Interview with Joshua Castro

During the next four months, Unlimited by JK shall serve as a platform for a multimedia feature, focusing on the rise of the British menswear industry. Dylan Jones, Chair of the 2012 Menswear Committee, described menswear as a "sleeping giant", but the relatively recent addition of 'London Collections: Men' to our fashion calendar suggests that the giant has finally awoken from its slumber.

My first interview was with Joshua Castro, store manager at Wolf & Badger. The Ledbury Road and Dover Street boutiques hold a wealth of fashions from independent designers, including menswear collections by Lou Dalton, Fox Hunt Menswear and Serge DeNimes. Having been familiar with the Wolf & Badger brand for some time, it seemed a good place to officially begin this journalistic venture. You can watch my interview teaser below.

Foubert's Place, London

Dunya blogs at 'Dearest Deer', and is in her final year of International Relations
at the University of Sussex. She wears Topshop shoes, vintage bag and shirt,
American Apparel skirt, Miss Selfridge cardigan, and Urban Outfitters hat.

Pebble Zine natural beauty shoot

The final photo shoot of Pebble Zine's October/November issue maintains a focus on natural beauty. Black and white photographs draw attention to the finer details of each individual's face, such as freckles, facial hair and jawline. The following portraits are my personal cut from the full shoot. The published editorial can be found on pages 220-231.

Neon Rocks, Mawi jewellery S/S 13

Injecting neon vibrancy into pearls and floral brooch designs, the luxurious Neon Rocks collection by Mawi will be the eye-popping jewellery of next season. The acidic oranges and yellows are balanced by feminine jewels in contrasting nuances of green, pink and indigo blue, whilst equipped with spikes and chain links.

This a collection that challenges you to be daring. Vivid colours may not be everyone's cup of tea, but having showcased at London Fashion Week since 2003, Mawi is a huge contender among independent jewellery designers. Neon does rock.

Qulit S/S 13

By far my favourite label at the Blow PR S/S 13 press day, 'Qulit' crafts jackets, vests and shorts with exotic skins and striking stud detail. The most distinguished pieces from next year's collection are two biker jackets (pictured immediately below), made from sea bass and python skins respectively, plus contrasting lapels.

The sea bass jacket in particular is perhaps the most intriguing garment, because sea bass is such an unusual skin to work with. The flaky texture and rich sea-green hue make for a worthy statement jacket.

But the definitive detail is in the studs, which I would aptly describe as beautifully deadly. The spikes resting on the jackets' shoulders are alluring, yet dangerously sharp, hence it shouldn't surprise you to learn that I pricked my finger as a result of my eager curiosity. Knocking into someone on a busy street would have to be avoided, although the spikes may just be intimidating enough to part the sea of people.

I certainly wouldn't mind a Qulit jacket for myself. The combination of snazzy skins and studded shoulders are highly covetable. As such, I am extremely envious of style blogger Toni Tran, who proudly owns the black and pink jacket, as featured recently on his blog.

Somerset House, London

Sandra Fuentes is editor of 'Annie-Hall.com'. She wears Clarks shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses, Warehouse trousers, Ralph Lauren shirt, Jaeger blazer, vintage bag, and Topshop tie.

Somerset House, London

Daniella blogs at 'Lellavictoria'. She wears an Equipment shirt, Ray Ban sunglasses,
and her necklaces are a mix of Topshop, handmade, and Day Birger Et Mikkelsen.

On the street, Southbourne

Victoria is an NHS secretary and friend of Southbourne barber Jason Bailey. She wears a "Vanity Project" dress by Limb, TU shoes from Sainsbury's, Dorothy Perkins fascinator, and necklace she made herself. The overall look is beautifully vintage-esque.

Mr Barber, Gentleman's Grooming Parlour

A barbershop with character, a local personality at its helm. 'Mr Barber' is the newest independent business on Southbourne Grove, four miles east from central Bournemouth. Even on the first day of trading, there is a gathering of customers eagerly awaiting their haircut by Jason Bailey, an already familiar face on Southbourne's barbershop scene.

Etre Fivepoint touchscreen gloves

Perhaps the most useful accessories I have been asked to review, Etre Fivepoint gloves are my saviour during these colder months. Their practicality is twofold - keeping your hands warm, whilst maintaining compatibility for touchscreen devices. Because I suffer from poor blood circulation in my hands, I tend to wear gloves from October onwards, therefore a pair of Etre gloves were a most welcome addition to my winter wardrobe.

Spots and skulls, Somerset House

Law, fashion blogger at 'That's So Yesterday', wears an Oasap bag, flower ring
from Rocha by John Rocha (Debenhams), and assorted bracelets via eBay.

Somerset House, London

Cassie studies Fashion Management at the University of Southampton. She wears Murua shorts, shirt and earrings, H&M tights, jacket and hat, Topshop shoes, and vintage bag.

Boscombe Vintage Market

Michael is a librarian and musician. His style at the Boscombe Vintage Market is handsomely wintry. He wears a Primark t-shirt, handmade scarf, and Topman blazer.

Underground S/S 13

Underground England have built upon the traditional styles of their brothel creepers by incorporating alternative design features, such as snake print leather, studs and tassles. Although the upcoming collections cross into smarter trends, the thick rubber sole remains synonymous in each design, acknowledging the original footwear style.

Somerset House, London

Melissa is a fashion blogger, which goes hand-in-hand with her job as a freelance stylist.
Her shirt is from Topman, and her jacket, glasses and statement necklace are from Zara.

Winnie the Pooh bow tie

If you hadn't guessed already, bow ties are my favourite accessories. So when Leah of 'Vintage Per Sempre' mentioned she had new stock of "jazzy bow ties", I popped by her Pokesdown boutique to see the designs for myself. Among her recent acquisitions were ties in Mr Men design, polkadot and velvet, but the winner for me was Winnie the Pooh.

The vintage Tie Rack bow tie embraces the Silly Old Bear's love for honey, with a golden honeycomb print and cute illustrations of Pooh with his honey pot. There is a wonderful sense of fun in the design - playful, rather than gimmicky. I imagine it may be a pleasant conversation starter at fashion events and parties.

This is the fifth bow tie in my personal collection, most of which are from vintage shops. Whilst the youthful high street labels are beginning to shift towards quirky styles, there will always be one better in a vintage boutique. And one of the many great things about Bournemouth, of course, is its foothold in vintage trade.

On the street, Bournemouth

Robin studies Fine Art at the Arts University College Bournemouth. He wears
ASOS boots, trousers from a Red Cross charity shop, vintage t-shirt, crucifix
necklace from Boscombe Vintage Market, and sunglasses from Camden Market.

Tartan, Somerset House

Fraser and Steph study Fashion Communication at Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels, Scotland. Fraser wears Kurt Geiger boots, kilt by Howie R. Nicholsby, H&M shirt, and Topman sunglasses. Steph wears ASOS boots, dress via eBay, and H&M sunglasses.

Company Magazine: blogging is a girl's world

Only two days ago, I was celebrating my blog reaching its second anniversary. Meanwhile, Company Magazine had published a feature which seemingly relishes the fact that men have a lower standing within the fashion blogosphere. Having read Stu Bradley's critical response yesterday, I was encouraged to read the article for myself, and I too find some of its inferences questionable.

Vintage baby, Boscombe Vintage Market

My youngest fashionista, baby Reuben looks extremely cute in his vintage, hand-knitted romper and contrasting socks. The romper was knitted by his great-grandmother and the socks by his great aunt, which were once worn by his mother when she was a baby.

Two years later...

What can I say? It has been a damn good year. It may seem a trivial idea to celebrate the birthday of a blog, but this venture has become an integral aspect of my life, developing me as a person, encouraging me to seize more opportunities and meet more people, and teaching me the value of doing something I love. I honestly don't know where I would be without Unlimited by JK, and I dare not ponder on the matter.

It's funny to think that on this day two years ago, I was shyly asking two girls at university for photos of their outfits. Small beginnings, eh? I never expected what would become of that newborn blog with a non-existent following. But it's crazy what happens when you nurture something you love.

My second year of blogging, in particular, has been a time of growth and success. I have thereabout perfected my street style photography, I have explored the fashion industry further, and I have gained a pleasingly sizeable readership. But the past year has equally offered me so many wonderful opportunities, including...

Sophie in Lulu Liu, Somerset House

Sophie-Anna Brough is a model and actress, recent roles including a 16-year-old
courtess in 'Maleficent'. She wears a Lulu Liu dress, Guess bag, and Next shoes.

Spijkers en Spijkers S/S 13

Twin sisters Riet and Truus Spijkers have maintained their use of bold colours for their spring/summer 2013 collection, which, when mixed with geometric pattern, resembles art deco design. The honan silk garments are bold, while reminiscent of 1920s fashion.

US election 2012, Bournemouth University

While many of you are learning this morning that Barack Obama was re-elected as the President of the United States, students at the Bournemouth University Media School broke the story before major news networks.

More than 300 students and a handful of lecturers, across various media courses, were crazy enough to stay awake from 7pm last night until 7am this morning, reporting live on breaking news and the latest developments. Most of them are likely catching up on sleep, but each and every one should be commended for their efforts. This was far more than just something to put on the CV. (See the website: http://us2012.bujournalism.info/)

Stars & Stripes nail art | US election 2012

It's election day in the United States. And here in the UK, more than 300 students from the Bournemouth University Media School are providing live multimedia coverage from 9pm tonight until 7am tomorrow morning. In keeping with the occasion, my BAMMJ housemate, Maddy, has painted herself American-themed nail art. What do you think? 
(You can follow our LIVE election coverage at us2012.bujournalism.info!)

adidas NEO: What's in my bag?

Having decided that my "NEO face" was sufficiently wonderstruck, Adidas NEO have put me through to the second round of their Miami competition. Two lucky bloggers will win an all-expenses paid trip to Florida to meet the face of Adidas NEO, Justin Bieber, and the chance to report on the entire experience.

For this second task, I have been set a "what's in my bag?" challenge, for which I should present creatively the essential items I would take to Miami. To help me out, I have been generously sent a plaid rucksack from Adidas NEO's autumn collection.

Thinking outside my usual parameters, I decided on a stop-motion video. I will admit the final result isn't the pinnacle of perfection, but the desired illusion of my essential items crawling into the bag proved successful. And although it involved six hours of shooting, editing and uploading, the potential prize is worth every minute.

Miami essentials include (in order of appearance): laptop computer, Sony α DSLR camera with Carl Zeiss 28mm lens, Minolta 100-300mm lens, Sony α 18-55mm lens, Adidas NEO notebook and pen, shorthand pad, wallet, passport, phone, Spitfire sunglasses, business cards, Amazon Kindle, Fish Soho styling gel and wax, comb, toothbrush and toothpaste.

Of course, there is so much more I would take with me to Miami, but these are the items I would be sure to take for reporting duties, networking, leisure, and maintaining a decent appearance. I just hope the means of presentation succeeds in impressing the team at Adidas NEO Label - wish me luck!

(P.S. You can equally try your luck at winning an all-expenses paid trip to Miami, in the 'Find My Gold Shoes' competition. Visit the Adidas NEO Facebook page to learn more.)

DAS Collection S/S 13

Infusing styles and inspirations from India and the Middle East, floor-length dresses in vibrant colours dominated the runway. Gold and embellishment also play an important element in the spring/summer ensemble, embodying a sense of wealth in the garments. The dresses and saris are conservative, yet they maintain elegance, fulfilling the aim of designers and sisters Reem and Hind Beljafla.

Jena Theo S/S 13

Taking inspiration from the natural world, Jena Theo's spring/summer 2013 collection presents a blend of flowing and structured garments in silk and sheer fabrics. Some of the pieces are etched with intricate prints of natural forms, while others are seemingly painted with watercolour through digital prints.

 

Somerset House, London

Alex, from Edinburgh, is a writer and editor for Scottish magazine 'The Skinny'. She wears Valentino shoes, Alberta Ferretti dress, Zara jacket, and a freebie bag from Louise Gray.

Sisters, Bournemouth

Freya and Alanah are sisters, who evidently have similar eyes for style. Elder sister
Freya (left) wears Office boots, dress and bag from Miss Selfridge, and H&M jumper.
Alanah (right) wears New Look boots, jumble sale bag and jumper, and H&M skirt.