United Colors of Benetton is back with an attitude

United Colors of Benetton play quite their part in my life. As a child I was taken on a yearly trip and anything that fitted me I got given in every color until I had outgrown it again the following year. My wardrobe itself looks a lot like a Benetton display, things are organized by color and I own EVERYTHING in every color, be it bags (Longchamps in every color), tops, coats, gloves, scarves, shoes, jumpers - you name it. If it's an important item, I have it in all colors. Everybody who knows me knows that I am all about color coordination - sometimes I coordinate a bit too much. But that is my thing, so United Colors of Benetton and Pantone are very high up in the companies that I like.

Furthermore, during my Sociology and Cultural Studies degree I wrote a major piece about several of their advertising campaigns that were so controversial and therefore struck a very happy note in my "Stick it to the Man and hate stereotypes" perspective on things. They focused on three different cycles: difference, reality, and that of free speech and the right to express it.

Throughout the years their campaigns have received extreme reactions either way - the clean imagery depicted taboos Oliviero Toscani identified with a stabbing grace, calling to attention an outrage rarely paralleled by a fashion house so innocent in the actual creation and design.

Wars at Peace

Religion

Cycle of life and death

Racial difference

Benetton have also been constantly supportive of causes such as the fight (strange word to use here, no?) against domestic violence, food for life, aids awareness and many more. I'm sure you also remember the disputed images of death row candidates pointing out the humanity being wasted and apes making us re-think humanity in general.

Domestic Violence

Apes


Death Row

One of their masterpieces, I personally think, is the following image taken by Therese Frare and based on the "Pieta" by Michelangelo an image that "changed the world" to raise awareness for Aids

(Please click on the respective images to get taken to their source pages)

It has therefore pained me on several levels to see the colors of Benetton wash out - both in terms of the colors used for their collections and the surely pretty and colorful, but morally washed out images of pretty models frolicking happily in the washed out colors that were only colorful when put together.

You can therefore imagine my delight when I was invited by Kristin from The Clothes Whisperer to the re-opening of their Oxford Circus store, which she was asked to photograph as the event photographer (say a woop for the whisperer!) and encountering at the entrance a wall with neatly folded cashmere jumpers in the strong colors they once were. However, I don't think Oliviero Toscani has been called back, unfortunately. A small touch of "FUCK YOU" was still making me smile - two of the mannequins had adjustable hands, both of which had their middle finger out. I wonder if anyone else noticed...

Showing us all the middle finger

"Long time no seeee!"

Freak DeLuxe andStylecartel

These cupcakes looked pretty but they weren't very good

Colors, colors everywhere

"Everything is awe to the some!"

Too much prettiness for a single picture - Emily from Fashion Foie Gras being her radiant self and the fabulous Butters taking a break from her Louis Vuitton Neverfull while her mommy (The Clothes Whisperer) was working

Freak DeLuxe snapping the location style

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most colorful of them all?


Freak DeLuxe snapping more location style

Models. 'Nuff said.

I loved this guy's vest

One of my favourite outfits of the evening. Check out that combo!

An outfit very much Portmanteau approved. Matched to perfection.

Legs drooling alert

Jumpers to my taste

Colorful midget between models. United.

Jaeger Pop Up Shop on Carnaby Street

A few weeks ago I was invited to take part in a styling competition to embody the "spirit" of Jaeger's quirky, stylish and young-elegant pop up shop on Carnaby street filled with illustrations enhancing the experience of the clothes themselves. However, as the lovely Amy discovered upon a quick call on my phone, I was too ill to leave the bed and am sad to say I didn't get to participate. However, I was well and up enough to come and witness the announcement of the winner of the competition as well as having followed the gradual increase of likes and comments on the Jaeger facebook page.

Personally my favourite looks - images taken from Jaeger facebook page
ANNE LOOK - STYLE NOIR

There were two competitions, essentially - one, which was decided by the public or those with the most readers / followers / friends as well as best skill to market and distribute such information through the arrears of Social Media, as such competitions work, and one based solely on the decision of the curator of Jaeger's pop up shop, a dashingly arrogant (in a good way) and tall James Bondesque figure, a mix of Clive Owen and Daniel Craig who reminded me of someone else in fashion I had met resulting in a mildly embarrassing situation where I talked to him about something he couldn't possibly have known.

More of my favourite looks - images taken from Jaeger facebook page
STYLE CARTEL - THE DASH EMPIRE

The boutique was packed with London fashion bloggerati - it was so warm, that many ended up squatting outside the boutique. Must have been quite a sight seeing fashionistas sitting upon Longchamp bags on the floor. I know this because several tourists snapped the scene up and bemused of the antics of London life in the square central mile of fashion. Cupcakes were served and even apple and pear juice! Finally something I can drink - I usually have to nibble on chocolate which appears from my bag only to disappear in a flash into my mouth where it's silently indulged until it makes its way to work its druggy wonders all the while not offending any hosts with non-vegetarian fish 'n chip or mini burgers on lovely wholemeal bred. Plenty of popping corks were to be heard, a sound that lightens up the bloggerati's face possibly to almost the same level as a gorgeous velvet jumpsuits or deeply purple, perfectly mixed cape that I encountered and broke off a tiny piece of my heart for to leave behind.

We are winners and we get to stand next to Clive Owen/ Daniel Craig. MAKE LEMONADE and MY NEW BEST FRIENDS


"Where is Miss Jacqueline?" There's also Mr Thom TickleMouse tickling his own nose in his amazing hat

Always puts a smile on my face, Emily from Fashion Foie Gras and me snapping each other (picture of me taken from her blog x)


Hangin' outside - check out my Yorkshire Pearl bracelet and the designer leashing Miss Butters with Emma from London a la Mode


Organizers, Models, Fish 'n Chips PR's and Photographers


"Lira, I think we found you something!" whispers Kristin of the Clothes Whisperer (loudly). Oh, and my heart was broken, I had to leave the pieces behind


Kristin rocking the sheer blouse look to perfection and an impressive display of thin curvyness. Reminds me of the girl drawn to an extreme all over the walls of the boutique. Quite a remarkable resemblance.


Charlotte from Style Cartel always working, and Emma decked in Yorkshire Pearl


Are you swooning over Freak De Luxe's legs? Uh, yeah me neither.


I wish I could sit with grace like that... Amy's lips looking as luscious as her dress, what a gorgeous picture of two gorgeous blondes


"Aww isn't she the cutest?" "Yeah I am!" - "Pose for me, ladies!"


Jaeger display and drawings of thin curvy girls I was referring to earlier. And cheeky cats, of course.

A picture of dive Lira Leirner the Portmanteau take bu the official photographer of the evening and from the Jaeger facebook page