Faded Spring

    The Origins Of Christmas

    Christmas Through The Ages 'The witch sets her fire alight reading embers between flames, Druids sat in a circle, watching the sacrificed leap into the flames,On Christmas day the Pagans roast flesh, giving back to the gods who sustain them,Along came the Christians and killed them all, followed Jesus into the world of Christmas cheer, Decadence and wealth at no cost, the king sits on his throne of reverly and jest, You are what you eat is paid no heed as the court plunge into a well of festive debauchery and greed, Mr Grinch and Co turn up their nose at Christmas, banned for 11 years the state is silent, Jolly Charles II marched into 1660 gave the patrons what they wanted-Christmas is ... read more

    My First Christmas

    Christmas Cheer 'I can see my past burning in the sharp crackle of the fire, I can see my happiness return back to me in the sweet light of the Christmas tree, I can see the children playing outside, making snow angels in the snow, I can see the promise of a brighter future in a steaming cup of chocolate, I am awake in the soft gentle caress of Christmas cheer, I am awake in the spirit of the festive season, I am awake in pursuit of the truth, I am the Truth'   For years Christmas was a dismal affair, my biological family believed that spending should be cut to a minimum and that Christmas was a normal occasion with little cause for celebration. At the age of six it was a ... read more

    You Are What You Buy: Consumerism

    Gluttony and Greed ' Gluttonous greed is all around us, Slavish obsession with money and goods, Consumers of taste we salivate, Never satisified we are irate, Craving more we kill for the sweet taste of materialism, Designer labels, more shoes, more food we roll in the bed of our own greed' In our post-modern state the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred creating a simulated world. In a simulation of reality we are disconnected from boundaries and rules allowing us to exert free will without thought for the consequences that will befit the 'real' world. Innately tied to the image of 'simulation' is post-modern consumerism, whereby the consumers 'consume' to ... read more

    The Fur Debate

    The Dead One 'Slain pelts slung carelessly over one shoulder, the scent of murderous guilt hidden in the glare of the full moon, Glazed eyes awake even in death, sacrificed for the sake of fashion,Lips bared in a snarl, a grimace if you will, hoping for one last meal to sate its deathly lips,Plucked from its home the howls become louder, a blood stained legacy to nurture its motherless children, Orphaned cubs and skinned rabbits-one represents death, the other represents the living,In the circle of life only the hunters remain and the hunted lay among the corpses, a feast to the gods who so cruelly took them' Throughout the course of history, fur denoted lineage, class, rank and ... read more

    S/S 16 Overview

    Remember Me? As the sun begins to set the man remembers the decades past, The Flappers legs waltzed into the 1920's, The Make Do and Mend mantra pervaded the 40's,The Marilyn Monroe flirted her way into the 1950's, The retro young un' colourblocked until it was 1960,The Woodstock hippie merged into nature in the 1970's, The fun loving disco diva danced into the 80's, The butterfly loving schoolgirl left the 80's in the 1990's and the man was left shaking his head' *My 1970's Look Throughout the course of history fashion has reinvented itself to suit a new era of political, cultural and economical understanding, creating iconic eras that transcends into modern day. The 70's was ... read more

    Body Image In The Catwalk Industry

    Imperfect Beauty ' Distortion of beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Some call me fat, some call me skinny, Big or small we are attacked for having flaws But flaws are what makes us unique, Made in the image of perfection we fall short but there is beauty in imperfection and our flaws are what makes us beautiful' Throughout the course of history societies perception of body image has altered in accordance to cultural and political customs of the time. In 1850 a full figure was deemed as 'healthy' and clothing was altered to give off the illusion of bigger buttocks and breasts whereas a slim figure was viewed as unhealthy. By the 21st century an extreme approach to dieting and ... read more

    Colourblocking

    'Plums and blues dance in perfect harmony, A sensual sigh of misperfection, Colourful caresses upon scarred thighs, There is beauty in imperfection' The origins of colour blocking Rejecting normcore values, colour-blocking was a form of 'avante-garde' art centered around 'shock value' principles that were associated with the 1950's Pop Art Movement.The emergence of Pop Art in the 1950s pushed America into the acceptance of vibrancy and manufactured structure, leading to the development, in the 1960s, of a fashion culture that was synonmous with colour-blocking. Teal tights were paired with orange shift dresses while frilly socks made retro culture undeniably feminine with a hint of ... read more

    The 60’s Mini Skirt

    Daydreaming In Retro Daydreaming in retro, rose tinted glasses captures light, The world is viewed in colour, there is no black and white, Neon trees dancing like free spirits, golden silence,Happiness clouded in political liberation, Womens rights at an all time high, Colour and rights collide as one, Let us see the world in multicolour, Daydreaming in retro. Up until 1966 the 60's decade clung onto 50's trends where prim midi- skirts still trailed the calves elegantly and a mini skirt was still unheard of. Although the mini was in use during the Bronze Age in Nordic settlements, the mini was not established until 1966, where infamous designer Mary Qant popularized 'short,short ... read more

    Is Social Media Ruining Our Social Lives?

    Forgotten Dreams 'Forgotten dreams buried in murky fog, in the cage we call home there is no escape, Blurred reality hidden in a fantasy world, the post-modern ethos is so true,Slavish compulsion in a wired universe, our friends are laid to bed, Impassionate lovers sleeping in seperate beds, dreams are shattered in the wake of dishonesty,Mouse and Keyboard connect as one, united in their pursuit to overthrow their magic kingdom, Muted silence in silky cocoons, imagination run wild like a lease of new life' A Brief History Of Social Media  Social media is a cultural phenonmenon that has changed our perceptions of identity, behaviours and the way we communicate with our peers. ... read more

    Therapy: House Of Fraser Review

    Surrealism 'Clustered twigs twined in harmonious accord,White walls attatched in minimalist approval,Conjoined lovebirds chirping in lustless love,  Fiery sunrises swimming in unattainable elation,Soured grapes drifting in heady wine, Fragmented desire pulsating in LED lights' Founded in Glasgow in 1849 House of Fraser is one of the oldest department stores in the UK and with 150 years of experience it is easy to see why they are the most trusted department store among consumers. The third biggest department store after Debenhams and John Lewis, the giant retailer stocks clothing, toys and homeware appealing to a wide range of audiences. Owned by Sanpower (89%) and Mike Ashley ... read more