its new London Soho office with a bang last week. In the glamorous Billiard Room of the Sanderson Hotel, the industry’s finest mixed with Sapphires’ founders Neely Reyes, Ian Warren and more models than a catwalk could handle. Guests included illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve, Portia Shaw from BLOW PR, Matches merchandise manager Frances Card and stylist Rebekah Roy.

Cocktails and Sweetie Darlings cupcakes fuelled the chatter well into the night while DJ Jeffrey Louis-Reed kept everyone entertained.

“We’re very grateful to have the support of so many leading industry figures. Sapphires’ move to Soho is a big step for the company and we can’t wait to see where this new adventure takes us,” said managing partner Reyes.

The company has just relocated from Birmingham. The model agency focuses on models well being, rejecting the usual, undernourished, industry standards. Its models have worked with key fashion names including Selfridges, House of Fraser, the Drapers/WGSN Fashion Summit 2009 and Harvey Nichols.

Words Lucie Goulet

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THE JACQUES TOWNHOUSE

An Alice in Wonderland world of English eccentricity, vintage glamour and bohemian mysticism entranced guests at the launch of The Jacques Townhouse, a quirky collaboration between Jacques Cider and David Carter, of award-winning boutique hotel, 40 WINKS. 1950’s attired concierge and bevy of bellboys greeted arrivals at reception to grant a key and offer guidance on the delights hidden behind each door. The basement held host to Benefit Cosmetics new Lash Couture service, while the dressing up box next door offered a suitably retro styling service. Ladies were transformed into vintage pin-ups and flash! The girls fluttered their exotic lashes and ruffled their frocks for the photographers’ lens. Cutesy cup cakes were served courtesy of Vintage Patisserie and, teamed with the fruit cider fusions of Jacques, created a twist on the quintessential English Tea Party. Wandering mystics played with guest’s fate as tarot cards were read and the curious could enter the palm reader’s tent to discover their destiny.  The exquisite Sophie Ellis Bexter and hubby (aka Me & Mrs Jones) headlined the evening and played a set centred around classic Blow Up Club tunes. We left wishing we could stay forever but, alas, the charming townhouse closes its doors on the 6^th August so ensure you get your fill of fantasy before the story ends.

The Jacques Townhouse, 33 Fitzroy Square, W1T 6EU

Words and images Emma Harding

LUPE CASTRO’S GUIDE TO SWISHING

THE BIG SWISH, DUBBED THE ‘CLOTHES-SWAPPING EXTRAVAGANZA OF THE YEAR’ WAS HELD AT THE LONG ACRE IN COVENT GARDEN ON JULY 13. AMONG GUESTS WERE ACTRESS VICKY OGDEN, SWISHING COMMENTATOR.

ONCE ALL THE COAT HANGERS WERE CLEARED FROM THE FLOOR, AGENT2 CAUGHT UP WITH THE ORGANISER, FASHION STYLIST LUPE CASTRO, WHO ORGANISED THE EVENT WITH THE BIG WARDROBE.

First things first – what’s the rule on Primark?

We only put out top condition Primark dresses and jackets. I am considering putting a cap of one item per person on Primark dresses. Although they have got someone in charge of ethical policy now, their concept doesn’t really sit well with us!

Did you have a lot of items that didn’t make the cut?

We actually did have quite a bit that we rejected because it was either too loved or torn. These are taken to cloths banks and used for rags or mops. Then there were a couple of shoes and I think that’s because of the sizing! But all in all we had soo much brought in. It was terribly good for swishing standards!

Any success stories?

A girl was so overjoyed because she was lusting over a pair of vintage Rayban glasses that someone had just nabbed but then she found them discarded in the makeshift changing area! She was literally jumping for joy. I was amazed by some beautiful long evening dresses in beautiful silk satin, one in particular with gorgeous jewelled detailing. It went, of course!

Where did the swishers come from?

We had some lovely ladies that came all the way from Holland! In fairness they were visiting friends but made sure the two coincided and brought some lovely things to swish from home! Also some girls came down from Manchester and Birmingham! We had some Italians and Swedes that also that popped in and were so inspired, they’re wanting to do one in.

What were most girls swishing for?

Either for work or that special birthday, graduation or wedding party maybe a one off piece that they didn’t want otherwise to invest in!

Swishing can get quite heated. Was everyone on their best behaviour?

Everyone was really terribly well behaved waiting around to get cloths checked out can be nerve wrecking to say the least! No fights and if anything was looked at and then left it was immediately picked up by an awaiting swisher.

And last but not least, when’s the next one?

September – and it will be designer only. Am determined to get everyone swishing, the whole of west London preferably! I have unofficially swished all my life with friends and family and I simply adore changing and tweaking cloths in order for them to fit perfectly!

I mean who the hell has a symmetrical shape and that is how cloths are made now. And when you swish you kinda feel allowed to change something, don’t you?

See www.bigwardrobe.com/thebigswish

Words and images Amy Fallon

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LETS GET ONE THING STRAIGHT: I HATE PRIMARK

LETS GET ONE THING STRAIGHT: I HATE PRIMARK.

Oh and another, I’m completely selfish when it comes to my wardrobe.

I’ll give money to charities and do volunteer work, but give anyone the (high-end) shirt off my back? No way, mate.

So when I received an email about a clothes-swapping (aka swishing) event taking place, I immediately had only one suspicion: this is the Primark mob who don’t care trying to rip off us people who do.

Moi? Swish? You bloody wish!

I’d have to beat these people at their own game. Now what could I get rid of? Nothing really… apart from a couple of koala tea towels that Mum had posted me from back home, Australia. I’d intended on wearing them as tops the next time I went to Liverpool.

What about my ‘Step Outside Posh Boy’ shirt with Gordon Brown’s face emblazoned on it? Surely that would be out of season for about the next three years.

“I’ve got a cork hat and the best bit of Kiwi tourist tat ever – possum fur nipple warmers,” a friend offered.

”Take 15 pairs of socks with you!” another added.

But hang on, I was missing the point.

This wasn’t about getting rid of any old stuff for the sake of it.

Wasn’t it about being ethical and environmentally friendly? And charity?

As the world’s number one advocate for the eradication of Primark, I had a duty to take this recycling scheme seriously.

Besides, I was sure if I turned up with a yellow and green sweatband with AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE, I’d be swished right out the door.

Nor did I really know who else would be attending. After all, these were troubled times. Even celebs were going bust. Kylie had been seen in an op shop earlier this year.

So having rethought my approach to swishing, I came up with about seven items, all from the high street. There was Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, among others.

And since I wanted to feel like I was making a serious effort, I included a black and white Breton style dress from French Connection. While life would go on without it, it wasn’t exactly easy to give it up. (Just to test out the style rules, I also hid an alice band with the Australian flag on it, in the bag).

I packed them all into a cloth bag.

When I arrived at the bar to hand them in, I lined up next to a female who was unpacking a massive suitcase, like she was Mariah Carey’s sister. Oooh this could be good, I thought.

When it came to my turn, they accepted most of my items apart from a pair of jeggings (yes, I know, what had I been thinking?) which had a stain.

By the time the countdown to the event actually approached, the bar where the swishing was happening resembled the Boxing Day sales.

“Swish with dignity and flair,” the female commentator boomed into a microphone.

“Hand bags on the side. No elbows. I’ve already lost an earring,” she warned.

“10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2,…

“SWISH!”

CLANG went the first coat hanger on the ground.

Having not devised any tactics, I had no idea what to do. But I figured that there wouldn’t be as many people around accessories, so I dived for them first.

But after a couple of minutes all I did was find myself walking around in circles panicking that time was running out.

Out of fear I grabbed a wide leopard print belt. It looked like Reiss (but could have been Next).

By now, things were getting heated. While it mightn’t have been the Primark summer sales, it wasn’t a typical day at Banana Republic, either.

I found myself getting a bit frustrated at one point when I was gently but quickly trying to sift through a wrack to get to a top that I’d spotted, and the woman next to me kept on more roughly sifting the other way.

Then it happened.

As I was heading back into the accessories area I saw, among the items that a girl was holding up, my pink and turquoise peacock dress with ruffled sleeves.

I’d purchased it at Spitafields. It was a no-name brand, but I loved it because of the colours and its black peacock pattern.

She was holding it up in the air, deciding whether she was going to take it home or not.

I stopped, pretending that I was browsing through a wrack to the side, but I had to watch her.

Please please please… I prayed.

And then she did it. She kept it.

I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know this woman at all. But it didn’t matter. Someone wanted what I once had. It was the biggest style validation of all.

And it was also nice to know that unlike my Aussie alice band – which was now out there, somewhere unknown, in the universe – I knew who was the new, proud owner of my beloved peackcock dress.

I felt happy and sad at the same time.

In summary, I’d taken in seven items and all I’d gotten was three – the leopard print belt, a black V-neck dress with black and white ruffled sleeves that turned out to be too big around the neckline when I got home (I’d be arrested if I wore it) and a fake ostrich feather style jumper with no front (had to get my flattie to show me how to wear it – turns out you’ve got to wear a blouse underneath it, so you don’t show too much cleavage.)

The leopard print belt is probably the only thing I’ll wear, and will probably take the two others to Oxfam.

But swishing, I’d discovered, was a bit like the Melbourne Cup horse race. You were taking a massive gamble and didn’t know what you’d get back.

In this case, it hadn’t been an equal exchange, and normally I’m all about equality.

I’m normally the type of girl who gets frustrated if she returns home from a shopping trip completely empty.

But this time I didn’t care.

I had given a lot more and gotten a lot less back, and it felt good.

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VICE STYLE LAUNCH

“THIS IS AS EAST LONDON AS IT GETS”

Alternative magazine Vice launched its sister website ViceStyle at the end of June. The first days of the mag life were kicked off with a party in East London hipster haven The Shoreditch Warehouse. Vice lived up to its queen of quirk label with candy floss and swings suspended from the Warehouse roof for those loaded with the free booze to flail about on.

The club housed two floors and multiple DJs, with Big Pink and Koudlam playing alongside Matthew Stone, Wild Palms, The Flats and The Lovely Jonjo.

The uniform appeared to be top-knots and red lipstick for the female attendees, with T4′s Jameila Jamale following suit for the latter. Amy Winehouse took a night off from sobriety to call in with an enormous bouncer dragging her around all night. Klaxons, Miquita and Pixie Geldof also showed up.

Despite the top floor turning into a slippery sauna and an enormous queue for those invited before it even struck 11, the night was a great success and an excellent welcome to the awaited ViceStyle site.

Words Natalie Davies Images Holly Lucas

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QUESTION AIR CATWALK SHOW

DURING THE 20 YEARS IT HAS BEEN RUNNING, QUESTION AIR, NOW ONE OF LONDON’S LEADING INDEPENDENT BOUTIQUES HAS ALWAYS LIKED TO SHAKE THINGS UP.

“We’ve always been right at the forefront of mixing clothing. Way before when people were mixing Gucci with Topshop we were already doing this,” says owner Dylan Ross, who stocks everything from Juicy Couture and Citizens of Humanity, right through to Vivienne Westwood, Paul & Joe and other women’s and menswear brands.

“We don’t believe in creating an outfit for one person, we like to bring it altogether so you get a nice, cheap top with an expensive jacket with a fun pair of trousers.

“We just made fashion a bit fun and it worked, and we became an institution.”

Mixing things up was certainly what Question Air did at their annual Spring Summer 2010 fashion show.

Their very own customers modeled clothes from the shop. With so many supermodels around these days, sometimes mere mortals do have to take things into their own hands, don’t they?

The models donned Nicole Miller, Vivienne Westwood, American Vintage, Nanette Lepore, Tibi and Edwin Nautilus among others, as they grooved (yes, there was actual dancing on the catwalk, eat your heart out Naomi, these REAL models do more than pout and walk) to tunes such as Salt and Peppa’s Push It.

There were long casual blazers mixed with print shirts and military style shorts and sequined tops paired with jeans and stilettos, that screamed “I’m fashion conscious, but it’s only fashion, darling.” Long, halter-neck maxi dresses and a checked t-shirt dress with thick straps and full waist put already enthusiastic frowers in a playful summer mood as did the trilbies, which every second model seemed to have. Evening wear included a shimmering blue tulip-shaped strapless dress and a spandex body con with an elegant criss cross strap.

Former professional model Belinda Coleman, a Question Air customer for two decades, paraded several items from the store, including a black and white nautical style Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Mixed Fortune Dress – her “favourite” items of the night. She complemented this with Melissa Dragon Heart Shoes.

“I always buy Question Air dresses, the shoes, the boots, the bags. They do denim, Juicy Couture, Vivienne Westwood and I think they have targeted the financial climate far better (than other stores),” Belinda, 45, said.

“The last time I went in there, I didn’t buy a cardigan I was supposed to model tonight and it sold out within a week.

“It shows that what they do is good because they tailor the customer first. They know what you like, that’s why I go back to them.”

The family business started 20 years ago with a Covent Garden boutique. The chain, which recently added Rupert Sanderson, Christopher Kane and Rebecca Taylor, has stores in Hampstead, Notting Hill, Barnes, Dulwich Village, Wimbledon Village and Clapham. They ship online orders all over the world.

The annual fashion show is one of the highlights of their calendar.

“I was trying to fire the crowd up. I was just having fun,” said Dylan, who did some Zoolander moves on the catwalk for the photographers (the paps were out in full force).

“As you can see tonight, we’re very approachable. We have fun, that’s what we do in our business.

“We don’t want people to take fashion too seriously. They’re here to see the clothes, but they’re also here to be part of what we are and we choose basically what we do and hopefully they loved it tonight as well.”

Words and pictures Amy Fallon

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WONDERWOOD – POSSIBLY THE BEST NAME EVER?

The geniuses over at Comme des Garcons have unveiled their latest fragrance, ‘Wonderwood’ this month and we are in no doubt here at AGENT2 that this is the best name for a scent – ever!

The Brothers Quay have been enlisted to produce this delightfully arty, stop-motion animation about a man who “loved trees more than words could say.”

In expected CDG fashion this is a promo-video turned on its head as we are taken on a trippy journey through the woods with woodpeckers, sprites and a haunting sound track that will leave you clinging to your mind.

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