Take heart

Issue 1 May 2013

£5

Interviews with Thom Bartley & Harris Elliott

Nail Art Tutorials

DIY Projects

Travel Inspiration

Street Style

The Latest Fashion & Beauty Trends

Book Club

Top Camera Picks

Letter from the editor ...

Welcome to the first issue of Take Heart magazine!

The definition of the term ‘take heart’ is to gain courage. I personally found these two words inspiring and felt it would in turn inspire the

readers of this magazine. It took an enormous amount of courage and hard work to put this issue together for you and the hope is that this will

be a magazine that can inspire and intrigue you, the lovely reader. I hope you enjoy reading the first issue as much as I have enjoyed

creating it and that it will be something you can keep and continue to enjoy in the future.

In this issue you will find a breakdown of the latest fashion and beauty trends for the Spring/Summer 13 season, travel inspiration, DIY fashion

projects, nail art tutorials, and plenty more. We also have interviews with the talented Thom Bartley and Harris Elliott as well as articles to bury

your noses in and a stunning photo shoot showcasing one of the key trends for the current season.

Hannah CoppinsEditor in Chief

Lust List ...

This Holga iPhone case is pefect for vintage style photography lovers. £17.37 www.shop.holgadirect.com

The iPad mini is on most of our lust lists right now. It’s smaller size means it fits perfectly in our handbags!£269 www.store.apple.com

For those who love to travel this book is an absolute must have!£12.99 www.waterstones.com

Here at Take Heart there’s a constant list of bits and bobs we’re just dying to get our hands on! Here’s a few of the things we’re currently lusting over.

American Apparel’s neon nail paint is a must have this season.£9 www.store.americanapparel.co.uk

This impossible project film has made it so we can continue to use our vintage polaroid cameras we can’t let go of. £17 www.shop.the-impossible-project.com

Not ideal for those on a tight budget but we can’t help but drool over the Celine Trapeze bag! £2064.42 www.ebay.com

Trend ReportSpring/Summer 2013

Feminine frills have been all over the catwalks this season adding movement and texture to otherwise minimalist pieces. Added to waistlines, necklines, sleeves and hems, ruffles are everywhere this season and prove a perfect way to make a statement.

RufflesBalenciaga

Giv

ench

y

Chloe

Japanese inspired belts, prints, and folds have been prominent on the catwalks this season. Think orgami like folds and kimono style dresses when wearing this trend for Spring/Summer 13.

Prada

Oriental

Ji Cheng

Etro

Typically summer inspired stripes have been another prominent trend this season. Inspired by beach umbrellas and nautical influences, stripes are perfect for the Spring/Summer months.

Stripes

Dolce & Gabbana Marc Jacobs

Moschino

Dol

ce &

Gab

bana

WhiteWhite is a typical trend for the Spring/Summer season and continues to appear for good reason. Crisp, clean white is perfect for the warm weather and creates a minimalist statement. Trenchcoats and dresses are key pieces with this trend.

Bottega Veneta

Fendi

Gucci

David Koma

Sheer fabrics work well with light colours for the Spring/Summer season. Think demure and tasteful rather than risque to create a wearable sheer look. This trend teams well with sports luxe.

Sheer

Christopher Kane

Cushnie et och

Chloe

Preen

Style SpottedWe took to the streets to see how you guys are wearing the latest trends and putting looks together. At Take Heart we love street style as it shows how real girls interpret trends.

The balance of power in the fashion industry in recent years has become unclear. The rise of fashion blogs and the street style phenomenon has led to trends being dictated by members of the public as opposed to fashion designers or fashion magazines. Style icons today are also being redefined with fashion bloggers dominating style inspiration. It is now these bloggers that we turn to for ideas with their street style inspired ‘what I’m wearing today’ posts creating trends and inspiring readers from all over the world. This article will explore just how the growth in fashion blogging has changed the fashion world.

“It is now these bloggers that we turn to for ideas”

Street Style Nation

Many believe street style to be a recent phenomenon when in fact the concept was pioneered by Bill Cunningham and his ‘On the street’ column for the New York Times. For over 50 years he has been photographing the best dressed in New York beginning the era of street style. The growth of social networking in recent years has spurred the popularity of street style and fashion blogging. Social media is accessible by everyone providing an opportunity for all to exhibit their lifestyles and personal style online. There are many different kinds of social media to choose from with millions of users online to view posts made. Facebook for example has over 800 million active users and there are around 1 billion tweets sent every week. These provide a powerful tool for individuals to promote themselves and their blogs.

Cue the rise of the fashion blogger, a species of writer never seen before. They’re redefining

fashion with their constraint free style of writing and quirky fashion sense. But what is it that attracts us to fashion bloggers? Why do we look to them for fashion advice rather than magazines or celebrities? Bloggers make fashion accessible to everyone and demonstrate how trends or styles are applicable. They endorse a ‘real girl’ image that everybody can relate to and show that it is possible to style yourself. Using high street clothing and interpreting runway trends in unique ways they appeal to many young girls as it shows that you don’t necessarily need a large budget to create an on trend look. Bloggers are re-creating the image of fashion icons showing that anybody can inspire with their sense of style.

“Bloggers make fashion accessible to everyone”The opportunities for highly successful bloggers are growing rapidly. Influential bloggers now have the opportunity to attend fashion weeks in different cities to report on it and are often featured in magazine articles. For example 13 year old Tavi Gevinson from thestylerookie.com was given the opportunity to sit alongside Anna Wintour on the front row of 2009’s Spring/Summer fashion week. Gifted writers can also go on to write for or edit magazines and other publications. The influence had by fashion bloggers is ever growing leading to more opportunities and career paths. Blogs can now have high earning potential and provide an income for the blogger. The most common way of earning from blogs is advertising, for example hosting banners and promoting brands in posts.

Often brands collaborate with bloggers to promote themselves and send style bloggers items of clothing to wear in their ‘what I wore today’ posts.

It’s not only members of the public that have been catching on to the social networking phenomenon, designers and brands have also begun using these resources to keep customers up to date with the latest news and events, even streaming live videos of catwalk shows and fashion week. Companies have even begun creating their own blogs after realising the success and potential of them. Topshop’s blog Inside-Out for example provides up to date information on celebrities and fashion news as well as promoting their own product lines. Fashion figures have also begun expanding their own personal social networks, for example Stefano Gabbana signed up to Tumblr in 2011 which he joined to his Twitter account.

The effect the blogging world has had on the fashion industry is both clear and profound. Front rows of catwalk shows are now being graced by the presence of the most influential fashion bloggers and the street style phenomenon is influencing trends. It is clear the shift of power between the general public and the industry’s elite has changed with designers following in bloggers footsteps when it comes to social media. Fashion bloggers are becoming the new generation of style icons and to date there are no signs to suggest a change in this dynamic any time soon.

Have you met ...Take Heart caught up with Thom Bartley, an emerging photographer from the West Midlands to talk cameras and what inspires his work.

Tell us a little about yourself

My names Thom, I’m a photographer based in Wolverhampton. When I’m not shooting I play guitar, sing, write and throw around a yoyo. I’m also the Communications Director for TEDxBrum, an organisation that is planning to showcase the home grown talent, culture and business we have in the West Midlands.

How long have you been a photographer?

I’ve been shooting ever since I was very young but I started to focus on it more seriously in 2009. I bought a camera and started learning to use it as I was about to embark on a trip around Asia and Australia. When I got back I started concentrating more on portrait photography which is where my passion lies.

How did you get in to photography?

I’ve always loved photography so it was just a matter of time before I picked up a camera myself and got into it. With the onset of digital and cheaper high quality beginner DSLR cameras the barriers to picking up photography as a hobby have never been lower. I rustled up some money, bought myself my first cheap kit DSLR and got cracking.

Who or what would you say you’ve learnt the most from?

There are two sources really. I learn from my photographer friends who started around the same time as me, we go out and shoot together and push each other to improve. Secondly I’d say I learn from sites like 500px and Flickr, when I look at other peoples work it inspires me to push myself as a photographer. The quality and amount of work that is out there nowadays is astounding so there’s always something around to find inspiration from.

Describe your style

I’m primarily a field based portrait photographer so in human speak that means that I like taking photos of people on location as opposed to in a studio. I don’t like over produced, highly edited photos. Editing is all part of the creative process but I try to keep it to a minimum. I don’t like to direct too much on a shoot as I try as much as possible to let the model’s personality and style come across. I treat portrait photography as the documentation of a model as much as I can, obviously certain shoots for certain clients require a set look but I still try as much as I can to encapsulate the essence of the person I am shooting.

What inspires your work?

It depends on what I’m shooting. Sometimes it’ll be a certain look or style that a person has that I’d really love to shoot, other times I’ll see someone else’s work which is really great and that inspires me to get out and do my own thing. When I go out to do some street photography inspiration is everywhere. The great thing about street photography is that it makes you look at the world in a different way, you start noticing things you would usually just walk past.

What cameras do you work with?

I use Nikon DSLR’s. On portrait shoot’s I usually use high aperture prime lenses and when I’m out and about I use a Nikon 24-70 2.8 which is an absolute classic multipurpose lense. I’m not really one to be sucked into the Canon vs Nikon debate. The reason I use Nikon is because when I started out the Nikon beginner’s model was about £20 cheaper than the Canon equivalent and I’ve never felt the need to switch since. Saying that, if there’s anyone rich out there who wants to treat me I’d love a Leica M-System camera. It’s a whole different way of shooting and something I’d love to try out if it wasn’t so prohibitively expensive.

Are there any accessories you like to use?

I don’t use many accessories really. I have a grip on my camera for an extra battery and very very occasionally I use a flash gun, but in general I keep it really simple. In my bag I have a lense cleaning kit, spare SD cards and maybe a ND graduated filter if I’m going to be anywhere near water.

What projects have you been working on recently?

I recently did a shoot with the fashion label SeventySeven for their Autumn / Winter line up which was a great shoot. I also shot the recent Midlands Fashion Awards which was great, good to see home grown fashion talent in the area up close. I’ve also done a few shoots with local models which is my bread and butter. Looking towards the future I have a few projects coming up that I’m excited about. One will be in relation to the TEDxBrum event, another is of a charity boxing event and another will involve me creating a book of portraits of homeless people in order to raise money for a homeless charity.

Are there any photographers that you admire?

Yes lots. I like a guy called Greg Willams who manages to retain a unique style even though his work is quite commercial. I admire Terry Richardson because he’s made himself a mega star by the way he interacts with models and the way he gets them to perform in front of a lense as opposed to his actual skill with a camera. There’s a girl called Vanessa Paxton who creates awesomely creative images and finally there’s a LA based photographer called Lucas Passmore who creates consistently excellent location based fashion shots. Outside of the portrait world the Magnum photographers in general are a great inspiration.

Where can we find your work?

Best bet is to head to www.thombartley.com. Feel free to get in touch!

Hot ShotsIf you’ve been inspired by our interview with the lovely Thom Bartley we’ve picked our favourite cameras for you to consider to create your own amazing images.

The Nikon D3200 is Nikon’s newest entry level DSLR and is ideal for first time buyers. Prices start from £369.99.

The Diana Mini Latitude is an adorable adaptation of the 1960’s original. Prices start from £85.00.

The original Holga CFN 120 is a classic camera capable of producing brilliant lomography style images. Prices start from £37.95.

The Fujifilm Polaroid 300 is another brilliant remake of a classic camera and is incredibly simple to use. Prices start from £69.00.

The Canon EOS 1100D is a beginner DSLR making it user friendly and great value. Prices start from £299.99.

The Samsung WB30F Smart digital camera has the performance of a full sized camera and built in Wifi. Prices start from £149.99.

Get CreativeFor all you creatives (or poor students) we’ve included a couple of DIY projects for you to try your hand at! Our first project is a simple travel wallet made from a recycled world map and a simple faux leather clutch bag perfect for a night out!

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Voila!

DIY travel wallet

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ta-dah!

DIY clutch bag

Have you met ...Take Heart had the opportunity to meet with Harris Elliott, a talented and successful stylist/creative director based in London.

Tell us a little about yourself

I am a Creative Director and Stylist working in the fashion industry.

How long have you been a stylist?

I have been styling for 12 years.

How did you get in to styling?

I studied Interior Architecture and Design, but I always had a strong interest in style mags and avant garde designers. I met one of London’s most influential stylists Judy Blame, after working with him, I decided I definitely wanted to get into styling.

Who or what would you say you’ve learnt the most from?

Every project teaches you something new, and I’ve realised that you can never take anything for granted. I have worked a lot with a Creative Director called Chidi Achara who is based in New York, he taught me that no matter what you do, or how creative you are, you have to have a vision for where you want to get to, so it makes it easier to know once you are there.

Describe your style

Tricky question ..... I like to recycle elements of popular culture and subtly place them within my work, but there is often a strong dose of military references included.

What inspires your work?

I am intrigued by different subcultures and love to watch films to relax and as a source of inspiration.

What has been your favourite project so far?

My current project for Adidas, as I have been given free rein to conceptualise, commission and art direct a whole campaign, print, digital and film.

Are there any brands or designers you use regularly in your work?

I’m a big fan of Neil Barrett as he has a strong military aesthetic, Mr Hare shoes for men, Bruno Frisoni shoes for women. What projects have you been working on

recently?

I have just returned from Tokyo last week, styling and creating accessories for the label Griffin Hartland.

Are there any stylists or creative directors that you admire?

Stylists: Judy Blame, Jane How, Olivier Rizzo and Alistair Mckimm. Creative Directors weirdly they all happen to be French: MM Paris, Jean Paul Goude and Fabien Baron.

Where can we find your work?

www.harriselliott.comwww.ba-reps.com

white summer ...

Our favourite trend this season is crisp white. A perfect colour for the warm summer months and really makes a statement when worn all over. We picked some of our favourite pieces from the high street that reflect the trend and shot in a gorgeous outdoor location to make the most of the sunshine!

Bag - H&MBracelets - Pandora and stylist’s own

Crop top - New LookNecklace - Topshop

Top and shorts - stylist’s ownBracelet - Thomas SaboNecklace - New Look

Peplum top - TopshopNecklace - Celliana

Camisole - TopshopShorts and necklace - H&M

Playsuit and bag - H&MWatch - Marc Jacobs

Bracelets - Pandora and stylist’s ownWatch - Marc Jacobs

Camisole and necklace - TopshopSkirt - Ark

Photography by Thom Bartley

Beauty Trend ReportSpring/Summer 2013

Stand out from the crowd this season with bright lipstick. This look was popular on the catwalks with colours ranging from classic reds to hot pinks. Minimalist eye make-up works best with this look to let your lips do the talking.

Bold Lips

Holly Fulton

Giles

Jason Wu

Rochas

Statement eyes were another popular look on the Spring/Summer 13 catwalks. Bright colours and in some cases gemstones were used to make the eyes stand out and compliment bright summer colours.

Bright Eyes

Fendi

Dior

Dior

Chanel

Kenzo

Coloured streaks were a hit this season ranging from sugary pastels to bold shades. Extensions are ideal for those unsure of whether to take the plunge or hair chalking is another brilliant non-permanent way to wear the trend.

Hair Streaks

Pete

r Som

Peter Som

Nailed ItFor our creative and beauty concious readers we’ve created 3 step-by-step nail art tutorials. We hope these inspire you to get creative, feel free to post your completed designs on Take Heart’s Facebook page!

Glitter Chevron

For this design we used Barry M’s ‘Silver Glitter’ and ‘Matt White.’ Another simple design but as white nails are bang on trend right now we thought we’d experiment to create a more interesting look.

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Pink Leopard

For this particular design we used Models Own ‘Pink Opulence’ for the base and ‘Bubblegum’ for the dots. We then used the Models Own nail art pen to draw on the remaining leopard spots. A simple yet quirky design!

Bright Aztec

As we’re entering the Spring/Summer season we thought we’d include a bright, colourful design. For this look we used Barry M’s ‘Coral,’ ‘Mint Green,’ ‘Yellow,’ ‘Turquoise’ and ‘Shocking Pink’ for the base colours. We then used Barry M’s ‘Matt White’ to create the stripe and white dots and Models Own nail art pen to complete the aztec design.

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Out of Africa

Arriving in Marrakech was an exhilarating experience in itself. The taxi set out from the airport down three lane roads lined with palm trees and rubbish, weaving through masses of people, motorbikes and other drivers attempting to deliver us safely to our riad. In the back me, my sister and mum clung to each other trying not to look at the impossible gaps the driver weaved through.

The streets that lead to the riad were lined with further obstacles; motorbikes, cyclists, stray cats, fruit and vegetables lay out across the floor and uneven pavements with pot holes and raised brick. The noise and crowds were daunting at first and as the culture shock well and truly set in we arrived in Ben Saleh square. The taxi stopped in the square, a small area between the mazes of small streets, and ushered us out. He moved our

luggage into a rusted wheelbarrow and led us down another treturous road dodging the crowds with ease.

“The noise and crowds were daunting at first”We were lead to a low tunnel between buildings just off of the street we had followed. The tunnel was empty and dark, a little unnerving, but we followed our driver down to a very small doorway. Ducking through the doorway with suitcases was not the easiest feat but once through the tranquility put us straight at ease. We were lead to a serene courtyard while the owner of the riad, Joel, organised our room and keys. We sipped traditional Moroccan mint tea while we were shown directions to the souks and Main Square.

After settling in the urge to explore took over and we set off for the main square, Djeema el Fna. My sister, a keen traveller, took charge of the directions and led us through the cramped chaotic streets following the arrows Joel had drawn on our map. We stepped out of stall lined alleys into a wide open space, the main square. Smoke rose into the air from the barbecues and stalls laden with fruit and bottled water filled the centre. Snake charmers lined the stalls draping snakes around unsuspecting tourists necks whilst men leading monkeys wandered coaxing passers by to take photographs. The atmosphere and the days heat were intense.

The souks were our next venture. A maze of market stalls filled with treasures awaited us. Getting lost was inevitable with a constant call from merchants encouraging you to look at their shop and what they had to offer. The hanging ornate lanterns and gleaming silver tea sets were mesmerising. Stalls brimming with bright coloured babouches (traditional Moroccan shoes) and embossed leather bags drew us in and led to intense haggling with shop keepers. Although many sold similar merchandise each stall had a little something different and made it easy to spend hours wandering through the covered streets looking for the next treasure.

“A maze of market stalls filled with treasures awaited us”After filling the day with exploring and plenty of shopping a good meal was our next venture. As it was our first night eating at the best restaraunt Marrakech had to offer felt fitting. We made our way through the chaotic streets once more to find the Dar Essalam restaraunt hidden along one of the many alleys of the old city. It’s outside appearance was humble but the moment we stepped through the ornate doorway it was immediatley evident how it adorned such a brilliant reputation. Boasting famous guests including Doris Day and Winston Churchill our expectations of a luxurious setting and the finest food were surpassed. We dined on enormous portions of traditional Moroccan couscous, kebabs and salads unable to finish most of our meals. During the meal our entertainment consisted of traditional belly dancing with live music creating a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. It truly was a perfect ending to our first day in Marrakech and an extraordinary beginning to an unforgettable trip.

The Bucket ListWith a constant sense of wanderlust there’s a never ending list of places we’re dying to see here at Take Heart. We’ve chosen 5 of our current favourites to inspire you guys!

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The second largest city in Brazil and the capital city of the state Rio de Janeiro, Rio is a must see! Glorious beaches and extravagant carnivals makes it one of the most visited cities in the Southern hemisphere. Must see attractions include the statue of Christ the Redeemer, the Rio Carnival and the famous Copacobana beach. As Rio will host the 2016 Olympics visit this year to beat the escalated prices!

Sydney, Australia

Sydney is the most populated city in Australia and is the state capital of New South Wales. Although a major city Sydney has a variety of natural areas including access to waterways and large parks. The city is culturally diverse and has a host of galleries and museums on offer and boasts its famous Sydney Opera House. Must see attractions include Sydney Tower, the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Botanical Gardens. G’day mate!

bom dia!

Ubud, Bali

Ubud is a central town in Bali commonly known as the cultural centre. It is well known for its art and craft culture and its stunning architecture. Ubud is apart from areas such as Kuta, well known for partying and gorgeous beaches, making it a quiet retreat from the main tourist spots. The town is made up of 14 small villages and its must see attractions include Goa Gajah (Elephant cave), Pura Kehen (Kehen Temple) and Agung Rai Museum of Art.

New York City, USA

Little needs to be said in the way of persuasion, New York City is a definite must see! Often described as the cultural capital of the world, New York is incredibly diverse and has a little something for everyone. Trips can be pricey but budget accomodation is available with a variety of hostels around the city. Must see attractions include Central Park, the Empire State Building and Times Square.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and is the capital city of Catalonia. The city is well known for it’s stunning architecture and is a hive for fashion and the arts. Golden beaches and museums, historical buildings and monuments makes Barcelona one of the world’s main tourist centres. Must see attractions include Palau de la Musica Catalana, Sagrada Familia and the Barceloneta beach.

rahajeng semeng!

hola!

hello!

Book ClubHere at Take Heart we can’t sunbathe without a juicy read so we’ve put together a list of books we’re loving right now that are perfect for flicking through on the sunbed!

We’re loving Material World by Perri Lewis at the minute. It’s filled with creative DIY projects for you to have a go at and create some of your own original pieces.

Style Diaries by Simone Werle is a must buy for anyone interested in street style and outift inspiration. The book includes street style from around the globe and profiles some of the most influential style bloggers of today.

The Wah Nails Book of Nail Art by Sharmadean Reid packs 25 nail art tutorials with step-by-step instructions on how to create some of their most popular designs.

Blog Inc by Joy Deangdeelert Cho is the ultimate handbook on how to begin your own blog. Covering how to start, grow and finance a blog this book is a must buy for all you hopeful style bloggers out there!

WWW.MONOMANIA.CO.UK