OPINION: Kerry Crone Spring/Summer 13 Collection

Words By Gemma Jones

Photography by Kerry Crone. 

To all avid readers of Looprevil you will remember me showcasing a certain young Liverpool based fashion designer Kerry Crone a while back. I for one was pretty much dilly dazzled when I saw her collections in a Christian Aid ROGUE fashion show in March. Ever since I've been eager for her to send me more of her innovative and lustrous works so I know I'm not missing out on any of her lovely designs. And boy oh boy, has the girl delivered. 

The oh so fabulous Kerry Crone Spring/Summer 13 Collection. 

Liverpool John Moores fashion design student has created a woman's wear collection consisting of four awe inspiring outfits and its theme is heavily embedded on the Ancient Mayans and the Human body. So what has exactly catalysed the darling designer to be inspired by such a quirky and distinctive theme? 

"I decided to look at the Ancient Mayans as I am influenced by travel and other cultures," said Kerry. "During December 2011 I went on a trip travelling around the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico where I collected research including photography and sketches of architecture and carvings at archaeological sites including Uxmal, Chitzen-Itza, Coba and Tulum I also looked at traditional and historical Mayan dress. From this research I created a collection of prints which I have incorporated into garment design, using screen print."

It is evident then from looking at these stimulating stylish images broadcasting Kerry's collection that a lot of insightful thought has gone into creating such up-scale and structural designs. The prints and embellishments are absolutely intricately designed to precision and is skilfully complimented by Mayan colours of taupe, stone influenced by architecture and jungle and ALSO breath breathtakingly beautiful blues and jades, jade being the most popular stone used by the Mayans. 

But what gives her collection the most allure and supplies an inevitable gravitational pull to all fashion followers everywhere is her garment shaping. Based on the human skeleton and focusing mainly on the spine and rib cage regions her designs are sure to flatter your stylish skeleton frame into a bundle of human bones flawlessness. Alongside the garments, Kerry has also been inspired by her elevated theme to created a secondary range of incredible accessories, creating necklaces from laser cut plastics and customising shoes. A pair of which such killer shoes are shown below. Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo? Remember...certain stylish spikes can impale so if I were you...I'd watch your shoe designing backs!

Kerry Crone's shoe accessories. How amazing please?! Enough to make any top of the range shoe designer jealous. 

Behold mortals and take an inward breath of admiration at the transcendent azul collection. Taken at a Liverpool Central location, her campaign is indeed landmarking the excellence of student designers from the Liverpool region. I am absolutely and irrationally fascinated and drawn in by the first blue dress with layered prints and patterning. I could totally imagine wearing this little topaz beauty at award winning white collared event, prom/graduation ball or even to the good al racecourse. The peplum top and brown pants with an a energizing blue stripe also would make me fall weak at false tanned knees. The whole outfit provides a refreshing dressy and glamorous alternative to a traditional summer frock and is very Celine tailoring meets McQueen structuring and colouring. All in all I feel her whole Spring/Summer tells a story. About a powerful, modernised and contemporary Ice Queen? Who knows! (The connotations of such art work of course can be your oyster...) However it is not just a story though, this collection is clearly immersed lost and drawn up in its own stylish and compelling agricultural narrative. Just by looking at these glorious images I feel as if I'm deeply drawn into wild world of the Yucatan peninsula. And if this is the inspiration that comes out of such a blessed place then I hypothetically never want to leave. The beautiful shades of jade have undeniably become my new style rock. 


Beautiful ensembles, beautiful accessories and beautiful models to top it all off, a perfect design campaign noi? Kerry's dare defying collection may look as cold as razor-sharp ice but the female response of her looks is nothing short of hot, hot, hot. Hopefully Kerry will continue to keep making prominent and high tide waves in the fashion world.

SPORT: Never Tweet Your Heroes

Words By Jack Mcilroy Reid

‘Why do people always want to solve any conflict with a fight? As a pacifist, I find it incredible...’ Joey Barton’s tweet on December 23^rd must have been one of the most re-tweeted out of the nearly five thousand he has written but it’s popularity did not come on the same day that he wrote it. It is more likely that the majority of re-tweets came on May 13^th as thousands of his followers took to scrolling through his profile to highlight the irony of this statement when Joey was shown a red card and eventually handed a 10 match suspension on the last day of the Premier League season. The suspension was given for several counts of violent conduct during QPR’s match against Man City.

Twitter seems to be a platform on which Barton flourishes, making a name for himself through his uncompromising, controversial approach to what he publishes. His quoting of George Orwell and Morrissey however caused the public to think that possibly there was more to the man whose name was tarnished with stories of assault and jail sentences. Recent appearances with Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight and an intelligent interview on the BBC documentary about racism in football also helped repair his public image and give people the impression that he was a man who not only knew what he was talking about but was also not afraid to express his opinion.

The website has certainly given Barton a surge of fame that his skill on the pitch certainly would not have provided him. His 1.5 million followers is considerably more than all of the players selected in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad bar Wayne Rooney. Why so many? Why do so many people follow Joey Barton? The fact is that it isn’t all clever philosophies and informed opinions. To find any sort of erudite tweet it is necessary to sift through hundreds of hostile and aggressive attacks on fellow players and members of the public brave enough to contradict him and I sense that it is this kind of tweet that has attracted the majority of his followers, the kind of person desperate for some celebrity drama to enjoy.

Twitter, after all, provides the general public an insight into celebrities’ lives. A person’s diary entries are, in effect published to whoever desires to read them and although it is potentially a stage to present a very positive image of themselves, the likelihood is readers are going to stumble across something unsavoury. As the saying goes ‘never meet your heroes’ and Twitter allows you to do this, virtually, every day. Footballers used to be idols and role models. The fact that their glamorous lives were secret set them apart and kept them on their pedestal. During the glory days of the game the height of a players pedestal was dependant on their skill on the pitch. Today it seems like it is dependent on the number of followers they have and whether they have the confidence to publically ridicule one of their colleagues. Would Bobby Moore have been such an idol if after the world cup final he had tweeted ‘great win today, @FranzBeckenbauer it was definitely over the line, stop whining’? Would Maradona be considered one of the greatest the world has ever seen if during the 1986 World Cup he had taken to his keyboard to say ‘So what if I hand-balled it. Get over it @PeterShilton.’? I think not.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Twitter. My mother tells me I tweet too much, but I have restricted the people I follow to those I know in person. As Joey Barton was wrestled from the pitch after an elbow, knee, head-butt combination that would impress a MMA fighter, people across the country were gloating at him over the Internet: people who never have and who never will meet him, enjoying so much that a man with so much to say may finally be silenced. He was made fully aware that what he had done was disgraceful, and looking back I wonder if his tweets weren’t so infamous and if there hadn’t been so much traffic directed his way, would his punishment be less severe? If a player without Twitter, or with considerably less followers had acted similarly, would he have also been handed a 10 match ban? What Joey Barton says is, after all, read by millions. Has the FA made an example of him? Possibly.

I think I would prefer football without Twitter. I don’t want to know if one player ‘honestly despises’ another. I want my heroes to walk off the pitch into their secret perfect lives, lives about which I can only imagine, lives which are made especially exciting due to the fact that we know next to nothing about them. For me, ignorance is bliss. 

OPINION: The Queen makes a royal arrival in North West!

Words and Photography By Gemma Jones. 

Okay this necessarily isn’t Liverpool based news. However Warrington is in the North West near Liverpool and I am doing a work placement in their newspaper The Warrington Guardian as a Liverpool student flying the flag for all things scouse so technically, this article is viable.

So my work experience this week has been pleasant like many other journalist ones I’ve done in the past. I’ve done press releases, phone interviews and wee bits of article writing. So far, so good it’s been nice. However I certainly was not expecting The Queen to make a visit to Warrington this week (I should really start watching the news more if I want to become an award winning journalist…). Since it is a local newspaper, her visit was destined to be a big story as it is not every day the Queen decides to pop on her royal slippers, put on some of that special occasion lipstick and travel all the way to northern town. Straight away I knew that the senior journalists would be going out to cover this story and I’d probably end up writing a stack load of press releases for the remainder of my sorry little life. Yet when they asked me to accompany/shadow them to the event I was…what’s the world…excited? Yes. Very much so.

I arrived an hour before The Queen was scheduled to arrive in Orford Park in Warrington. The event was to celebrate Orford Park development and a £30 million community centre, built as the largest Olympic legacy development outside of London. Members of the press are required to attend earlier to secure interviews with the Mayor, other company officials and to talk to the crowd for quotes and pictures as such. The last time The Queen visited Warrington was more than 30 years ago, so by looking at the crowds faces you could tell this was a really big treat for them. After interviewing a few of them for vox pops, there was unquestionably a certain patriotic buzz in the air. People had been gathering since half eight in the morning and were braving it out in the cold and drizzly rain, desperate and eager to catch a glimpse of The Queen. Members of the crowd ranged from youngsters to golden oldies and even nationalities as I chatted briefly for a few minutes with women from America and Hungary!

In the press enclosure.

Mayor of Warrington.

 I waited a perilous 45 minutes in the press enclosure while the main journalists had press passes and went in and out of buildings speaking to VIP’s and what not (such as the Mayor of Warrington in his sexy red and black robe, chain and wig get up). I then stood there unsure what to do with myself fiddling around on my weakling of a phone while I was heavily surrounded by photographers and journalists with insane cameras and two radio presenters for local stations. And here was little old with me an eager smile, notepad in hand and clicking away like the best of them with Instagram and Twitter. Revolutionary. Go me.

The Queen and Prince Phillip arrive at Orford Park.

After some waiting, The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in their Bentley to warm cheers and applause. The Queen stepped out wearing a coral dress and coat by Stewart Parvin and a matching hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan and met the Mayor Clr Mike Biggin, council leader Terry O'Neill and chief executive Diana Terris. She then after a few meets and greets changed in a green Range Rover and had a little tour around the park to witness the parks development, local school children dancing and swimming and even good al Phillip got his hands dirty and helped youngster build and bury a time capsule. Bless his really expensive Egyptian cotton socks.

After that it was all very surreal and quick. The Queen came out of the centre after a few minutes and unveiled a statue at the front of the building. At this point she was literally a stone throw away from me and I was clicking around like crazy with the professional photographers on my juvenile picture phone trying to take some deserving pictures. She stood around for a while giving me the opportunity for some decent shots despite the fact my phone camera is not 100% journalism friendly and accommodating.

Queen after unveiling the centre's front statue. 

 

Prince Philip obviously working the Burberry trench coat look.

The couple making their way to the Albert Dock, Liverpool. 

And after her standing there so easily in before me and me feeling I’ll admit slightly overwhelmed and resisting every urge in my body not to curtsy before her very suit and proclaim “Hello Elizabeth you little fashionable babe, any chance of setting me up with your delightful and charming grandson Harry at all?” she gave the crowd a few waves and smiles and drove away. The car then glided out of the park very smoothly and royally onto her next official royal appointment; Liverpool. And I stood there a few minutes afterwards not believing I have actually been breathing the same oxygen as Her Majesty and feeling quite disheartened that I didn’t get the chance to show her what an awarding winning granddaughter-in-law/Duchess I could be. And of course not being able to befriend Kate Middleton and borrow all of her Temperley dresses. Instead I'll just have to resort to stealing them from her humble abode instead.

Nonetheless the day was a fabulous and unreal once in a lifetime opportunity for me. After all, it's unlikely that on ANY work placement  you are lucky enough to be in such royal company. And even though I never got to meet the Queen or shake her hand personally (despite practising my curtsy thoroughly at bedtime the night before) it is nice to know that as she walked past me clicking away on my HTC she may have even glanced at me. Saw my face in the press crowd even if it was just for a nano second. And due to the rain beforehand I hope she may have been looking at me to admire my precious Mulberry bag and not instead to snub my flattened, wet and dishevelled hair…

ENTERTAINMENT: A Review of 'The Hunger Games'

Words by Shauna Waterman

SPOILER ALERT!

It’s always said that it’s better to read the book before you go and watch the film and The Hunger Games was no exception. Unfortunately, I did this the wrong way round but was thoroughly impressed with director Gary Ross’ interpretation of Suzanne Collins’ novel, apart from the fact that it ruined the plot while reading it!

The Hunger Games follows Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old struggling to keep her family alive in a futuristic world of Panem. Panem is made up of twelve districts of which Katniss lives in one of the poorest, District 12. Every year boys and girls aged 12-18 enter their names for the annual Hunger Games hosted by the rich and prosperous Capitol. The Games means that 24 tributes must fight to the death until there is one winner to bring honour and glory to their district.

In the novel, the reader can instantly understand Katniss and the world she lives in. As Katniss describes Panem you can also see that Collins has some underlying political points and tackles the idea of poverty and tyranny. The poorer districts are starving and have to work hard to survive, catching game behind the backs of the Peacekeepers and selling it on. These underlying points make the book seem realistic and familiar. Ross translated this theme well to screen showing the desperation in District 12 and the contrast with the Capitol with their ridiculous bright colours and luxuries.

Katniss, as a character, is strong, relatable and passionate, which is transformed to screen in the form of actress Jennifer Lawrence who gives a powerful performance. While reading the book it’s easy to get caught up in Katniss’ emotions. As a reader, I felt the tension when her sister Prim’s name was picked at the reaping and her desperation as she volunteered herself. During her interview for the Games I even found myself holding my breath as she walked out onto the stage, struggling to be herself in front of the interviewer. It’s everything you want in a book, to relate to the characters and get lost in it. Even the in the film, actress Jennifer Lawrence invests a lot into the character Katniss and it is hard not to root for her and support her in the brutal Games.

As the Hunger Games forces the districts to send a boy and a girl to Capitol, Katniss’ partner comes in the form of the baker’s son Peeta Mellark. Strong in stature but a romantic at heart, Peeta strives to protect Katniss in the Games by confessing his love for her, though Katniss tries her best to keep up the star-crossed lovers facade, she finds herself struggling with her feelings for Peeta due to the fact that she also may have feelings for her friend Gale at home. This is one thing that I feel Collins could have done better in her novels but Ross achieved in the films. Here it can be apt to compare Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series to The Hunger Games but this is where the comparisons will stop because they’re written in completely different ways with different literary techniques that are in Collins’ favour. However, Meyer successfully achieved the tension between Bella’s two love interests Edward and Jacob whereas in The Hunger Games novel I didn’t care much for Peeta or Gale, the latter especially. Perhaps it’s because the main focus is on the games but to me Gale only ever seemed like a friend to Katniss. His mysterious presence in the first part of the novel only ever comes across as a comrade and protector of Katniss and her family rather than a romantic interest. Yes, Katniss does mention several times how she misses Gale but it never seems truly convincing. Her relationship with Peeta is contrived in order to get sponsors when they’re in the arena but Katniss just seems completely oblivious to his feelings for her and every kiss they share is forced and unemotional. In fact, when Katniss describes her kisses with Peeta they’re never intimate or passionate but childish. It doesn’t make me root for either Peeta or Gale as a viable partner for Katniss. However, in the film as Ross cuts back and forth to scenes in District 12 with Gale’s reactions to Peeta and Katniss’ unfolding relationship on screen and his urgency to see Katniss before she leaves the district, it’s a lot more of a believable passion than in the books.

These relationships may be further explored in the sequels of The Hunger Games; Catching Fire and Mockingjay and I look forward to reading these. If you like the idea of a dystopian adventure novel with a hint of romance then you’ll enjoy the The Hunger Games. The movie sequel Catching Fire has been said, by Lionsgate, to be released November 2013.

ENTERTAINMENT: Review of Street of Dreams at Manchester Arena

Words by Hayley Minn

When you think of a Coronation Street musical, you either think 'Why have they made a musical of something that was awful in the first place?', if you're a really boring person who doesn't like having fun, or 'That sounds like the best idea ever!', if you're a huge Corrie fan, like I am. 

The northern working-class drama created by Tony Warren in 1960 is a soap opera filled with depressing storylines, high drama and comedy dropped in in the form of Norris and all the other oldies.  However, this stage version, written and composed by Trisha Ward, while still funny and with all the feel of the soap it originated from, it didn't stand up as a musical in its own right.

The show, with a cast of 37, and a set of an 80ft-wide mock-up Street, with the 25-piece orchestra playing on its rooftops, is set up for arenas rather than theatres, which made it feel less personal and less like a musical. Above them is a screen running the full width of the stage, on which clips from the TV programme are shown in the middle, coinciding with the actors singing and dancing out the same scenes below. While this was a help, especially for the youngsters in the audience, like me, who wouldn't have known who the people were in the earlier episodes, it was also a hindrance, as my eyes were frequently drawn towards that, rather than what was happening on stage.

Television presenter Paul O’Grady is the Narrator leading us through the show’s half century, transported back in time by Katy Cavanagh - who plays Julie in Corrie -  as the Angel of Death. O’Grady was hilarious throughout, and at one point, he tells Martha Longhurst, who was the first character to die in the soap: “You’ve been written out, love.”

The use of time travel meant that the stage show just hopped from one scene to another, at random. For example, you see Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), among other Corrie guest stars belt out a big number and then he is never seen again after this until the final song, where Russell Watson made an appearance. 

While this mechanism of having random Corrie stars pop up and sing a song seemed quite a lazy way of shoehorning in as many Corrie storylines as possible, these songs were pretty epic, especially Richard Hillman's song 'Norman Bates with a Briefcase', which was accompanied by dancers dressed as Richard Hillman and clips of the serial murder storyline on the screen, it. Another highlight was 'I know Hot It Feels', a duet by old Elsie Tanner, played by Jodie Prenger, and young Elsie Tanner, played by Kym Marsh, whose fiance, Jamie Lomas (Warren from Hollyoaks), I spotted in the audience, there to support her.  There was also the brief, but incredible, appearance of Julie Goodyear as Bet Lynch, who, at the age of 70, still has an amazing voice.

While I didn't know most of the people in the first act, being one of the youngest in the audience, I still thought the show was really good, and, while the narrative wasn't exactly clever, the comedic value, nostalgia and the big numbers definitely outweighed that.

NEWS: No BS DS! Serbian presidential elections head to run off despite fraudulent claims

Words by Oliver Auckland

Boris Tadić

Last week, Serbian voters hit Boris Tadić’s Democrats Party (DS) hard, punishing them in the elections that saw their support drop to 22.3%, compared with 38% in 2008. As a result of this, they lost their hold as the largest party in parliament, conceding to main opposition Progressive Party (SNS) headed by Tomislav Nikolić, who drew 24% of votes.
Tadić, the current President of Serbia took another blow as he was forced into a run-off against Nikolić which will take place on 20th May. In the first round, Tadić narrowly had the edge on Nikolić, polling 26.7% and 25.5% respectively.

Opposition leader Tomislav Nikolić threatened to challenge the results, accusing the DS yesterday of filling the voting register with the names of dead Serbs and stealing 500,000 votes. 

Nikolić filed a complaint before telling an election rally near the town of Krusevac "I won't rest until this is investigated and I'm seriously thinking about what we'll do in the elections on May 20,"

"I'm seriously thinking about calling people to Belgrade a day before the elections, to show that band that we won't put up with it, that we're more proud, honest, respectable, stronger and braver than they think we are."

Tadić has been president since 2004 and is widely expected to win another five years in power. Despite the SNS’s narrow victory, Tadić can be grateful for the renewed coalition of the DS and third placed Socialists (SPS) of the late Slobodan Milošević.

Tomislav Nikolić 

 The only party to come out of the parliamentary elections with any sense of victory was the SPS, doubling its support to 14.7%. Support for the SPS has understandably dwindled post- Milošević but putting aside current leader Ivica Dačić’s ambitions, they now hold a blocking minority in parliament.


Serbian state election commission dismissed Nikolić’s claims and were further supported by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), saying that despite “some lack of transparency” in the voting register, the elections were fair.

DS deputy leader Jelena Trivan blasted Nikolić saying he had “returned to his radical rhetoric and behaviour.” and " Nikolić today openly threatened violence and unrest on the streets and I call on all state institutions to treat this information with the required seriousness."

Matters however have been taken further as Serbia’s Prosecutor's Office have asked the Police to investigate Nikolić’s claims. “We will examine the regularity of the election process,” a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office said.

The results of the election will indicate which direction Serbia heads over the next five years. A Tadić victory should see Serbia continue on its path for EU membership, whilst a Nikolić victory, despite his recent pro-EU status mask, will see Serbia head east to strengthen ties with Russia. Russia’s plans of a Eurasian Union aimed for introduction in 2015 is something that appeals to Nikolić. In March he said during his speech that he wished for Serbia to eventually join.

“On one hand I advocate Serbia’s membership in the EU but at the same time I as a politician intend to do everything in order to develop relations with Russia. We want a reconstruction of the state in the legal area in accordance with the EU standards. Simultaneously, I am convinced of a necessity to deepen the contacts with Russia.”

“Serbs are connected to Russia with their religion, history and culture and in the most difficult moments we turn to Moscow."

OPINION: How to Wear the Unwearable- Creepers/Flatforms

Can you put a creeper/flatform foot forward?

Words By Gemma Jones

In all honesty I’m not really the ‘glunge’ type per say (that my friends, being a combination of both the awe inspiring grunge intermixed with the glamorous). As a pioneer of more shall we say French, girly and somewhat conservative fashion (Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn anyone?) I have tended to avoid all things associated with dip dye hair, cross necklaces, band shirts and general rock and rock attire. Attempting to be super cool by hardly combing my hair, wearing fishnets with holes in and large vintage denim jackets actually detracts from any source of “coolness” whatsoever and instead ironically makes me feel more warm with embarrassment, walking down the street looking ultimately ridiculous (after all...not every girl can look like an indie band worshipper on a day to day basis...) However certain little oh so fashionable shoes have been catching my eye lately, making me reconsider my lack of allegiance to the ‘glunge’ trend...and that comes through the revolutionary formation of the creeper and the trustworthy flatform phenomenon. 

Now on a first judgement, aesthetically to most ‘un-hardcore’ rock and roll girls, the shoes might make you fall, literally, a little bit off balance. For one they aren’t absolutely or endearingly pretty (think woeful memories of shopping with your Mother for the dreaded annual school shoes shop). Additionally if you are unfortunate enough to be blessed with you know...with a slightly larger than average shoe size (whoever said women had ‘dainty’ and ‘quaint’ feet back in the Victorian era were blatant liars) these shoes may not flatter the larger foot you may have inferior complexes over. However never fear, there is light at the end of fearful shoe tunnel! 

First of all, the most significant issue; price. Creepers/flatforms aren’t that expensive. Ranging from £20-£100 in most high street stores, they certainly get my toe tapping seal of approval for financial availability. Next, we must remember why they are being perpetuated so much by the fashion industry...because deep down in our little dark souls we know they are cool and they are edgy! They add a unconventional and quirky edge to even the simplest and girliest outfits compromising both comfort and style without the dreaded pain of high wedges or sadistic stiletto heels! However if you’re still afraid and unconverted yet to shall we say ‘strut your stuff’ down the street in such innovative footwear, here are some tips for wearing the blessed yet controversial trend: 

·         -Team your creepers/platforms with a delicate or feminine dress/skirt to not only balance your outfit (and to obliterate some of the ugliness that these shoes can pose) but to add a personified edginess to it that will take it from casual to fashionable. 

·         -Add oh so pretty accessories! Little dainty chains, rings, a cute endearing little hand band, collars or socks can instantly sweeten the appeal of these tough looking shoes!

·         -Don’t wear too many prints or patterns. Simplicity is key. Otherwise it will look like you’re a Trendy Wendy, trying too hard. 

·         -Avoid mannish or androgynous styles when wearing them if this isn’t the look you want to convey. If you still want to attain a certain  classic feminine look then avoid loose-fitting pieces or androgyny pants, blazers etc. However if you embrace androgyny like a second cousin by all means...piece them together!

So, the question is have you or are you going to crack and succumb to the creepers/flatform trend? Honestly at first I did not want anything to do with such shoes but now since such shoes are following me everywhere I go, in every shop, down every High Street, it is like they say...if you can’t beat them, join them...and what better than SS12 for a little diverse shoe alternative?