Inspirational Breakdown

Pugwash
magazine
The Inspirational Issue - Autumn 2010
editorial
&about
By Emily Smith
advert
Hello there. Welcome to
the new-look of Pugwash
magazine, which comes with
a brand-spanking new team
of Editors. In this issue we
have been investigating what
inspires us as students here in Portsmouth.
Personally, I find my main fashion inspiration from magazines, so we’ve given you
a great selection of clothes available from
Vintage shops in Southsea to oggle at, and
be inspired by an exclusive interview with Sex
and the City designer Selene Francis-Bryden.
Check out what music inspires our arts&ents
team from relaxing to the fragile morning after,
and see why Culture Critic, Rosanne, finds
that awkward silence after a innapropriate
joke so irresistable.
My current inspiration to avoid doing my dissertation is Pugwash, and I’m so impressed
with everyone that has helped write, edit, illustrate, photograph and design for this publication to have taken shape: you’re all splendid
and thank you for your super hard work!
So reader, until Feburary, enjoy and be inspired by your first Pugwash of 2010/11.
Editor
Emily Smith
Deputy Editor
Sam Brooks
Features Editor
Jabeen Waheed
Sub - Editors
Jenny Canham & Sarah Johnston
Fashion Editor
Laura Vooght
Sub Editors
Lisa Shah & Alex Maher
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Kev Francis
Music Critic
Paul Miller
Screen Critic
Hannah Whitnall
Culture Critic
Rosanne Stewart
Games & Internet Critic
Lewis Dowling
Restaurant Critic
Ross Keating
Design Editor
Amyrose Dempsey
Sub Editors
Leo Janson & Sally - Anne Drury
ONLINE EDITOR
Jen LeRoux
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Cover Design By Chrissy Hills Design By Leo Janson
To email an editor email their [email protected]
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p. 9
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p. 14
Ross does ‘Big Ernie’s Diner’ You Can’t Say That! The Social Network From Small Screen News to Big Screen Stardom Unsung Heroes Inspiration Breakdown Up-and-Coming Bands p. 15
p. 16
p. 18
p. 19
p. 20
p. 22
p. 23
How has Music Influenced Fashion? From Portobello to Sex and the City Try Something New... The Good, the Bad, and the Jellybean Southsea’s Answer to Brick Lane
Fashion and Film; A Well Worn Trend? How to... perfect the 1940s pin-up-girl look! p. 24
p. 25
p. 28
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p. 36
p. 38
Arts & Entertainment
Fashion
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Design By Leo Janson
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Inspirational Faith The Right Help at the Right Time Race to Inspire Inspired by a Person Role Model Features Who
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Pugwash Asks First Time Inspiration The Waking Unfed Under h
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the
walking
unfed....
Andy was a lanky quiet enough guy, with staring
eyes, darting rapidly from one place to the next,
lowered until 9:40pm when like prison search
lights they beamed a warning at the door. All I
saw was it brushing gently shut, closing on the
dead quiet of twilight. They seemed to drag it in
with them; a sticky shadow lazily clawing at the
dull carpet, picking it greedily in its fatigue. In their
wake, a few customers scattered about by the
tills shifted suddenly, turning their heads from the
raw stench of lukewarm wet breath; the guzzling
sounds with it audible from a few feet away. For a
moment I feared them being hurt by this reception,
but they were lost in their grotesque layer from
reality, stewing in their own filth. They reached the
till after what felt like hours, the man first. He stood
tall, appearing so despite his slouching shoulders,
delicately fingering two giant Milkybars.
‘Just these yeah?’
I could almost hear him salivating. He handed me
two dull glistening old pound coins with greasy
fingers, all the while glaring at the chocolate.
His large yellowed glasses seemed to trap the
reflection of the plastic wrapper, sheer glee at the
thought of guzzling them down. I only pondered
briefly on the suspense in his mind leading up to
this moment of triumph, that the sugary, creamy
goodness would replenish some bizarre, sick
yearning within him. His companion followed. She
6
looked like the Mona Lisa stretched, with blotchy
skin and a receding cap-shape of greyish hair on
the crown of her head. I paused on her less, the
reek of urine was putrefying as she bought four
bags of popcorn and refused a carrier bag, tucking in immediately as they glided out of the shop
and the dirge of their presence lifted.
The smell, however, lingered on as they did in my
thoughts. Nothing could explain them. How they
could let themselves go to that extent? The lack
of rationality behind their continued existence and
behaviour puzzled me to a point of boiling frustration.
‘Andy, who were those people?’
‘They come in late all the time. Always buyin’
sweets. Sometimes the massive woman gets
Haribo. There’s more of ‘em too. A woman comes
in proper out of breath buying like six bags of
popcorn, no teeth. And an old man. See ‘em floating about all the time, always at night in the kebab
shop. Y’know the one that’s always empty ‘cause
it makes you ill? Whenever I walk home from work
they’re in there, just gawping out the window.
They walk down the road by the carpet place’
‘What?! I walk home that way!’
‘Bet they live in an asylum. If you er, want, we
could see where they go. Y’know, after. If we’re
both walkin’ that way. So they don’t slime you to
death on your own’
This being a pretty forward suggestion of Andy’s,
I ignored it until we came to close the shop. I
couldn’t stop puzzling over the stinkiest visitors of
the night. I’d seen tramps before, served middleaged louts and alcoholics who smelt like they slept
curled up in urinals. Tonight was something else.
They had a home, no aggressive agenda and their
only addiction was confectionery. How did this
make sense? I had to know, I had to understand.
We locked the front door and turned to see them
plodding smoothly far in the distance. Andy looked
at me with wild eyes and cocked his head in their
direction as a gesture to follow. We walked speedily, half chuckling in the absurdity of the situation
till we were a safe distance away. We crossed just
opposite the carpet shop slightly behind them,
the shadows of the sleepy cars spinning slowly
enough over us to throw them off our pursuit. Not
that they would have noticed without the cars,
calmly satisfied after their delicious meal of dodgy
kebab and video rental store chocolate. We were
hot on their tail, turning the corner to see them
pass the library and move slightly to the right as
they got near the primary school. Soon after them
we slunk down the same alleyway next to it, to
find a small, poorly lit street of terraces. At the end
of it in a corner almost closed in by the houses
either side of it, there was a little abandoned electricity station. They’d settled down inside by the
time we’d plucked up the courage to inspect it.
A small pane of uncovered glass caught my
eye, the glow inside the dwelling was like that
of a candle: weak and easily extinguishable. It
was enough to make out two figures. Andy saw
the tiny window and obtrusively thrust his head
against it. I hissed at him and regained my position. Clutter filled the space inside - stacks of
mouldy newspapers, litter and general abandoned
items like a baby’s push chair and a shopping
trolley - creating a jagged confined space for the
queer characters to stay. Concentrating harder, I
saw the woman sleeping in a pile of old clothes
and rubble, another rather gaunt looking lady sat
just in front of her.
‘That’s gummy!’, he let out excitedly.
‘Shhhh! They’ll hear you’, I urged.
An elderly man hovered in the corner, but with
perfect posture the man who’d bought the
Milkybars sat upright on a shaggy arm chair that
sloped to one side without its left leg. He sighed,
gazing longingly upward in front of him. From what
I could make out, he’d taken something out of his
pocket. It was the wrappers! He smoothed them
Design By Leo Janson
down gently on his lap, breaking out into a warm
smile as he looked down on them. Still shining in
the dim light, their sheen unchanged by any moisture or stickiness his hands held.
‘That’s it? That’s all it is? They’re just tramps...
with a bit of dole or somethin’?’
Silence.
Far distant from Andy’s murmured questions,
I’d realised something. That was it. What these
people did made no logical sense, how they lived
their lives was completely impractical. But were
they hurting anyone? They weren’t being loud and
aggressive to passers by, if their stench was offensive. In their world the only part of our industrial
bright light, commercial, material, manners and
no morals culture was sitting on the man’s lap.
With little money, their chosen indulgence was not
clothes or electrical goods or nice cars, but fine
dining on a severe budget. They were living a lie
in splurging on overpriced sweets and nasty processed meat, but it felt good. Like buying Tesco’s
Finest Cava after handing in an essay or spending an your last pound getting the spare key you
need cut with a jazzy pattern. Wasting your money
away can feel great. Even if you do smell like you
had a bath of rats.
Walking back, I mulled all this over and felt overcome with guilt for judging and pursuing these innocent people. Then came a wave of gratefulness
in compassion; we weren’t too different, me and
the walking unfed.
‘Doing anything tomorrow? Might be er, watching
the footy if you want to come over’
‘Andy, I’d honestly love to. But I’m pretty sure I’m
washing my hair’.
By Sam Brooks
7
Under
by paul macklin
Inspirational
Faith
By Maxine Mason
I’ll get under your skin.
For us at the Christian Union, the word ‘inspiration’ closely relates to the faith that inspires us
in every area of our lives. It may sound obvious
as a Christian, but God does inspire my life and
is a source of motivation, not only in a religious
context but from a practical, life perspective too.
At times, inspiration can be extremely tough to
conjure up in mundane day-to-day situations.
Like a lecture at university or washing the dishes
at home. We often ask the question, ‘What is the
point?’ and loose the motivation to get up in the
morning for the dreaded nine o’ clock seminars
or lectures. We often don’t feel inspiration in the
smaller things in life, and without it the bigger
concerns begin to seem even more daunting.
Once you have that hope and inspiration in the
small things; the bigger issues in life begin to look
less like mountains and more like mole hills. The
bible talks about living for the present and not
being weighed down by the past and future worries we sometimes get lost in. I believe that every
new day a fresh inspiration is restored in me to in
order to face the day ahead. I am only human so
at times I get stuck in situations and feel hopeless, but that is when I depend on my faith in God
to lift me from my surroundings. Inspiration is a
significant facet in the Christian faith as it is the
foundation of what we do in our lives being centred in Christ. We can sometimes find it difficult to
inspire ourselves when life isn’t going where we
want it to go, but Christ has always inspired me
in every situation I am placed in, and continues to
do so.
I watch you whilst you’re writing,
I wonder what you’re doing
as I scratch these words to life.
I’ve no misery to decant,
just mysteries to imagine,
I’ve every regret remembered,
every wound I’ve been the cause of.
I imagine you are simply spoken
in brilliantly beautiful words.
I imagine you are eternal,
although perhaps you’re never heard.
Dream sweet noise in raindrops,
remember our passing another way,
I’ve planted crumbs along this pavement
and swept the leaves away.
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9
Designed by Amyrose Dempsey
Designed by Amyrose Dempsey
helpwhen
you need itmost
This article is written from the heart about a
personal experience that I went through. The incident began when I graduated from high school
and got a teaching job near the place I live. I used
to be a very cheerful, extremely innocent and
bubbly girl. Everyone seemed nice to me and I
enjoyed working there. I met a girl in my workplace, Anna* who was extremely charming. Anna
suggested we exchange numbers as it would
be useful to inform each other when we couldn’t
make it to work. Anna also had another friend,
Sandy*. One day, I started receiving calls from an
unknown number. It made me uneasy and I didn’t
pick up because I thought it might be a prank.
However, after a few calls, I received texts like –
‘I know where you live, I’ve been stalking you’.
Panicking, I decided to tell my dad about it and
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get over it. Suddenly I received a phone call from
Anna which I picked up at once. She asked me
why I sound all freaked out. I told her everything
that had just happened and she laughed. That’s
when she told me that it had been her friend,
Sandy. I was shocked! Why would she do that?
Naively, I didn’t know her reason and motive for
doing so then. After that incident, Sandy and
Anna became close friends. At first, I enjoyed
their company, but became very uncomfortable later on. One day, Sandy told me that she
has feelings for me. I freaked out! I never had a
boyfriend before and I don’t know the feeling of
being in a relationship. I thought it was alright to
be close with a girl but didn’t do anything about
it. On the other hand, I longed to be loved, but I
didn’t know that I was playing with fire. I then got
an offer to further my studies in a different city
and I accepted it. However, Sandy tried to
convince me that I shouldn’t leave the city and
I should apply for a course locally so that she
could keep in touch with me. To be honest, I was
delighted to receive an offer to flee and start my
life new and fresh. However, Sandy tracked me
down and threatened to commit suicide if I didn’t
want to be with her. I had a serious problem, I
couldn’t concentrate on my studies as she would
call, torturing me every day. She even flew in (to
the city in which I was studying) and told me that
I should marry her and be her wife. I was trapped
and was sexually abused and I was afraid to talk
to anyone for the fear of being judged. I was torn
and in the verge of giving up. And that’s when a
guy by the name of Caruso* approached me. He
Design By Leo Janson
had feelings for me, but he knew that I had problems because I’m always down and depressed.
He was there for me and gave me strength to say
no to Sandy. I did my best and I received many
blackmailing messages, but I pulled through. I
stayed strong and tried really hard to focus in
studies. Caruso was my rock and I trusted him
with all I had. That was three years ago, now I am
happy with Caruso and both of us are studying in
Portsmouth. I would say that I received the right
help at the right time.
*Names of characters have been changed to
protect their privacy.
By anonymous writer
11
Race
inspire
to
Everybody, whether old or young has an influence
upon their own life. A sense of direction, ambition - simply the want to achieve. Perhaps it’s that
drive fuelled by the desire for the perfect career?
We all have our own different influences that are
important to us. What grips us all, however, is the
road in which we follow to our dreams. A determination to succeed which pulls on the strings of
emotion, the motivation to ease us through each
day... ultimately we are all inspired by the precious gift of life itself.
Ten thousand women painted the streets of
Portsmouth pink this year to take part in the
amazing charity event- ‘Race for Life’. A race fuelled with hope, emotion, love and memory - with
thousands of women eager to raise awareness
for Cancer. We can all relate to a situation where
someone has fallen victim to this terrible disease
and the women of Portsmouth (in their thousands!) rallied together young and old to walk or
run the 5k race in memory of their loved ones.
Pink tops, tutus, leg warmers and fairy wings
sparkled as mothers, grand-mothers, sisters and
daughters inspired by the braveness of others
completed the race. Many smiling faces and
determined hearts joined together to raise money
and awareness all in aid to help others.
As a participant in this proud event I witnessed so
many people whose lives have been touched by
cancer. I was overwhelmed and inspired by the
masses of women, some direct victims of cancer
and others taking part for the sacred memory of
their loved ones. I vividly remember as I ran, look
Design By Leo Janson
ing at the pictures of bright faces framed to the
back of people’s t-shirts. This to me highlighted
the importance of us uniting in this way. I recall
one elderly lady briskly walking with her head
held high, with a picture of her late husband on
her t-shirt. It read: ‘My husband, my best friend’.
The hurt, grief and pain this lady had experienced
are unimaginable, but the pride she admirably
displayed epitomised inspiration for me.
Throughout the stress and bustle of everyday life,
it is easy to forget what we consider important
influences. Therefore, this remarkable event along
with the aim of cancer research brings home one
of the true inspirations of life and promotes the
message: ’together we will beat cancer’.
By Emma McBride
in
sp
ire
d.
My inspiration is the girl who is my best friend, my
sister and my ‘person’. I wanted to write about
her because, out of everybody, I think she’s the
person I am most in awe of. You see, about four
years ago she tragically lost her dad. He wasn’t ill
or anything, he was a healthy thirty-nine year old
father of three happily married to his childhood
sweetheart. I never met him properly but by the
way Jess spoke and still speaks of him, I knew
of him as a genuine, kind man and a loving and
devoted father. Sadly, he suffered a form of heart
failure one night and although they rushed him to
hospital, there was nothing that could be done.
That night my best friend, the kindest and most
deserving of people, was dealt the worst cards
in life. Her family lost someone so dear to them
without warning or reason at such a young age.
How she survived it, I just don’t know. This is
why she inspires me, she didn’t fall into a bad
crowd, do drugs, drink excessive amounts, sleep
around, or anything that bad or extreme. She
fought on. She made it through her GCSEs and
went on to complete her A-levels. Even when she
doubted she would succeed, she made it to university to study photography. Her mum happened
to find someone to make her happy again and
I’m proud of Jess for dealing with it so selflessly.
It’s made her so much stronger and seeing her
blossoming as a person has inspired me to be
a better person. I simply wanted to share how
amazing she is and if she didn’t know how much
of an inspiration she is to me, she will now. So
thank you Jess, for being my friend, family and
inspiration.
By Hayley Malins
by a person
Design By Leo Janson
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Design By Leo Janson
13
Role
model
We all know that Abercrombie and Hollister models are rather hot, and rather in demand. But one
Portsmouth Fresher is having to cope with this
incredible attention, and his homework...
asked to fly out to Columbus on two occasions
to become the main face of Abercrombie Kids, I
thought about deferring University as I knew there
is a lot more work over in the States.”
Tom Coles, a Property Development student,
took on a job at Bristol’s Hollister the start of the
summer before coming to Portsmouth. However,
a chance casting for their new campaign has now
completely turned his life around. Out of 7,000
people worldwide, Tom was chosen, along with
25 others, to be flown out to New York and shoot
for their winter campaign. Speaking of his incredible achievement he explained :“I was on holiday
in France when I got the phone call, and knew
straight away how life changing it was going to
be!”
He is, however, determined to make the most
of this opportunity; balancing university life with
modelling in the hope to someday make it big
enough to put the money he has made into
property. Having just come back from Columbus shooting the Christmas campaign, Tom has
some work to catch up on (yes even more than
us normal people!) but doesn’t want to waste any
chances he has had given to him. “People have
told me to take the modelling route and others
have told me to stick to my education. By maintaining a balance between the two career paths
it can only bring better things in the future”- Tom
concludes.
He got to shoot with the acclaimed photographer
Bruce Weber and met models from around the
world. Apparently it was quite good… “The week
in New York was exactly what you’d expect.
Everything was paid for; full-time catering service
on set, make-up artists - and hair and clothing
stylists!”
It didn’t end there. Tom was then lucky enough
to be asked back to America a few weeks later
to be the new face of Abercrombie Kids, which
obviously is a huge deal! However due to university commitments he had to think about it, but
eventually ended up agreeing. He said: “When
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Design By Leo Janson
So maybe Tom should be a true inspiration to all
of us this year; not only is he managing university
work and an international job, but he looks good
doing it too!
By Emma Jolliffe
By Ross Keating
It’s the American-esque diner on Elm grove that
fills the night sky with vivid neon lights and jive
50s Americana beats. I speak of course, of Big
Ernie’s Diner. Although it takes inspiration from
a classical 1950s cafe, it manages to implement
the style in a modern contemporary style creating
an atmosphere of class and warmth. In terms of
restaurants, it’s a third of the way there. Following in the traditional diner theme, the menu is full
of things any self-respecting American would be
proud of, so naturally one can find steaks, ribs,
burgers, chilli and various types of ice cream
sundaes. Taking a sidekick along for the night I
managed to sample quite a varied amount from
the menu, beginning with some BBQ chicken
wings and mozzarella sticks for starters. From the
main menu we chose the Hawaiian burger and
the house-chilli with fries, and to finish the brownies and ice cream. As soon as you bite into any
of the courses you can instantly tell that this isn’t
just a kitchen warming up pre-prepared meals
from a warehouse or some frozen burgers being
cooked over a fire. With just a few mouthfuls of
the burger and chilli, the homemade aesthetic
became very apparent releasing the flavours
you’d associate with butcher’s cuts of meat. The
reason for this was revealed when a gentleman
introduced himself over the main course as the
restaurants’ owner, “Big Ernie”.
Apart from the shock of learning that Big Ernie
was in fact a real person, I was taken aback that
Design By Leo Janson
a proprietor of an establishment was mingling
with the customers and actively engaging with
them, looking to talk to them and make sure they
are having a good time. During this chat, Big
Ernie revealed that all the ingredients used are not
only freshly prepared on the premises, but they
are all actively sourced locally. Everything from
the buns to the meat, to even the ice cream is
sourced from Portsmouth and the New Forest.
Finally, the concluding part of the triumvirate of
restaurant success formula: the service. As soon
as I came through the door I felt welcomed,
in good capable hands and at no time felt as
though my presence was simply a burden. All in
all, they were simply a joy to talk to and without
doubt I’d eat there again.
For those of you who fancy a challenge, Big Ernie’s Diner offers the mile-high burger challenge.
24oz of burger meat in a 6oz bun, with 24 onion
rings and a large plate of fries, accompanied with
a thick shake and a desert –if you can eat all this
in forty-five minutes, the meal is free!
Overall Rating: 9/10
15
You
Top 10 Most
Controversial
Comedians
1. Richard Pryor
2. Bill Hicks
can’t say
THAT!
3. Bernard Manning
4. Frankie Boyle
5. Russell Brand
6. Chris Morris
7. George Carlin
8. Lenny Bruce
9. Joan Rivers
10. Ricky Gervais
I love that awkward silence, don’t you? The one
where you get that sinking feeling right in the pit
of your belly. The one where it is crucial you avoid
all possible eye contact, staring into the murky
depths of your beloved cup of tea.
“Well, that was inappropriate…” you’ll hear
someone laugh nervously an hour later. And it is
that nervous laughter that begs the question, is
the inappropriate funny? Comedy is constantly
evolving; breaking taboos and breaking hearts
-but at the same time, it can be extremely inspiring to wider society. To really understand the art
of taboo-breaking comedy there is only one man
who need take the stage: Mr Richard Pryor.
The son of a pimp and a prostitute, Pryor’s fame
sky-rocketed in the early 1970s with an impassioned, truthful and personal style of stand up
that had never been seen before. With his flawless delivery Pryor spoke of race, drugs, alcohol and sex in a refreshingly honest and highly
controversial style, at a time in which the black
man in America was seen as second class. Using
raw street language he succeeded in ‘turning the
darkest pain into the deepest comedy’, to quote
Hollywood’s favourite old lady, Robin Williams.
16
But critically, it was Pryor who cracked open the
forbidden unmentionables box that had been
locked away from society for too long. As actor,
Damon Wayans, told Jet: “If a comedian hasn’t
copied from Richard Pryor they’re probably not
funny” and with this said, even after his death in
2005, it is true to say Pryor still stands as one
of the most important and influential comedians
of all time. So now we ask ourselves; to inspire
do we have to shock? Is breaking taboos a step
along the road to inspiration?
As a fully-fledged attention seeker, I am a true
pioneer of inappropriate comments in a social
situation. Whether it’s saying ‘your mum!’ to
someone who no longer has a mum, or making
sexually inappropriate jokes in front of my friends’
parents, I have never failed in shocking, and
unfortunately upsetting, a few individuals in my
lifetime. That is not to say I inspire folk with these
comments, far from it, but it certainly challenges
people in asking them what they deem to be
inappropriate.
So taboo or not to taboo that is the question?
There is no concrete answer, how could there
be? But as long as comedians are intelligent
with their wit steering well clear of the previous
bigoted, racist slurs of Bernard Manning, there is
something to be said for the dark side of comedy.
Surely, trying to find a laugh, even in our darkest hours might make those hours seem that bit
brighter. That is after all what these comedians
are paid to; light up the darkness. That’s best
part of comedy. It breaks down all racial, sexual
and class barriers, jokes cause everyone to
laugh, and it is through laughter that comedians
have supported political and social movements
throughout time.
Written by Rosanne Stewart - Design by Jessica Collins
17
The
Soci@l
Network
F
acebook is a word I’m sure you
are all familiar with. If not, I’m a
tad worried, as for the past six
years we have been hooked to
the social networking site that
lets us delve into the lives of
others and create a profile for ourself for others to browse. Some would say they are addicted to the site, having to update their status every time something significant happens
in their day to day routine. Even the people
who say “I don’t use Facebook” secretly go
online to check for new notifications, and
keep updated on what their mates are up to
at the weekend. Living in an age where social
communication rules society, Facebook
is truly a phenomenon. Due to its success
there’s no surprise that the inspirational story
of the American University undergrad that
created the site, has now been made into a
Hollywood blockbuster.
“The Social Network” tells the success story
of Mark Zurkerberg, a Harvard student, who,
after being dumped by his girlfriend, goes
back to his dorm and frantically blogs nasty
comments about his ex. In his drunken fury
his rage then turns to focusing on creating
a social networking site. His idea starts in
his dorm room and over a short period of
time, becomes a global phenomenon with
over 500 million people signing up. The film
shows us that a simple idea can lead to big
18
5 Film adaptations
of
inspirational
True-life events
things. Zukerberg may have become the
youngest billionaire on the planet, but the
film shows him endure many personal and
legal difficulties too. We see him go through
a large battle to prove that he is the creator
of the site, and friendships are put on the
line. Zukerberg is presented as an extremely
inspirational character and a role model who
is relevant to contemporary society. With the
explosion of social network sites it is hard to
remember what life was like without them.
The sites have provided us with an easy way
of communication and given us our own personal identity; however, there are a number
of negatives that have given these sites a
bad name. I’m sure we can all admit that we
find it hard not to log onto Facebook at least
once a day. Well for some people there is the
issue of addiction and having to constantly
be checking up on other people’s lives.
Facebook and other social networking sites,
such as Twitter, have also been very popular for employers and journalists to gather
information. Do we really want to post every
detail of our private lives on the world- wideweb for others to see? We don’t exactly want
our future employers to be browsing through
photos of our drunken antics. “The social
network” is extremely influential in encouraging us to be persistent and determined but is
this cyber-culture really a good influence on
society?
The Pursuit of Happiness (2006) –
starring Will Smith this touching film tells
the story of Salesman Chris Gardner as
he tries to follow his dream of becoming
a stock broker. Often being forced to
sleep rough but never giving up hope of
a better life for him and his son.
The Terminal (2004) – Starring Tom
Hanks, the film is said to be inspired by
and loosely based on the story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri who was trapped
at an airport terminal for 18 years after
being denied access into his native
country.
The Blind side (2009) – Sandra Bullock
won an Oscar for her portrayal of Leigh
Anne Tuohy who along with her supportive family adopted Michael Oher, a teen
simply in need of a loving family. With
the help of Leigh, Oher manages to turn
his life around, eventually becoming a
highly noted sports star.
Words: Hannah Whitnall
Design: Amy Tratt
Take the lead (2006) – drama inspired
by dancer Pierre Dulaine (played by
Antonio Banderes), who volunteers to
teach ballroom dancing to kids serving
detention in a New York School. At first
faced with hostility, Dulaine manages
to wins them over by inspiring them to
succeed in both school and dance.
Ray (2004) – Jamie Foxx features in this
biographical movie based on the life
of talented musician Ray Charles. The
film follows 30 years of his life touching
19
Unsung
heroes
Written by Jamie Hampshire
Just think about it: in every game, for every platform you’ve ever played, there has been at least
one ‘unsung hero’. These are the men/women/
robots/sentient household appliances that enable
you, as the player, to defeat thousands of enemies, build and raise empires, save galaxies, and
generally be a ‘hero’. However, for these ‘little
people’, there is no glory, no medals. In most
cases they don’t even make it out alive. So I take
this opportunity to recognise the input into video
gaming these nobodies have had; immortalising
them forever. True and noble heroes all!
1. Real Time Strategy Builders
Peasants, Builders, Servitors, Peons, Villagers,
construction machinations. Whatever flavour
they come in, these chaps are the backbone of
any RTS army worth its salt. For every farm built,
every tank produced, and every enemy slain, all
started with the ore, gold, or lumber harvested by
the common man. Mercilessly easy to kill, often
defenceless, and certainly incompetent in times
of war. The reliance on workers within a genre
almost entirely focused on fighting seems ridiculous, but it makes damn sure the early stages
20
of any battle are a race to gather resources and
build defences. Without the working classes, not
a single battle would be won, no empires forged,
and no space fleets constructed. Spare a thought
for these tireless, chipper workers before spawning a shitload, cackling as you send them off to
the front line and certain doom.
2. Pilots/Drivers
Sure, in most games these days the hero is
perfectly capable of driving themselves from
place to place, or piloting whatever jet, helicopter
or spacecraft they come across. Lest we forget
that in almost all action, RPG, or Shooter games,
there are pilots or drivers responsible for shipping
the hero’s ass from place to place. Rarely are
these fine drivers given names or call-signs, and
if they are they’re quickly forgotten. But without
them, you wouldn’t get very far.
3. Cannon Fodder
Even these words should conjure up the desired
image. Hundreds of NPC’s hurling themselves
in front of the enemy guns while the protagonist
completes their mission, heedless of the mas-
sive slaughter taking place all around them. This
broad category includes: soldiers used as a
distraction for your efforts; the ones lost in order
to inform you of how an enemy weapon works
or what traps are ahead; the countless enemy
troopers throwing themselves at you to increase
your high-score; the minions you send to their
deaths to gauge enemy defences; and even the
lemmings you ‘forgot’ to give a parachute.
4. Sgt.Reznov – Call of Duty: World at War
Often there will be one truly stand out support
character in a game, someone who was invaluable to the story and the hero. None are more
badass than: Sgt. Viktor Reznov. After surviving a
massacre in a fountain at Stalingrad, losing some
of his fingers in the process, he sacrifices his
sniper rifle to the player character, and then proceeds to lead through the shattered city, avoiding
German patrols. Throughout the game he leads
from the front, saves the players’ life numerous
times, kills myriad foes, and leads the assault on
the Reichstag with a machete. That’s right folks:
a machete.
5. Aku Aku – Crash Bandicoot
One would expect that after a life of hard, magicrelated toil, battling evil, and wearing a grass skirt:
a witch doctor should be able to rest easily postdemise. Not so, apparently. Bound to the form of
a wooden mask, Aku Aku must fight to protect
his island paradise, whilst also trying to keep the
games ‘hero’, a hyperactive, slightly backward
bandicoot, under control. I really empathise with
poor old Mr. Aku, constantly interrupting his long
slumber in order to nursemaid a gibbering marsupial idiot. Think about how many giant Venus
flytraps, mutant kangaroos, or spike pits would
have put an end to Crash’s ‘heroics’ if Aku Aku
hadn’t been there to take the hits? The poor guy
even looks eternally cheesed off.
“Hundreds of NPC’s
hurling themselves
in front of the enemy
guns while the protagonist completes
their mission”
Designed by Amyrose Dempsey
Top 10 Most
Controversial
Comedians
1. Batman - from Arkham Asylum. It’s
Batman. He’s just awesome.
2. Niko Bellic - from GTA IV. One of the
most well developed characters, of all
time.
3. Ezio - from Assassins Creed II. Suave,
dangerous, and Da Vinci is his best
friend.
4. Solid Snake - from Metal Gear Solid
Series. Even Old Snake could stop
nuclear Armageddon.
5. Mario - from various Nintendo. A
working class guy trying to find his
princess.
6. Sonic - from various Sega. Zoom!
7. Link - from the Legend of Zelda
franchise. He’s changed shape, worn
Majora’s Mask, travelled time, but he
still hasn’t got Zelda.
8. Lu Bu - from Dynasty Warriors. When
this guy walks onto the battlefield:
armies cry.
9. Kratos - from the God of War trilogy.
He got that position by murdering the
last guy.
10. Cloud Strife - Final Fantasy IIV.
People think Sephiroth is cool, strong,
and mean. They forget Cloud beat him,
twice.
By Lewis Downing
Design By Amy Rose Dempsey
21
Up and Coming Bands:
The Welcome Committee
We are an Essex based two-piece band , that
have been described as creating their own brand
of “80s-tinged pop” which is full of “emotive vocals and anthemic builds”. The band is certainly
up-and-coming with recent appearances in
magazines such as Rocksound and Radio Play,
and support from Xfm and BBC Radio 1. The
band have just finished their Spanish tour, and
are currently looking to do more European tours.
Drummer, Ken, explains how TWC gained their
inspiration: “Southend, our home town, is a
massive inspiration for me. Personally, seeing so
many bands play in the same area all the time,
playing the same boring music frustrates me. The
whole idea behind our band was that just the
The reality of University is that at some point, for
some reason, you will have to get off of your arse
and do something. Whether it’s writing an essay
or just mustering up the strength to get out of
bed.. Music is always a good way of inspiring and
encouraging yourself to be productive, or distract
yourself from the real world. Here are some of the
tunes that keep us at Pugwash going, through all
aspects of university life.
Chillaxing
Annabel Heath
When having trouble with sleeping, whether it’s
due to noise in your halls or house, stress or
you’re just too wired from coffee in preparation
for the next deadline, I need the company of
either a DVD that I know is shit, or music without
too many lyrics to focus on. The melodic tones of
Engineer’s Anti-Gravity mix of Bloc Party’s Blue
Light send me into a light sleep, it’s mellow and a
perfect remix from their debut album Silent Alarm.
Next in the play queue is Sigur Ros’ Sé Lest.
Their entire back-catalogue is incredibly relaxing,
but this particular track is fourteen minutes of
child-like mobile sounds, which creep into your
22
two of us could create a sound bigger and more
interesting than your average four-piece band.
I’ve been playing drums for fifteen years and have
had every set back you could imagine, but it’s
been fun. Music for me is all about having fun, if
you’re not enjoying it, you’re missing the whole
point of being in a band.”
The Welcome Committee have shows booked all
around London and Portsmouth later this year, so
let’s show them our support! For more information, check out myspace.com/thewelcomecommittee.
Jenny Canham
against sleep. Now I’m completely awake, something with a bit more groove is needed to keep
me bobbing my head. I’m Made Of Wax, Larry,
What Are You Made Of? by A Day to Remember
is a light-hearted yet heavy song, which keeps
me in a positive mood as I sing along. 3am,
Essay’s pretty much nailed and your hatred for
Harvard APA referencing has re-emerged. How
could Jack Johnson’s Better Together not relax
your mind and help you unwind after a stressful 7 hours? As the song finishes, the noise of a
printer has never sounded so beautiful.
The Messy Night Out
Paul Miller
Nights out at university don’t often take much
‘inspiration’ as such, but a lot of the DJ’s you
hear could do with some. Most trips to Liquid
music though.
The Fragile Morning After
Flynn Massey
So, somehow, you wake up in a sweaty, headpounding state, after a messy night out with your
mates, knowing it must have been good because
there are bits missing from last night’s banterous shenanigans. You manage to find your iPod
on the floor and wonder what will be good noise
just to get you going. Well, if you’re still suffering
for inspiration, look no further. For me, the whole
catalogue of Zero 7 can alleviate the pain of a
hangover. Fleet Foxes’ eponymous debut can
settle the most nervous of stomachs. Not feeling too worse for wear but need something? Bon
Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago, and his EP, The
Blood Bank EP work wonders on the damaged
Inspirational Breakdown
subconscious, sending you into a light slumber.
Another song, which crops up on my “sleep”
playlist is Help Yourself by Sad Brad Smith. The
acoustic song from the Up In The Air soundtrack
is so simple yet peaceful, that I’m usually gone by
the half-way mark.
The Last Minute Assignment
Matt Borucki
8pm, the day before your assignment is due;
Red bull in hand and the introduction just about
written. If you’re in your second or third year,
you’ve already been in this situation. If you’re in
your first year, you will be shortly. I need something loud and fast. The Dillinger Escape Plan’s
82588 certainly fits that description. Listening to
this song beats even the most boring in the battle
can guarantee you of the same tired playlist that
you heard the previous week.. Cynicism aside, it’s
just nice to hear something different when you’re
out. I’d rather hear music from credible artists
that can still hold up in a club. Major Lazer work’s
a treat and though you’ll be used to hearing ‘Pon
De Floor’ by now, in my opinion, Foamo’s remix
of ‘Bruk Out’ trumps it, dancehall with a brutal
electronic bassline. If it’s French electro you’re
after (why wouldn’t it be?), then Justice’s DVNO
will probably do the trick as well. Even though
I’ve heard every song dozens of times before,
somehow anything by The Strokes still sparks the
same reaction in me and almost ten years on, I
still don’t think people are tired of singing along to
Last Night. You might have to stray a bit further
than Guildhall to stand any chance with decent
ears. If it’s easy listening ,but you want something
with an edge, try Come Around Sundown, on
Kings of Leon’s new album. Loaded with songs
that play well either in the background or on the
move throughout the day, it’s already going well
with a coffee and a bacon buttie.
Design: Bex Watson
23
How has
music
influenced
fashion?
Text
DOM WHITE
Design
EMILY SMITH
24
The progression of music is something that each
generation can’t help but witness. With this quest
for musical originality, there will always come a
fashion trend to externally represent the internal
feelings that are also portrayed through the music.
The youth recognise this and will gravitate towards a fashion if it is related to a band that they
connect with, be it in ideology or otherwise.
When being drawn to a band or artist, one key
way of understanding them is by emulating their
fashion sense.
The best example of this is the punks in the late
1970’s. It still remains the biggest youth revolution
to this day. Fuelled by anger and boredom the
punk movement proved impossible for the youth
not to relate to. In no time people were tearing
their skin tight jeans, putting pins through their
ears, shaving off chunks of hair and, of course,
spitting on each other.
However initially, this was only an underground
movement. In fashion, if people wear anything
enough it becomes popular (look at Crocs in
the modern day). Mass appreciation of the ‘look’
takes place and so the ideology behind the look
dies as it is marketed to every Tom, Dick and
Harry. Eventually high street strores such as
Debenhams were selling pre-ripped jeans and
leather jackets. Punk was no longer punk, punk
was now a common fashion. How can everyone
be a rebel?
Based upon this example it appears the smaller,
more underground forms of music start the fashion trends. The effect is like the ripples in a pond
after a stone has been thrown in, they spread
further and further out until the whole pond has
been covered and has become still once more
just before another stone is thrown. Everyone
mimics the ‘original’ way of dressing rendering it
no longer original but stale, old and unfashionable
until the next momentarily unique trend comes
along.
Anyone got a spare pair of flares?
FROM
PORTOBELLO
TO
SEX AND THE CITY
Text
LISA SHAH
Design
EMILY SMITH
An
exclusive
interview
with
Selena Francis-Bryden is an author and in her
own words “a fashion, furniture and interior designer/customiser”. Selena’s clothing brand,
Franny B, first came into the limelight due to her
signature painted fur coats which have been
popular with many celebrities and featured in the
hit TV show Sex and the City. Her new book
‘DIY Fashion- customize and personalize’ is now
on sale and focuses on reinventing old, dreary
clothes into something unique and stylish. Although she has had no formal training, she has
proved that the road to success is not always so
defined. It is never too late to follow your dreams.
How did you first get into fashion and
customising clothes?
I started working with my dad when I was six
years old at Portobello market selling children’s
clothing. Then, I used to go to Camden in the
mornings and buy vintage clothing. There used
to be this little place under the stables and everything was like one or two pounds. I’d buy loads
designer
Selene
Francis-Bryden
of stuff from there and take it down to Portobello
and sell it for five or six pounds each.
So what about customising, when did
you start doing that?
It was quite soon afterwards. I started playing with
the clothes that I was buying because a lot of
the clothes were damaged so I’d have to take
them home to fix them up and re-invent them.
It was sort of the ‘in’ thing to make clothing your
own by reworking it. I started painting things on
the clothes, customising them and making them
slightly different from everything else that was
around.
What inspired you to write the DIY fashion guide?
I was inspired by many things. One of the main
reasons was the digital age. When we were selling clothes at Portobello, local designers during London/Paris fashion week used to come
and buy from us. All the designers used to buy
clothes and make it their own and then you’d
see it on the catwalk. But when digital cameras
25
ing up, people started taking photographs and
then we’d stop making money. People would just
steal your ideas without actually paying for them
which was where our biggest revenue came
from. I decided that I wanted everybody to see
my stuff rather than lots of people making money
off the back of me. I had been there (at Portobello
market) for twelve years and I just thought that I’d
put it all in a book so everybody could enjoy customising and making clothes their own.
Do you still have your stall at Portobello?
I’m on the verge of leaving at the moment. I’m
hoping to set up some workshops for a local
charity in and around London. Right now, there
is a workshop in Watford for a local charity called
New Hope Trust. The workshops are basically
about customising and making new stuff out of
old.
Do you have any formal training?
No, I did product Design and English literature
at university and then had a baby so couldn’t go
back to complete my final year because I was so
busy working. But I’m mostly self–taught.
You’ve done a lot with celebrities and
television programmes like Sex and the
City so what would you class as your
biggest success so far?
That was massive, the Sex and the City thing.
It was a Friday during London fashion week in
Portobello. This woman just came to the stall and
said “I love that coat, can I buy it” and I said “sure”
because I hadn’t made any money all day. I didn’t
know who she was but she just said “give me
your card and if anyone wants to know where
I got it from, I’ll let them know”. Then 3 weeks
later, I got a phone call from her assistant saying
they were using the coat in Sex and the City, and
that Sarah Jessica Parker is going to be wearing it, which was a little bit of a shock. She wore
the coat during two episodes and wore it for the
trailer for the final series.
What advice would you give to students
on a low budget trying to update their
wardrobes, because it’s so easy to just
go to the high street?
26
Yes it is. I mean the
biggest problem is that
it is so easy to go and
buy something from
the high street. But
there is so much out
there already, like charity shops and car boot
sales. Take stuff home,
tweak it, cut sleeves
off, add brooches, add
broken jewellery and
make it look like you
and individual. That
is basically the theory
behind it all -to make
everybody
appreciate what is already out
there rather than to
keep spending. Also,
it’s about cost effectiveness. You
can buy
somet h i n g
for
ten
pounds
and you
wear
it
once, but
if you’d
saved up
for
five
weeks
and you
bought
somet h i n g
for
fifty
pounds,
you might
get more
wear out
of it. It’s
all about
what you’re spending, the ‘wear-ability’
of it, and how long it
will last you.
Do you have any
tips for any aspiring designers
trying to be successful?
Yeah (long pause)...
don’t read fashion
magazines! I think this
because when you
do, your brain takes
in more information
than you realise and
then you come up
with the same ideas
that everybody else is
doing. Look towards
old magazines like
70’s fashion publica-
tions, but if you’re looking at modern day stuff,
you’re just going to reiterate what’s already out
there. Get inspiration from all over the place. You
could go to the seaside, art galleries, museums,
to the library and look at old photography to get
inspired by stuff that is slightly different from just
fashion. There’s so much out there to inspire.
Fashion will just keep on copying itself if we get
into the pattern that everything is the same. I think
that if you want to do something original, you
have look outside the fashion ‘box’ and get your
ideas from somewhere else.
What’s next for you? Anything planned
for the future?
I’m doing fairly short lectures about recycling for
Britain’s Next Top Model Live in a few weeks. I’m
mostly doing workshops, setting up my own art
cafe and moving away fwrom actually making
stuff myself because it is very time consuming.
The art cafe will hopefully be funded and sponsored with other companies. It will be about
teaching young mums, students and people
from poorer backgrounds how to recycle what
they have, whether it is homeware, furniture or
fashion, and the money will go towards other
good causes. There will be an art space where
people can hang paintings, sell them and show
off their new work for local artists. I’m hoping to
have it in London but we still have to sort out the
funding for it.
Which fashion designers do you admire
the most and why?
I’ve always been a big fan of Vivienne Westwood.
She’s always been one of my biggest inspirations. Another person is Paul Smith, who I’ve met
quite a lot, and has been a big inspiration. When
things were really bad at Portobello, he kept
coming back and telling us to stick at it. Tanya
Sarne (the founder of the Ghost clothing brand)
is also an incredible person. That’s the greatest
thing about Portobello; you do meet amazing
people through networking.
Follow Selena on her blog ‘the clothing adoption
agency’ at theclotingadoptionagency.blogspot.
com
27
freshlooks
By Laura Vooght
The Autumn/Winter collections are currently filling
the shops, with fur, leather and flashes of scarlet
being key pieces to this seasons look. However,
the task of getting a student budget to stretch far
enough can be a difficulty.
But before you venture to the high street, why not
take a stroll down Albert Road? Here you will find
numerous independent boutiques that are filled
with beautiful, original, garments and accessories
that are guaranteed to complement your wardrobe.
Start your shopping trip with On the Rocks, situated near Francis Avenue. The shop is owned by
Stacey Mowle and Warren Prior who describe
their fashion haven as a place ‘that is a fusion
between vintage and modern [where] the stock is
completely unique; it cannot be found anywhere
else in Portsmouth’. So there is no need to worry
about arriving to a social wearing the same as
your friends. Just complete originality!
28
29
Design By Leo Janson
Design By Leo Janson
The boutique has two main sections: vintage
and modern. The vintage section, known as the
‘Pre-loved’ range truly sums up the meaning of
‘vintage clothing’. All the garments have been
previously owned, but have been carefully chosen
to ensure that they are up-to-date with the current trends. You can really guarantee purchases
from this section will be of high quality and fashionable. Certainly worth a rummage!
The rest of On the Rocks clothing is sourced from
all over England and the accessories are mainly
from the Southwest. True support for our British
designers! There are some beautiful floral print
dresses, soft chunky knit cardigans and even a
dress similar to the one Pixie Lott was pictured
in last month available for purchase. Accompany
your chosen item with many unique and beautiful
accessories which can also be found in store and
are very reasonable in price.
The four key looks featured are all achieved
from one visit to On the Rocks. From distressed
vintage to feminine/romance to boho beauty and
even grunge rock glam- whatever your signature
look is I am sure you will be able to find a versatile
piece.
So come on girls, head to On the Rocks for a
wardrobe update and with an extra 10 percent
discount for students, there really is nothing to
stop you!
30
Design By Leo Janson
Design By Leo Janson - Photography by Rachel Jacks - Models: Sarah Case, Rachel Brown, Tia Kharrat & Hayley Armstrong - Hair by
Jayna Zala - Make - up by Emily Smith
31
The Good, the Bad,
and the Jellybean
by Steph Francis and Emily Smith, photography by Krish Mistry
The ins and outs of fashion now, as proposed by
your fellow students.
So we set out onto the dreaded student-filled
streets of Portsmouth, asking randoms their
thoughts on fashion, the triumphs and the disasters... what is hot, and what is most definitely not.
Inevitably we received a fair few weird looks as
we cornered, pounced on, and hassled people,
but most were very willing to chat and share their
opinion (although we did manage to mistake a
group of lads as students, and on checking this
detail, the response: ‘Students? No, we’re just
drunken musicians’ did rather amuse us).
Our first victims were the lovely Mortimer and
Owen, who, upon asking what they favoured on
girls, shared the first of a surprising amount of
guys who loved leggings on girls. Abass without
“Student’s? No, we’re just
drunken musicians”
any prompting, thought of leggings straight away,
claiming ‘leggings are sexy’. Although Abass
stated he was not fussy about what he wears
during the day, when going out in the evening, he
thinks waistcoats are the way forward.
We found Abi outside the library, who thinks
chequered shirts on guys are a bit dated, but
decidedly likes the casually put together pumps/
jeans/jumper look. She was however very keen
to stress that a guy shouldn’t ever be better
dressed than their girl. The high-spirited Glen and
Rob (who were doing a wonderful job leafleting
outside the library) had a lot to say on female
attire, and once we explained to them what jeggings were, affirmed their love for them, leggings,
and general tight-fitting bottoms that show off
a girls figure. The boys also expressed a dislike
for (and we quote their own words) ‘the jellybean
look’ –where a girl wears all one colour.
First years Holly and Martha were chilling outside
Dennis Sciama when we approached them.
They agreed that turn-up jeans and boat shoes
looks good on the lads, but that tracksuits are an
absolute no-no. They are particularly fond of the
lacey-tops, and high-waisted-shorts currently in
fashion.
Philip and Andres were fairly contradictory, first
stating their love for mini-skirts (on girls), but
“tracksuits are an absolute nono”
“leggings are sexy”
then declaring that they don’t like anything too
extreme, preferring something that shows off a
girls figure. Like every other male student we had
spoken to, they find leggings attractive.
Stylishly dressed Olivia also likes the whole
indie/geek look of ¾ length chinos, jumpers
and canvas boat shoes. When asked what she
thought about the jogger-jeans (jean material
trackies that are elasticated at the ankles), she
wasn’t sure what to make of them, thinking they
seemed pretty average. The beautifully coated
Eve, when asked the same question, really liked
this new craze, helpfully suggesting guys should
wear them with a chequered shirt, bowler hat
32
and RayBans. She likes tight jeans on guys, but
not when they are obviously meant for girls, aka
-they are so tight that they appear ‘spray-on’.
Joel and Krishan caught our eye, mixing the
latest fashion with their own unique style. They
like to wear carrot-jeans (baggy at the crotch,
but slim-fitting towards the ankle) but think that
boys that wear shorts and flip-flops in winter are
rather weird. On girls, they like to see military
boots with skinny jeans, and again, think that
leggings are great; the combination of joggers
and Uggs, however, are not so good (but of
course, understanding the necessity of such
outfits ‘after the night before’).
Maya and Katie also grabbed our attention with
their quirky, individual fashion. According to
them, denim and chequered shirts with skinny
jeans or chinos is a great look for guys, but
that under no circumstances should a guy ever
wear ankle-swingers. For girls, ripped up, or
embroidered jeans were a no-go, alongside lacey
see-through tops.
Alice and Amy thought that espadrilles, leather
jackets, and soft lumberjack shirts are hot on lads
right now, but hate them in harems, Uggs, joggerjeans and excessive jewellery.
Well-dressed Pow, was an opportunity not to be
missed on our way back, wearing a stripey jacket
with old-school slip-on Vans. He said that playsuits look great on the ladies, but that leggings
are getting a bit old. He also said that he doesn’t
understand guys that wear sportswear outside
the gym...
Overall the general consensus seems to be that
guys should be wearing indie- geek inspired
clothes; boat shoes or brogues with rolled up
skinny jeans or chinos, and a faded chequered
shirt or vintage jumper over a plain tee. But boys
please, for us, no more scruffy tracksuits or
Uggs...
Girls, apart from a very earnest desire from the
lads for us to stay away from becoming jellybeans
no major criticism can be derived from our findings... leggings don’t appear to be going out just
yet, and neither should they be because not only
are they comfy but the lads actually love to see
us in them!
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Designed by Amyrose Dempsey
Southsea’s
answer to Brick Lane
If someone asked you to name a fresh and
upcoming fashion hotspot, you might think of
London’s quirky urban scene, New York’s colourful couture or Japans iconic street style -but
Portsmouth is probably one of the last places
you’d go think of! Yet, if you know where to look,
there is a thriving subculture of alternative style
that is a signature of our city, thanks to years of
being home to thousands of students from all
over the world. Dead Man’s Glory on Albert road
in Southsea is a treasure trove of vintage and
retro clothes and accessories that epitomises everything Portsmouth’s vintage scene has to offer,
so we thought we’d take some Pompey students
along to take a peek…
TOMMY HODGES- Art foundation
“My style tends to be a sort of eclectic mix of patterns and textures, but I’m also influenced by the
music and style of the 60’s and 80’s…though I
like the style of ‘Harlem’, the American indie rock
band as well.”
ADDIE MAK- International trade and English
“’Lightspeed Champion’ have a pretty awesome
image, so you could say they inspire me, but I
think the way I dress is a mix of everything in the
media at the moment, but with a vintage twist”
Favourite item: Black and white t-shirt £7
ADDIE MAK- International trade and English
“’Lightspeed Champion’ have a pretty awesome
image, so you could say they inspire me, but I
think the way I dress is a mix of everything in the
media at the moment, but with a vintage twist”
Favourite item: Black and white t-shirt £7
DOM WHITE- English with Creative Writing
“I just like to feel smart when I dress, so that’s
usually collared shirts and stuff. I look to the 60’s
modern style, teddy boys and all that. It’s iconic
and timeless, yet pretty easy to do.”
Favourite item: Green gingham shirt: £10
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Designed by Amyrose Dempsey
35
Fashion & Film;
A Well Worn Trend?
of society will induce nothing but jealously, irrational thought, swooning, and a fear of the
lights in a changing room. To make matters
worse, trends appear to change as quickly
as a students overdraft limit in Fresher’s
week…
Whether it’s Yves Saint Laurent’s collection
based around Andy Warhol’s pop art, or
Vivienne Westwood’s response to the grimy
sounds of a society swelling with anarchy,
fashion is inspired. Trends change as culture
changes, as music, art, architecture, celebrity, or attitudes change. As Hollywood
changes, even.
Many movies are ideological reflections on a
society, however, it does also work the other
way round; as The Guardian once wrote,
“movies are a better place for displaying
clothes in all their glory than catwalks will
ever be.”
Communication with a piece of furniture is
futile and unsatisfactorily one-sided…
No matter how many dirty looks or venomous comments you throw its way, the simple
wardrobe remains stoically silent. And, of
course, it steadfastly refuses to fill your
hangers with shiny new things as you so
kindly asked it to.
An enigma to many and a daily worry for
most, fashion should come with a governmental health warning. It would appear that
interest in this particularly beautiful aspect
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This obsession with the silver screen, the
stars, and the style is not a new one. It is
safe to say that film’s fashion hit the big time
around the late 1930s with the introduction
of Katherine Hepburn and her refusal to
wear a skirt... A woman who believed that
stockings were an “invention of the devil”,
Hepburn simply did not wear them. Instead,
until the director returned her trousers, she
unashamedly paraded around the film set…
in her underwear.
Continuing on in the vain of firmly self assured, (and half naked) female comes Brigitte Bardot in the 50s, a women who single
handedly caused the pandemic of the two
piece bikini, a love/hate item that has since
never left our slightly too pale bodies… Less
than 10 years later, the bikini was back on
our screens in one of the most iconic scenes
in cinema as Honey Ryder, (of course),
emerged from the sea clad in a dripping wet,
white bikini. Fully-grown men around the
world drooled...
Soon came the introduction of the LBD in
Breakfast at Tiffanys, an item that instantly
made the move from film star, to females
everywhere and an item that will probably
be the staple of women’s fashion (until the
world spontaneously combusts and ends...).
Other style essentials that we’ve clinged
onto for dear life include oversized sunglasses, jumpsuits, headbands, slacks, leather
pants, (Yep, thanks Sandy from Grease…)
and the white summer dress, made desirable by the most famous knicker-flasher of
them all, Miss Monroe.
In a decade where fashion is vintage and
recycled where can the line be drawn on
inspiration? Sometimes fashion is unashamedly silly, and ridiculously impractical, but
sometimes maybe this filters down from
the source of the inspiration itself… Avatar
anyone? A film that broke records? A visual
and technological masterpiece? A technological milestone? Yes. A film to inspire the
fashionistas of the Western world however?
Hmmmm. Within months of it’s release, Avatar
became the centrepiece for Jean Paul Gaultier
and Valentino’s January collections, the outfits
consisting of birdlike structures, plants and, of
course, lots of blue. Beautiful they may have
been, but the line has to end somewhere. A
requirement of catwalk fashion is quirkiness of
course…but even in diluted form would you wear
it? Would you truly wear clothes inspired by a
9 foot tall, computer generated, azure coloured
man? Personally, I’m sticking to my human
clothes and my stubborn wardrobe but maybe
that’s just me…
by Bridie Scriven
Layout and Images: Sally-Anne Drury
37
How
To...
...Perfect The 1940’s Pin-UpGirl Look!
Before applying your base/foundation, always
clean and moisturise your face. I recommend
using primer before applying your foundation for a
flawless finish.
A Step By Step Guide
and onyx.
For an amazing pin-up look, liquid eyeliner is
essential. Starting with the inner corner of your
eye, slowly drag the liner toward the outer corner
making the line as close as possible to the
eyelashes. For the cat-like flick, extend the line
at an angle with a flick of the wrist. Apply some
mascara for a dramatic lash effect. I recommend
L’orèal volume million lashes mascara.
Apply some blusher to your cheekbones to give
your complexion a natural-looking pinkish hue.
To complete the pin up girl look, add some crimson red lipstick and a victory hair roll.
Once your foundation has been applied, apply
a neutral-toned eyeshadow on the top of your
eyelids for a more subtle look. Highlight the top
and bottom edges of your inner eye with a shiny,
cream coloured shadow. We used Maxfactor
smoky eye effect eyeshadow in the shades haze
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by Lisa Shah
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