Dance yourself fit

Image from Eventure Photography

By Vicky Gayle

 

The dreary winter days are upon us and most evenings would much rather be spent indoors, steaming over a hot bowl of soup than devising an exercise plan. But just as quick as summer ended, no doubt it will be back again before you can even utter the words, ‘muffin top’, so it’s best to start on the summer body pre-winter. Let’s be honest, no woman enjoys laborious cardio training and given a few months of treadmill sessions in the gym it’s likely that even the most fitness-crazed women will retreat back to their usual sloth habits, because it just isn’t very much fun. The answer is to simply find a happy medium - an activity that you enjoy enough to continue, so why not consider a dance class?

Zumba was the latest phenomenon to gain worldwide popularity - originating in Colombia, this Latin-inspired dance had women sashaying to classes all across the UK and is a fabulous workout (so I’m told), but there are so many other styles and each one is guaranteed to make you sweat and smile at the same time.

Unlike a lot of other sports, dance is an all-over workout which means that while it’s encouraging a healthier heart and lungs, you’re losing fat, creating both leaner and stronger muscles, improving flexibility, agility and balance. Not to mention the mental and social benefits attached, like boosting your energy levels, increasing self-esteem and confidence, relieving stress and also being a great place to make new friends. 

I went to a Contemporary dance class myself this week at Sunshine Studios because it’s a hobby I reluctantly stopped and also I want to look amazing naked without resorting to pricey gimmicks. To sum my experience up in one word: painful - I had bumps on my knees from all the floor work and my four-year dance break caused an immense amount of muscle ache that burned from my bum-cheeks up my torso. But no pain, no gain ladies, and the benefits definitely outweigh the initial discomfort - take it that I said so

Classes in your local area can be found easily on Google, but here are some links for you.  

Youth Dance England

Street Dance UK

Dance Xchange, Birmingham

Ace Dance and Music, Birmingham

Zumba-Central, Birmingham

BodyBarre, Manchester

Pineapple Studios, London

 

 

 

SPRING 2012 TRENDS

Black & White Structured 

Clear Heels

Blue Prints

‘Boob’ Tube

‘Cut-Out’ Shoulders

Cropped Tops

Dolly Lace

Draped Pencil Skirts

Hot Pants

Lace ‘Floor-Length’ Gowns

Meshed Up

One Shoulder Stunner

Pastel Colours

Waist Flares

Fancy Pleats

Floral Prints

Sewing 20′s

Rounded Shoulders

Floaty ‘Summer’ Suits

Glossy Effect!

Bright Tangerine

Sport Trousers

See-through Vinyls

‘White’ Heels

‘White’ Lace

ZigZags

‘This Little Lady Went To London’- #PRBloggerEvent!!

Article by Samantha Thodhlana

Good afternoon Bonafide Supernova readers!!

It’s been one of those days when I’m trying to recover from the day before. Last night I had the pleasure of attending the first PR/Blogger Event held in London at the prestigious and might I add gorgeous Vinoplis- “such a beautiful location”.

Brought to you by, The Little Lady Went To London (TLLWTL), it was a chance for PR professionals and bloggers to address particular issues which arise when PR companies want bloggers to promote their clients products or services and how bloggers can build effective, productive and easier relationships with PR’s.

The panel featured, 3 PR’s- Camilla Brown (Manifest PR)- @girlterate; Lily Pickard (Focus PR)- @FocusPR and James Allan (Mission)- @JamesLacey and 3 Bloggers: the lovely JJ Miller from (TLLWTL)- @Love_London; Muireann Carey-Campbell (BangsandaBun)- @BangsandaBun and Cate Sevilla (BitchBuzz)- @CupCate! The evening was hosted by the lovely Vikki Chowney- @vikkichowney.

The panel got the chance to have a 45 minute discussion; covering topics around whether bloggers should get paid for writing posts for particular brands. Another hot topic was around, how PR agencies communicate with bloggers and make sure PR’s research around which bloggers they’d like to work with instead of just sending ‘blanket’ e-mails.

The panel’s discussions encouraged and provoked an array of questions from the audience and via Twitter. Many attendees asked questions around- how ethical or unethical it is for bloggers to request payment for their time; it was interesting to get the panels response as majority agreed bloggers should be paid for certain blog posts but ultimately all three bloggers agreed that, ‘you should write about what you’re passionate about and not anything & everything’!

Ultimately, I’d say the event was a great success and proved to me that blogging is become more and more of a phenomenon. Traditional PR is no longer the ‘be end and end all’. Consumers are looking for much more than just recommendation from traditional media mediums like print advertising or from journalists; they want personalised opinions on products & services from individuals who provide a new perspective.

As a blogger myself, just starting out it was useful to gauge how successful bloggers utilise other mediums such as PR’s, effectively building relationships and a mutual understanding with those in that industry.

It was great to travel to London and leave feeling excited! Do make sure if you get the chance to attend the next event- get a ticket!! Worth the money for aspiring bloggers and PR’s. 

 

Logo for TLLWTL taken from the website: WWW.THISLITTLELADYWENTTOLONDON.COM

 

FabAfriq magazine launch event

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s been a year since their inception and to continue the momentum, FabAfriq plan to celebrate their first birthday in style with their official magazine launch this weekend at the cultural Drum Arts Centre, Birmingham.

 

FabAfriq is an online, African lifestyle magazine that aims to embrace and educate about black culture, with particular emphasis on African inspired contents, contemporary fashion, culture, cuisine, health and tourism, development and the arts.

As huge supporters of niche publications, the Bonafide team will definitely be in attendance at the event - in fact we can’t wait to get our hands on a FabAfriq print. Plus we were specially invited, so we’ll see you there.

For more information visit FabAfriq online: www.fabafriq.com

Like them on Facebook

Or follow them on Twitter for updates of the fabulous night to come.

Catering for more than 300 guests, the champagne launch event will feature live performances from both popular and up and coming international artists within the African music scene, a live fashion show, an arts exhibition showcasing the works of FabAfriq’s hand-picked selection of artists, and a ‘silent auction’ with proceeds going towards FAIMM (Foundation Against Infant and Maternal Mortality) - a charity initiative, geared towards reducing neonatal and maternal mortality rates. Read more here.

Backstage at Nicole Farhi Spring 2012

PIERRE GARROUDI

Akif Hakan for Pierre Garroudi Photography

 

My trip to Garroudi’s Gallery.

Creative and skilled people inspire me. A few months ago I visited Pierre Garroudi’s London gallery before it’s final closure. A playground of beautiful designs that breathe both elegance and playfulness. The gallery was similar to a modern day Aladdin’s cave crowded full of treats and treasures. Exuberant colours, elaborate shapes and fascinating textures at every glance.

Garroudi’s work continues to push boundaries and after meeting the man himself his personality was just as vibrant as his designs.

When I arrived the gallery was covered in 80% off sales signs, naturally I was thrilled as such a sight would be any bargainista’s dream. Although it did baffle me as to why such beautiful items were being so heavily discounted. Of course I am not completely oblivious to the word ‘recession’.  But generally we still don’t tend to consider Haute Couture Houses being hit by economic doom right? 

 Wrong. It turns out that no one is recession free.

Photo courtesy of Fashionunited

Photo courtesy of Pierre-Garroudi-Prophesy 2010-06

Photo courtesy of confashion.com

Photo courtesy of Pierre Garroudi A/W

Photo courtesy of S/S 2010 London Fashion Week

Photo courtesy of somaphotos

Photo courtesy of beautyconfessional 

David Walker Photography 

Photo courtesy of pierregarroudi.blogspot 

Photo courtesy of Retox Magazine

In 2009, we heard Prada claim she didn’t feel apprehensive about the recession.

In 2010 we saw French Designer Christian Lacroix go into administration.

Two years on and it appears that fashion houses are still being affected.

“Fashion houses have worked on prices, costs. They are getting ready to face a crisis that we hope will not last long”

-       Roberto Cavalli group’s chief executive Gianluca Brozzett

 

We have to question the decline.

Haute Couture is often costly to produce yet hardly ever worn.

If you buy an amazing, spectacular, fantastical brilliant dress, wear it to an event then get snapped and papped in it, sadly you probably won’t ever want to wear it again.

The bold and extravagant designs enhance the lack of wearability although beautiful they don’t support the financial reality.

But then again isn’t the beauty of high fashion, the knowledge that not every other person is going to be wearing it. Buying a signature piece from a Haute Couture range is like discovering that precious gem amongst all the hard rocks. 

I questioned him on how long it takes to complete a single dress.

“Six weeks” he replied.

 

Pierre’s designs are fabulous I’d probably best describe them as ‘crazy- couture’. I never knew examining one dress could be so entertaining.

This is a man who has dressed the likes of Scarlett Johannson, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Moss.

 

 

You can see for yourself the use of futuristic fabric manipulation, exquisite detailing and smocking. His flawless and dynamic craftsmanship indicates his passion for creating revolutionary and contemporary clothing.

It saddened me when he said he intended to sell his entire work for a mere  £12,000.

His creative flair embodies the beauty of both art and fashion. Posssessing the capability to have fun with fashion, and create pieces which are equally as quirky as they are classically beautiful, is a rare and commendable skill.

Lets hope it’s not the end of an era.

Paris Street style Taken by Greg Kessler