Who better than Kate Bosworth – the style Queen of the chic Palm Spring’s festival Coachella – to star in our summer campaign film dedicated to the season of festivals? Kate brought her nonchalant and effortless style to our summer short filmed in California’s beautiful Mono Lake by director (and fiancée) Michael Polish.
Working her fashion magic, Kate worked with our in house design team on our Festival Edit which she wears so well in the film and are now set to be firm festival favourites with girls around the world for the summer ahead. (Don’t forget to check the full shoppable version of the film over on Topshop.com!)
We chatted with Kate to find out music influences, and her essential festival kit.
How was it working with your fiancée Michael?
I adore working with Michael. I am such a fan of his work, of his artistic process. His mind fascinates me and I learn from him daily. We live an incredibly harmonious artistic life. For this particular project, I worked with the Topshop design team on the festival pieces from concept to final product. Michael then creates the vision for the campaign based off the look and feel of the pieces.
What was it like filming in Mono Lake?
I had never experienced Mono Lake before. Shooting in Mono Lake was like traveling through time. The entire place is desolate, serene, with large crystallized salt stalagmites jutting from the earth. We traveled in a little crew on a large bus over a three day shoot. It was a true American road trip, crossing huge expanses of land every day.
How did the collection with Topshop come about?
I have worn Topshop for years. The brand has their finger on the pulse of creating relevant fashion at an affordable price point. When the Topshop team and I worked together on the “Winter Wonderland” holiday project, it was an effortless fit all around. In the midst of that creative process, we all started to think about the next phase… How could we expand upon our collaborative relationship.
What inspired the collection?
The exterior expression is such an intuitive, emotional one. For the “Festival” collection, I channeled sunlight… freedom… joy… youth… rebellion. I’m attracted to a counterbalanced feminine / masculinity. To me, this is the most sexy. A faded cropped t-shirt with loose distressed boyfriend jeans, slung low and a plaid shirt tied round the waist. The choice of a suede material on the laser cut pieces was critical because it gave them a tougher edge, like the chaps on a girl in the Wild West.
Did you have any music references for the collection?
Neko Case is a huge influence in my life. Her song, “Favorite” plays to our film for this collection. I love country music, the best and most heartfelt stories are born within these melodies.
What does festival mean to you?
Music, freedom, sunlight, energy.
Can you talk us through some of your favourite pieces?
The dove grey suede laser cut separates I wore to Coachella. This design also comes in a burnt orange & in a mini dress version. To me, these pieces represent a modern take on western design. The laser cut out is inspired by a piece of Victorian lace I found with the design team in Portobello market. This feminine touch matched with the rawness of suede is a nice, balanced representation of my aesthetic.
The cream shearling vest (also worn to Coachella). I wanted to push the idea of Bohemia with this piece. It feels quite special, as if found in a market someplace far away.
Perfect denim shorts! It’s no secret I love denim… They are a staple in my wardrobe. I wanted to create the perfect denim short. Something a bit tomboyish, but quite sexy. Again, playing with the idea of feminine masculinity.
Boyfriend plaid shirt – oversized, soft, a mix of earthy colors with a hint of turquoise on the back panel. A nod to 90′s grunge. In fact, this shirt is very similar to one I wore back then.
What is Topshop for you?
The brand has their finger on the pulse of creating exciting, relevant fashion at an affordable price point.
What makes a festival for you?
This year, the highlight at Coachella was mad dancing with Michael to New Order.
What is in your essential festival kit?
Band aids, Chapstick, sunscreen, sunglasses..
What are your key wardrobe pieces at a festival?
Important to layer as most festivals are battling the elements!
What bands would play at your dream festival?
Dwight Yoakam, Neko case, The Cure, New Order, Other Lives
Kate at Coachella in April wearing pieces from our Festival Edit.
Oh how we want to be Miss Vogue! Not only is she the little sister of the ultimate fashion bible that is British Vogue but she also gets to wear custom made Topshop. Out of all the cool girls on the British scene, Cara Delevingne is the model everyone wants to be so it was no surprise to see her crowned the Queen of teens, starring on Miss Vogue’s first ever cover.
Ever since we heard about the magazine’s launch, us Topshop girls have been ridiculously excited! While we love reading British Vogue cover-to-cover, the truth is that we can only ever dream about getting our mitts on a handful of the clothes so a magazine created by the same amazing team but aimed at younger girls sounded right up our street.
So can you imagine how thrilled we were when Miss Vogue asked us to custom make an outfit inspired by our Topshop Unique AW13 collection for the only and only Cara Delevingne to wear! Not only did she open our London Fashion Week show held at the Tate Modern but she also starred in our very own Harlem Shake Youtube video that went well and truly viral back in February with over a million views in a week.
Backstage at Topshop Unique AW13
Cara’s super cute pastel pink sequin bralet was made by the amazing pattern cutting team here at Topshop HQ just for Cara and yes, before you ask, that cropped polo top saying Miss Vogue is a one-off Topshop creation too! You can buy it here however and set about customising it yourself and if you love the pink sequin prom skirt worn by Cara on Miss Vogue’s cover (seen in the snap above), it will be available to buy in September when Unique AW13 is set to land.
Make sure you don’t miss out and get your hands on June’s edition of British Vogue which is out on Monday 6th and which Miss Vogue comes with! Happy reading…
In the late ‘80s on the Southern Californian coast, surfer Shawn Stussy shaped surfboards for friends before deciding to promote his business with printed t-shirts and shorts emblazoned with his surname. Needless to say they created a bit of a stir and it was his graffiti styled-out surname that became the company logo, the slogan that is now recognised across the world.
Inspired by underground movements, sportswear, hip-hop and rasta culture, Stussy, in it’s essence, is anti-fashion and anti-establishment. It’s all about the street. The so called “godfather of streetwear” has been mixing up their designs and graphics since the beginning using inspirations as far reaching as ’50 Americana, dinosaurs and black and white photographs on their products.
On the street but very much part of the fashion world, Stussy have been partnering with some of the coolest kids in the industry. There’s been a capsule collection of clothes and swimwear with Casette Playa, a limited edition line for VANS, later with KEDS and more recently with LA based design collective LOVE-MADE.
Initially this skater brand was boys only but enough girls’ became interested in the brand for them to start a line dedicated to the ladies. Designer Pauline Takahashi Saunders is now behind the women’s side of the brand and the vision constantly pushing the boundaries of the contemporary streetwear label.
We delved into Stussy’s archives and had a long chat with their team to get the skinny on the latest brand we’re lusting over.
How did Stussy come to be?
Shawn Stussy started out as a surfboard shaper back in the early 1980s in Laguna Beach, CA. He started with basic tees and sweats with his hand scrawled logo printed on them to go along with the surfboards he mainly sold to surfshops and small boutiques. The line slowly and organically grew to a point where he added on a cut & sew collection, hats and accessories.
There’s a rich lifestyle associated with the brand – how did this come about?
In the late ’80s, Shawn attended a trade show in New York City and met a few influential personalities within the city. Those relationships are what sparked a worldwide network of musicians, DJs, artists, skaters and others who were influential in their own cities. Everyone in this network also had both a true passion and a genuine love for the Stussy brand. The network, which we like to call the Stussy Tribe, is still in existence to this day and is a very integral part of our relationship and brand building.
How would you style up Stussy?
Because of the rich diversity throughout culture and style, Stussy can be styled up numerous ways be it preppy, athletic, street, military and beyond. It really all depends on who’s wearing it and how it’s interpreted.
Stussy describes itself as ‘anti-fashion’ – can you tell us a little bit more?
‘Anti-fashion’ is really about being submersed into a diverse culture and lifestyle and what you wear happens to be the byproduct. It’s not so much the main focus, so it comes across a bit more organic and effortless.
Get your hands on some iconic Stussy ware over at Topshop.com.
Stevie Dance is one of those girls. Beautiful, stylish and endlessly talented, she’s got the world at her feet. So, who better than to kick start our TopshopAustralia Edited? The creative consultant and stylist, who calls New York home but was born and bred in Oz, will be taking over a section of our Gowings store in Sydney and Chapel Street in Melbourne with a guest edit of her favourite items. Dance currently has projects galore: Contributing Editor of Vogue Australia, Fashion Director of Pop and Creative Director of Shop Ghost and will this month be taking on yet another task. Dance is curating her most-loved pieces from the whole of Topshop and from 4th – 14th April, you’ll be able to find them in the stores above and snap them up yourselves!
We spoke with the multi-tasking creative and designer lover stylist here.
My earliest fashion memory is…
Insisting on wearing my long johns with leotards as my go to. I was heavily into Flash Dance.
Growing up I wanted to be…
A Dancer. A choreographer.
My all time favourite designers are…
Nicolas Ghesquière, Marques Almeida, and basics like James Perse, vintage Levi’s, & Acne.
The highlight of my career so far has to be…
Any time I am lucky enough to be on set in the middle of nowhere with the ones I love.
My fashion weakness is…
Dressing down. Vintage t-shirts.
If I could go back to any era, I’d love to live in…
All the backstage news and beauty updates from the three brilliant designers at Fashion East. Watch the show again, here.
Ryan Lo AW13
Longtime Topshop favourite Ryan Lo was out in force this season for his debut catwalk collection. Bigger than ever Lo split his collection into three defining looks: working girl, pyjama girl and fantasy girl inspired respectively by Margaret Thatcher, Bridget Jones and Sailor Moon. It wasn’t just the clothes taking this triple thread into effect but hair, beauty and accessory all kept it tri-tastic.
Shadows That Shine
Make-up artist Ayami Nishimura took on the idea of a shadow – transforming the first models to hit the catwalk in just a touch of shadow, day time style, the second section into a slightly darker shadow and the final with their half a face covered. But this isn’t shadowing as you know it and instead took the form of a gentle white glitter under the eyes and along the contours.
See Through Accessories
The talented Lara Jensen was behind the amazing acrylic works of art that coordinated with Lo’s collection. Hard plastic clutches for the Thatcher inspired look, snake-like hair pieces that resembles Bridget Jones’ hair – you know, when she goes to that wedding party and it’s a bit mad- and finally a dog clutch filled with glittered straight from the Sailor Moon cartoon.
Colour Us Crazy
If it wasn’t enough that the clothes were an explosion of bubble gum pink and purples, the hair team created wash-in-wash-off dip dye looks in an array of lightly tinged rainbow hues. If there’s one thing about Ryan Lo it’s the absolute dedication to his look.
On The Catwalk
Front row… Nick Grimshaw and Pixie Geldof were the London scensters celebrating the whole of Fashion East. Louise Gray snuggled up with Cassette Playa and our very own Kate Phelan watched over.
The collection in 5 words… Fantasy dressing – day to night.
The girls on the catwalk… New faces, all young, perky and long limbed.
Playlist… Music mixed from the illustrious Jerry Bouthier. We were tapping our toes.
What we loved… Ryan’s pink fluffy day wear and baby blue overcoat covered in short feathers. His die-hard love of tulle!
Hero piece… The acrylic boxy clutch full of glitter made by Lara Jensen for Ryan Lo. One of Lady Gaga’s favourite artists!
Inspired by… The inspiration was threefold: Margaret Thatcher; Bridget Jones; Sailor Moon. Yeah, we were blown away by those references too!
End notes… Whether it be his pussy bow blouses, robe coats or polka dot lame, Ryan Lo, has got saccarine sweet dressing down to a tee and we can’t stop falling for the taste.
Claire Barrow AW13
The leather loving Stockton-on-Tees designer, Claire Barrow was back for a catwalk collection with some intriguing new accessories!
Dark Accessories
We came across a collection of hand-painted leather pieces on tables including lamp shades covered in blackened paper, painted twigs and eerie dolls that would decorate the models as they powered down the catwalk.
Minimal Make-Up and Hair Stories
The Toni and Guy team were wielding their magic on the models’ locks and transforming them into shaggy tousled vision that teamed perfect with the disheveled and distressed styling of the models.
On The Catwalk
The collection in 5 words… Punk philosophy goes gothic.
The girls on the catwalk… Girls who rocked a certain ‘other wordly vibe’ and a couple of tall and suitably awkward boys joined in on the game too.
Playlist… Loud, loud, loud! It’s punk after all, right? Curated by editor of the Beat and Features Editor at i-D, Hanna Hanra.
What we loved… The piece de resistance was no question the black leather full length gown that was painted with Barrow’s classic illustrations.
Hero piece… A lampshade as a hat. Ok, we jest, we’ll take the giant fish shaped clutch that seemed to flap around of it’s own accord or the dramatic floor length leather gown. It’s the coolest take on bridal we’ve yet to see!
Inspired by… The mundane. Exploring how blandness can actually be rather thrilling and creating her very own downbeat tribe.
End notes… When we’re feeling a little mischievous we like to think of ourselves as a Claire Barrow girl. Approach with caution!
Ashley Williams
The girl whose collections always get us beaming debuted her Fashion East sponsored line this season with great fanfare.
Flick It
Make-up was simple and girlie to co-ordinate with the ’50s style looks that seemed perfect for a date. A sparse base was met with a slick black flick of liquid liner right up the models eyes.
Teddy Girls and Boys
Nope, this wasn’t ’60s inspired but it did involve some cuddly toys. Backstage the models cosied up with their teddy of choice and used them as cute little bags. Our eyes were on the lime green teddy that went perfectly with Lulu Kennedy’s Simone Rocha ensemble.
Underage Models
There’ s been controversy brewing about the age of models these days but the presence of a seven year-old cutie hanging around backstage before her catwalk debut made for lots of coo-ing amidst the three designers and their teams.
The collection in 5 words… A foxy fifties date night.
Playlist… Radio One DJ and sat front row Nick Grimshaw was behind the tunes for Happy Ashley’s playlist that included a heavy helping of Elvis.
What we loved… The sheer off-white two-pieces and dresses printed with fifties style iconography – lipsticks, bubble writing – and teddy bear faux-fur jackets in pale blue.
Hero piece… The cute black crop tee shirt emblazoned with a giant heart and the slogan, “My heart belongs to Elvis Presley.” We’ll take two!
Inspired by… Complete Americana obsession dedicated to teen idols and slumber parties. Williams also hinted to Riots Girls, ’60s fan-mania and DIY.
End notes… True love! We really fell hard for Ashley Williams’ AW13 collection and have very high hopes for this talented young lady. We think everyone’s style needs a little injection of fun and whether it be her customised converse or teddy bar side bags, it’s cute to boot.
Re-watch the Topshop Unique AW13 show from Topshop.com, check out our live coverage of London Fashion Week over on our Twitter and keep coming back to Inside-Out for more news from Unique as well as all the NEWGEN talent showing at the Topshop Showspace!
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