Autumn/Winter Style in Fused Student Guide 2011

For the second year on the trot (which is nice because it gives the impression it went down well last time) I have compiled the autumn/winter style pages for Fused's annual Student Guide, which has been transferred to their pocket sized Area format.  So, I suppose, it's now Area's Student Guide but it is as awesome as always.

You can find it here or embedded below (p14 - 19) but you should read the rest as well.  I particularly like 'How to Get Laid on the Cheap' (p34) and 'The Carpels' Guide to Birmingham Music' (p58).

Open publication - Free publishing - More fused

Mystery Jets Digbeth

I had a horrendous day on Friday. I travelled home in the rubbish weather only to have arguments, annoyingly slow waitresses and a broken umbrella to make me mad before I even got to my location: the Mystery Jets gig in Digbeth, Birmingham.

I expected to arrive at the HMV Institute, which opened in September, with enough time to embrace the support acts and get a little tipsy. That didn't happen sadly and I struggled to get into the mood...until they started playing.  They were amazing. The HMV Institute was a great, intimate venue and everyone was dancing and singing along (which was rather annoying when they were louder than the actual band).

I was amazed to find though that all my favourite Mystery Jets songs weren't actually sung by frontman Blaine Harrison, they were sung by William Rees and he made the night for me with Show Me the Light and my personal favourite After Dark.  Strange considering technically it's actually a song by The Count and Sinden featuring the Mystery Jets. Either way it's amazing and anyone that can get me wanting to go out and dance until the sun comes up when I've been in a foul mood all day is a hero to me.

Forever 21 comes to the UK

Obviously I read other peoples blogs...and lots of them feature Forever 21.  The outfits they posted looked good and were priced cheaply, so I was jealous we didn't have them here in the UK.  I could have ordered online but it's just not the same so Forever 21 was shunned on my bookmarks until such a time that England was deemed worthy.  We took Topshop to America after all, it's only fair to share!

Now that time has come, hurrah!  Forever 21 have taken over a shop in Birmingham's Bull Ring, directly opposite H&M.  It was announced months ago but now the signs are up and everything.  My first thought was that it will be probably be like H&M...very good in the press, very shit in real life.  I mean, nothing H&M has featured in magazines is ever available in the stores.  Plus, they inevitably end up looking like a jumble sale.  Needless to say my brief excitement was replaced by nervous curiosity.  Any American readers want to tell me what we can expect from Forever 21 here in Birmingham?

 Images of Forever 21 Interiors from Blood Sweat and Fashion

2Weeks 2Make It: Brum 2010

If you read my blog you'll know I love untapped talent.  If it's untapped local talent even better because it gives me the chance to experience it first hand.  That's why I love Created in Birmingham so much.  In order to encourage new talent I'm going to try to do my best to lace in some competition info into FCR so that all you budding creatives can get involved.  First up is 2Weeks 2Make It, Birmingham 2010.

"2Weeks 2Make It is a music video competition pairing randomly drawn teams of filmmakers and musical artists who then have exactly 2 weeks to shoot and edit a music video from scratch! The aim is to have fun and encourage teamwork, initiative and creativity “under fire”, whilst working to a challenging and immovable deadline."

Kicking off on 21st May there will be a Professional Music Video Masterclass followed by the official launch where the bands and film teams will be randomly matched.  On June 15th, following two weeks of madness, there will be a screening and party for all involved to share their stories, watch their videos and...of course...a prize ceremony.  The perfect way to get your talent noticed.  The only drawback?  Today is the final day for registration, which ends at midnight.  I know, it's late...I only just found out about this so I apologise.

For all the information you could need visit the 2Weeks 2Make It Brum 2010 website...don't miss your chance!  For an added bit of inspiration here's what the winners from last years Yorkshire based competition came up with.  Sheffield did a good job but I think Birmingham could do better...

Created in Birmingham

So I haven't blogged for what feels like a very long time.  Not only have I been poorly sick but I have been uninspired completely.  Until today.... Hooray!!

After unwillingly journeying into Birmingham in an attempt to get the lovely people at Apple to fix my phone (they didn't) I stumbled upon the shop Created in Birmingham.  Full of treaures and trinkets from hand printed note pads to jewellery to clothing to original photography...all created by local artists!!  Jewellery makers banged against artists manning stands whilst musicians chilled out on the sofas with their guitars.  I was grinning by the time I came out...full of the wonders of the shop and dying to take my friend Katie, who I know would have loved it.

I rushed home to Google the shop hoping they were online to pass on the info to others...only to find out that they are closing/moving and no, they do not sell online.

There was a small illustration print about heroes, a purple bangle made of surprisingly thin curving metal and a wooden clock that I had my eye set on.  This is when delaying a purchase comes back to bite you in the ass...and I dislike the Apple corporation even more.  After my scheduled time to meet with a Genius (who was not a genius clearly as he has no clue what is wrong with my phone and suggested I purchase a new refurbed one for £150) I had to leg it for my train home.  Now I feel terrible.  I want those things.  They would have been more beneficial than the Topshop bag I brought (though it's pretty nice, all grey and ruffled...it's this one but grey).

HOWEVER....more things like this should happen.  I urge you to find out more about them at the Created in Birmingham website...and cross your fingers they come back!!