RBSA Review: Jain McKay’s Channeling the Old Masters and Hannah Northam’s Form, Figure, Face

[Originally posted on ArtsBrum]

The café area of Jewellery Quarter-based RBSA Gallery has been home to the sculptures and paintings of its associate members, Hannah Northam and Jain McKay, for the last week. Northam’s exhibition of mainly bronze figures offer a beautiful contrast to the white and grey platforms they’re perched upon, while McKay’s mixed-media work spread colour around the walls. Both artists incorporate a range of different styles and techniques, so there is definitely something in their art that will speak to you, whether it’s abstract or realism (or an amalgamation of both) that floats your boat most.

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London Town: LDN x ART

I’ve been M.I.A for the past four months and I wish I could say I didn’t spend all that time trying to keep together all my mental strings. But I’ve survived assignment and exam season relatively unscathed, so you have a lot of fresh material coming your way over the following months!

I can’t say this post is exactly ‘fresh’. My mind gets nostalgic under pressure and I found myself longing to relive last summer, rather than type another letter for another assignment. So that’s why we’re here now, looking through throwback pictures from last year. Keep scrolling to frolic down memory lane with me, admire the traditional and contemporary masterpieces in Tate Britain and Modern, and gush at some of London’s beauty.

Good ‘n Hood

[SHOTS BY EBUN ANDU]

WEARING:

NAVY FAUX FUR BUBBLE COAT | MISSGUIDED

HOOD BMW TEE | THE HOOD LAB

HOLLYWOOD THICK BLING DIAMANTE CHOKER | LAMODA

WERKIN’ GIRLS GREY FAUX LEATHER SHOULDER BAG | LAMODA

SHOUT OUT BLACK FAUX SUEDE ANKLE BOOTS | LAMODA

I almost want to start this post off with ‘raindrop, drop top’ because this outfit was channelling all sorts of bad and boujee. Not gonna annoy you with more Migos references though…I’m sure that’s all you’ve been seeing and hearing since December.

But look at this huge choker, even huger fur coat (servin’ them pimp looks) and these slick as hell boots. Migos and Lil Uzi would make an appropriate soundtrack for this post. Featuring The Hood Lab, LAMODA and Missguided…

What’s trending for AW16/17?

We’re well into Winter now (it’s finally starting to feel like it), so you may already be familiar with the key trends for the season. If not, then the key to nailing Autumn/Winter is standing out. We’re ending 2016 and bringing in the New Year with bold patterns, big silhouettes, high shine and tufted textures. Subtle is not what it’s about.

STUDENTS X MISSGUIDED: U0B Sample Sale

 [originally posted on the Missguided blog]

Two Fridays ago, Missguided decked the Guild at University of Birmingham with balloons, candyfloss, GIFs and glitter for our first ever sample sale, and yes we mean GIFs and glitter quite literally. Among the many boxes of sample clothes, shoes and accessories, we brought along a GIF photo booth, as well as glitter breakfasts for our early access VIPs. That is, real edible glitter sprinkled into fruity mocktails…as if the event wasn’t Instagrammable enough already!

Servin’ Snakeskin

WEARING:

FAUX LEATHER SNAKESKIN BIKER JACKET | MISSGUIDED

GREY HIGH NECK DROP ARMHOLE VEST | MISSGUIDED

STONEWASH BLUE OPEN RIP MOM JEANS | MISSGUIDED

BLACK RING CHOKER | ALDO

BLACK PLATFORM BOOTS

I’ve never really been a huge fan of animal prints – like, leopard skin works for some, but you can leave me out. Don’t get me wrong, it can look great on the right items but for the most part, it makes me think of Eastenders‘ Bianca…

As for snakeskin, I find it more wearable but I can’t say that I’ve bought any major printed items other than the odd clutch or some heels.

Until now, obviously. Missguided came through with this stunning snakeskin biker jacket, and my mind started racing with all the things I could dress it up and down with. I’ll definitely be styling this jacket with a variety of different looks in the future, but this time, I’m servin’ snakeskin in a kind of casual way. Plain vest, mom jeans, choker and platform boots – perfect for a quick meal with the girls or a laidback date.

MISSGUIDED: HQ & Meeting the Hella Cute Team

So, in case you haven’t already seen me plaster this information all over my snapchat, insta and twitter, I’m now a student brand ambassador for Missguided! Even as I type this, I’m squealing. It’s crazy to think that I’m now working with such a babein’ brand, one that I’ve been shopping with for over four years.

But I’m not the only one! Five other babes from University of Birmingham make up our Student Ambassador team: Becky, Hanna, Millie, Winnie and Phoebe [pictured above, in order from left to right]. We met for the first time at the start of this week at Missguided’s Manchester-based HQ which is, if you didn’t know, probably ‘the most instagrammable office on the planet’ (in the words of KK!).

London Town: Views From the Shard, Arty Tees and A-Lines

[SHOTS BY EBUN ANDU]

WEARING:

6051 III SHIRT | COURTESY OF NEVA HOSKING

PINK CORDOROY A-LINE SKIRT | PRIMARK

ROSE QUARTZ NECKLACE | STALL IN MALAGA

CLASSIC M754 NEW BALANCE IN GREY/OFF-WHITE | OFFICE

A couple of weeks ago, I was doing tourist in London and gawking at every red phone box and any street with rows of white houses. I’m easily impressed by new things, I know. So I was absolutely mind-blown when Ebun bagged us some cheap tickets for The Shard – the number one tallest building in the UK and fourth in Europe. All we needed was Drake’s Views playing in the background as we gazed at London city’s landscape.

It was a lovely few days of culture, creativity and fun. So I guess it was fitting to wear this tee featuring Neva’s beautiful prints and pair it with this cute A-line skirt.

Spain Side Sittin’: Malaga’s Street Art

When you think of ‘art’ and ‘Malaga’, Pablo Picasso may spring to mind. For me, it definitely did so during my holiday there, I made sure to visit the Picasso Museum. But on the way to that museum (well, on the way to anywhere, really), there was art all over the street walls.

I noticed that the instances of street art I saw were predominantly political…they really had something to say even if I could barely understand any text that was written. ‘Libertad’ is something that was repeated a lot however, and that much I understood. What wasn’t calling out for freedom or justice, was vibrant and attention-demanding. So have a scroll to see the few pieces I managed to capture (and also the pretty buildings, because I couldn’t help myself)…

Must Have: Get [White] Noisy With PUMA x Trapstar Collection

PUMA have been involved in so many wavy collaborations recently, that it’s a little hard to keep up with them. One minute it’s BAPE, then it’s Rihanna and now it’s West London-based label, Trapstar.

Their initial collab with Trapstar was in late 2015, but this year’s A/W collection is much bigger. This time around, the complete collection is encompassing armoury vests, hoodies and crewnecks to sweatpants and trainers.