The Masthead with Marie Claire

Well reality show, Running in Heels is finally making it's debut in the UK on Tuesday and I am sure fashionistas and magaholics all over the UK will be tuning in. In case you don't know Running in Heels is a new TV show that takes us behind the scenes at US Marie Claire and follows staff and interns as they work on the glossy magazine. It hit the screens in the US early last month and I blogged about it here. The show is captivating to say the least and the 30 minute show only wetted my appetite for more so I was delighted when I came across, The Masthead with Marie Claire. The Masthead is a series of podcasts that gives you an insight into what life is like at the magazine. It focuses on cover shoots and you can see interviews with the cover stars and editors involved. The Masthead also takes you to the magical wardrobe, looks at the beauty closet and even takes you to the homes of editors. These bite sized shows are hosted by editor in chief, Joanna Coles and gives you an insight into the editorial process and a real flavour of the magazine.

I really enjoy these podcasts - ok they may not possess the 'in your face' drama that Running in Heels is full of but what they do is give us a quick shot of the glam and glitzy life of magazines. You can download the series on iTunes for free or watch it online. The series has a substantial archive that goes back to 2007 so I suggest you grab a nice cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake and chill out to watch it.

Running in Heels airs on The Style Network on Tuesday at 10.00pm.

Links a la' Mode: 2nd April

Check out the latest offerings in the world of style and fashion from the Independent Fashion Bloggers network. You can also find the full version of Links a la Mode here in the forums.

• 39thandbroadway.com - Clothes don’t just make themselves. Seriously!
• alixrose - Snap Style Shot Interview with Clutch22
• Breakfast at Saks - An interview with Nicole LaFave, creative director of Omelle shoes
• clutch 22 - DIY - From Belt to Bondage Anklets in 20 minutes
• Daisy Fairbanks Vintage - Drool-worthy vintage auction in Chicago
• Debutante Clothing - Debutante Clothing produces a video of Decades’ vintage couture runway show
• dramatis personae - How to Buy a Corset {part 2}: Exploring Cost, Sizing, Styles, and other features when buying a corset.
• Fashion On My Mind - Politicians also can be stylish and give inspiration for great outfits!
• Fasshonaburu - Life After Out Of Stock: Tips for surviving a fabulous item going out of stock before you can buy it!
• Independent Fashion Bloggers - Fair Use Explained: More on Copyrighted Images on Blogs
• LA Pretty - Our coverage of Los Angeles Fashion Week:
• Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Fashion - curls and their impact on young girls.
• Mademoiselle Robot - A vintage style consultation with Vintage Secret.
• Nico Assatly - On the set of Ugly Betty!
• Or False Glitter - An eyeliner guide from an eyeliner lover
• reLYME - A look back at two of Britain’s most famous 1960’s models, Celia Hammond and Patti Boyd.
• Retro Chick - Clutter City: Retro Chicks first trip to the Norwich handmade and craft fair
• Super Kawaii Mama - DIY Couture - Vintage Style.
• THE COVETED - Interview with Socially Conscious, Rock & Roll Fashion from EDUN
• The Musings of Ondo Lady - Looking through the lens of iconic photographer, Annie Leibovitz
• Wendy Brandes Jewelry - Nice try, Balmain. This is what an ’80s jacket looks like

Picture Me

Picture Me Trailer

Remember the online reality series, Models Live which documented the lives of aspiring models, Cato, Austria and Madeline? Well if you got hooked on that show then you will be interested in hearing about Picture Me which is a new film that delves into the super competitive world of catwalk modelling. The expose is the baby of model, Sara Ziff (face of Burberry) and director, Ole Schell who have collaborated to make this cool indie film. Unlike Models Live which followed the models over a season, Picture Me follows Ziff's career for several years; from her debut onto the scene as a fresh faced newbie to a seasoned pro whose faces is on billboards and magazines. We are also privy to photo shoots with famous photographers and runway shows in Milan, New York, Paris as well as in depth interviews with designers, Karl Lagerfeld, Hussein Chalayan, Nicole Miller and photographer Gilles Bensimone. Models, Missy Rayder, Tanya D and Irina Lazareanu are also thrown into the mix.

The trailer certainly looks interesting enough with great footage from the shows and location shoots and I am sure it would have made a superb TV documentary but I am not sure how well it will translate to the big screen. Still I guess it remains to be seen and all will be revealed on Monday when Picture Me makes it's debut at the 14th Annual Gen Art Film Festival. The event is a travelling festival that takes place in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami and LA and showcases emerging and independent North American film makers. New Gen is currently running in New York and is in the middle of a week of film premieres and parties and so I am sure Picture Me will fit in.

Geek Chic

Who didn’t see this video of Pharrell Williams trying to sing his way into getting a big mac and fries at MacDonalds in Paris? He never got his big mac and fries but boy did I love him for trying. The performance was geekery in it’s finest form. There was a time when being called a geek or nerd was a huge insult; the term sums up visions of a social inept person with super large glasses who spends their time delved into computer books and comics. Not a good look. However over the last few years that image has been turned upside down as geeks have risen to the top of pop culture. With gadgets becoming de rigor in today’s society and Blackberrys, laptops, Twitter, Facebook now an integral part of our lives it is now chic to be a bit of a geek.

Take this quote from a character in an episode of the animated series, Freakazoid.
“Who writes all the best selling books? Nerds. Who directs the top grossing Hollywood movies? Nerds. Who creates the highly advanced technology that only they can understand? ...Nerds. And who are the people who run for the high office of the Presidency? No one but nerds.”

You can add President Barack Obama to that list, as well as a Blackberry addict, he admits to being a huge fan of Star Trek and collected comic books when he was younger. Not only that but Obama was the first President to embrace the web by introducing online voting which was instrumental in his historic victory. I am sure he is twittering his way through London at the G20 Summit as well as causing carnage in the capital. Other famous geeks are Kanye West, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook), Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple) and Tiger Woods. On the TV side who can forget lovely, Seth Cohen from The OC decked out in his scuffed sneakers and plaid shirts creasing us up with his quirky observations. His character was based on none other than Josh Schwartz, the creator of The OC and Gossip Girl who is big player in TV.

As individuals have learned to embrace their inner geek the corporate world have cotton onto the act as well. IT companies such as The Geek Squad (who are so cool that they have sponsored London Fashion Week), Geeks on Call and Dial a Geek use the term to display their highly sophisticated IT skills. What can I say - I am a geek and proud! Check out a scene from Sex and the City where Carrie has a one to one with a geek when her Macbook crashes. Very funny!!

My Motherboard, Myself Part 1



My Motherboard, Myself Part 2