You might think that because knitwear designer Mark Fast grew up in Winnipeg that his garments would be warm and cosy but he’s created some of the chicest and sexist knitwear around! Think corsetry, Elizabethan/Joan of Arc and a hint of S&M. Mark knits everything by hand on a domestic knitting machine.

Mark studied fashion design at Seneca College in Toronto. He then moved to London and did a foundation in Fashion Design at London College of Fashion. He did a BA and MA in Fashion Design with Knitwear at Central St. Martins. He also worked with Bora Aksu for a few seasons.

Mark Fast will be showing at London Fashion Week on February 24th!
 
Mark is presently living in London.

In Canada you can purchase Mark Fast at Holt Renfrew and in London at Browns.

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Winter Blues Turn the World Upside Down but a Fabulous Winter Coat Turns all Around

As the winter drags on and spring and its glorious fashion seems further and further away, there is one thing we fashionistas have to bury our winter blues away, the Winter Coat. This essential winter investment can give a lift to any outfit. As the first leg of winter comes to an end it is easy to update you’re your clothes with a daring new coat. This season is like no other, with fantastic styles, cuts, and bold colours found from the catwalk to the high street. Whether you want to go bold in bright pinks and yellows like Miu Miu and Chloe, channel the English Heritage trend in plaid or tweed as seen on the runways of Dolce Gabbana, or try out this season’s military chic as inspired by the designs of Burberry and Sonia Rykiel. With numerous selections available of chic and cost-effective coats, it will be easy to keep warm and stylish this winter!

If you are a chic chick on a budget then have no fears, all these fabulous styles are available all over the high street, perfect for the recessionista. Topshop has a new selection of winter coats including the military chic double-breasted ‘wonderland’ wool coat which comes in deep blues and bold reds and at just £110 is a perfect edition to your winter wardrobe. Meanwhile, Principles has come out with a beautifully structured ‘Tailored’ coat for £89, fabulous as an edition to a more romantic whimsical look. Dorothy Perkins has produced fabulous mutli-trend coats including the colorful wrap-around ‘Bow coat’, for £75 which comes in a fabulous range of colours including a deep magenta, bright yellow and sky blue.

With so many styles and prices ranging from under £100 to over £1000 there is no budget too tight to finance this investment! This winter don’t hide yourself away under dreary fashion, be bold and leave an impression in a striking winter coat!

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Who can resist a girl who walks around in tights and vintage Versace sunglasses and who doesn’t give a sh*t what other people think?

Too many people want to be famous just for the sake of being fabulous and Lady Gaga is fabulous but when I saw her at the Nokia party at Punk she really gave me the impression of being someone with staying power. She’s been playing piano since she was four. At thirteen she wrote her first ballad and she was performing open mic nights at fourteen.

At the age of seventeen, Lady GaGa was one of only twenty people in the world to have gained early admission to the New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied music

She began working for Interscope Records as a songwriter, and wrote songs for the Pussycat Dolls – who she’s presently opening for. She’s written songs and performed with New Kids on the Block.

Lady Gaga DJ’d at the Nokia 5800 Tube Dance Party.

I think what’s become interesting about pop singers is they no longer look pop or high street – they have to look super cool, alternative, creative – they need to be at the forefront of fashion!

Love it – The Haus of Gaga

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Paris Hilton was at the Nokia 5800 Tube Dance Party at Punk last night. You might not have realized that I was a Paris Hilton fan – but I am. I think she’s a great celebrity – she makes it look so easy. It seemed quite scary when the photographers closed in on Paris but she handled them like a pro. She was facing one direction doing an interview and when she finished she turned and faced the other direction so all the photographers got their shot. It sounds simple but she was impressive to watch.

Nowadays we always assume a celebrity shows up at an event because they were paid. I found out from the PRs that Paris showing up at this event wasn’t even planned – they were just as surprized as I was! She said she just wanted to meet Lady GaGa, who was DJ-ing. 

A few weeks back I saw a picture of Paris wearing a VIP Lipsy dress – I mentioned it to the PR and she said that Paris was wearing it just because she liked it – not because she paid to wear it. So it’s good to know that someone like Paris goes to parties and wears certain clothes just because she wants to. We tend to think that all celebrities do everything for money – some do and of course keeping in the pubic eye promotes their other businesses but some just like to have fun and maybe Paris does too!

Paris wore a Lipsy dress in London while filming her ITV 2 reality TV show, Paris Hilton’s British Best Friend.

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Last night I saw Ava Leigh perform at the Soho Review in London. I love seeing new singers perform. Ava has a fabulous voice – think Amy Winehouse/Joss Stone + touch of reggae. She’s just a cool, hippy chic girl living in Brighton – which seems to suit her.

She declined to go to stage school and is working her way up the old fashion way – singing in jazz clubs and festivals.

She’s recorded her debut album with Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, as well as Future Cut, who produced Lily Allen’s Smile.

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