Lockdown Life - Face Mask Beauty

Stay Chic - Stay Safe 

Water colour pencil sketch by me

It's been a while between drinks, and wow, what a crazy world we find ourselves in right now. Here in New Zealand we are well into Lockdown L2 and face masks are highly advocated by the Health Ministry. For those who are wisely complying, the variety of masks has suddenly grown from the medicinal medical $2 kind (white & blue, sweaty, plasticky) to super cute homemade cotton prints (love these ones from Ama) and designer chic (Evie Kemp's Maaike mask is divine). I love these luxe silk ones from The Vampire's Wife and the Liberty lawn from Pearl Lowe. 

Pearl Lowe Liberty Masks, The Vampires' Wife Scarf Mask

Maiike Evie Kemp print Mask, The Vampire's Wife Silk Mask, Ama Life Cotton Mask

My dad is a doctor and is working with community groups to help Pasifika (Polynesian) people. He advocates the best material to use is cotton fabric that is thick enough to prevent most of the virus particles spread away from the face to infect others or for the wearer to breath in virus particles in the air. The more layers, the more effective. However, thick cotton rubbing directly onto your skin can be uncomfortable on the skin and cause spots, chaffing, rashes and clogged pores. 

Here are a few handy tips too help your skin stay healthy & spot-free in lockdown life.

*The best masks use a double layer of 100% cotton with an outer layer or thicker cotton like Drill. The inner layer is ideally a thin cotton like Lawn - a more 'breathable' fabric. 

*Avoid nylon as it is harder to breath in, and traps more moisture creating warmth & damp, which is not friendly to your skin.

*Choose a style that isn't too tight to your face, like the pleated or "cupped" versions. These give you more room to breathe between your mouth and the fabric, and are less likely to cause chaffing or spots from rubbing on the skin.

*Wash your mask after each use and always put on a new clean one. This is not only hygienic, but safer!

*Use a light moisturiser on your face around your mouth, lips and nose first, to provide a protective barrier between your skin and the mask. Moisturisers with beeswax are very effective, as the wax will keep moisture from getting into your skin to cause infection. I love this Kawakawa balm which uses Beeswax but also New Zealand botanicals which help to soothe irritated skin, and include antibacterial properties.

*Always wash your skin before and after mask use. That trapped sweat will sit and cause spots & rashes. A cleanser with salicylic acid is good, as it will slough off dead skin. Neutrogena has a good one here. 

*Apply your moisturiser afterwards to keep skin hydrated, and carry on with your usual skincare routine.

*To help with irritation, I highly recommend Kawakawa Balm. As mentioned above, it not only moisturises but also heals and soothes skin. 

If it's good enough for Kate to wear a mask, it's good enough for us!

Stay Safe - Stay Chic 💙

Kate Moss for Equipment SS2016

Kate's been a little quiet lately, but has roared back onto the scene with a campaign for Alberta Feretti Fall 2016, posing with daughter Lila Grace on the cover of Vogue Italia and a fabulous new collection for Equipment. 

Alberta Ferretti F/W 2016/17 by Luigi & Iango

Kate and Lila Grace by Mario Testino for Vogue Italia June 2016

Of her latest daily 'work look' of black skinny jeans, black cargo jacket over her shoulders, a black top, black boots, a black handbag and black sunglasses. “I can’t be bothered to get a look together,” she says of her daywear now. “But at night, I love dressing up. I go all out.” She may be dismissive of her day-to-day style but, for most of us, ‘unbothered’ Kate represents the pinnacle of wardrobe goals. Which is why the idea of a new fashion collaboration, with another bastion of cool, French contemporary label Equipment, comprising some of Moss’ favorite prints – lightning bolts, stars, leopard – has us itching to own it. “It’s just the kind of things I would wear,” explains Moss. Her husband Jamie Hince was a fan of the range and Kate used to steal his silk shirts. "It's the way that I like to dress. You know when you just throw on a silk shirt and feel good in it. It’s kind of that tomboy but sexy dressing I feel comfortable in for the day.” Net-a-Porter 

The Edit, Pret-a-Porter

"The Equipment people brought the shirts, and I reshaped them a bit and talked about the prints and how the pockets should be. I like having a part in designing something. Clothes are my thing. I like to talk about them, touch the fabric, see what feels right. I wanted the lightning bolt print—very Bowie—and the stars and the anchors." Vogue.com

Kate Moss, Susie Cave and Ella Richards by Daria Werbowy for Equipment

There's a pop-up store of the collection The temporary store is located at 62 Blandford Street in London and will be open between June 2nd - June 9th. Sales by day one were widely reported as being slow, but given the price point is quite high, I imagine this could be a reason. 

Equipment Pop Up store

"I'm not pretending that I'm going to put a show on or something - this was a capsule collection that we threw together." But, with the world around her defining her style on a daily basis, how would Moss best sum it up herself? "Going from grungy to tomboy to really," she said. "I like being dressed up and glamourous as well though - I like doing through the ages. But there isn't really any no for me! I can see big Fifties dresses, and I'm like, 'I really wanna wear that!' Like a Grace Kelly pale blue dress, ahh! But then I'd fuck it up with eyeliner and all that. It always has to be a bit modern for me." Vogue.com

The accompanying video by Daria Werbowy starring Kate and her friend, model Susie Cave (nee Bick, now wife of Nick Cave) is Kate Moss fabulousness. Shot in her Costwalds bolt-hole with a soundtrack of T-Rex is pure 70's decadence. "I grew up with Susie when I was first working. I kind of get shy when she’s around—she’s so feminine, all woman! I met her getting on a flight to New York. I’d be in trainers and cut-up skirts, and she’d always be head to toe in perfect Alaïa. I’m a bit more messy" Vogue.com

KATE MOSS X EQUIPMENT from EQUIPMENT on Vimeo.

"That’s my room in the country where I’ve had so many parties, birthdays, and gigs. I love that decadent feeling. Everyone should have a room with a stage, a mic, and a drum kit, don’t you think?"Vogue.com. Shop the full collection here.

Equipment Instagram

All hail Queen Viv

Vivienne for Harper's Bazaar by Camilla Armbrust 

When I was back at my parent's house recently, I found 3 fab fashion books I'd bought in 1997 on 3 of my favourite designers - Versace, Alaia and Vivienne Westwood. Flicking through the Vivienne Westwood book reminded me of the true genius she really is.

Vivienne Westwood met Malcolm McLaren in the late 60's, when fashion in the UK was all about Biba, Ossie Clark and moving into hippie chic. Vivienne and Malcolm railed against this hippie style and took over a shop on the trendy Kings Rd called Let it Rock, selling 50's teddy-boy fashions, 2nd hand vinyl & old radios found in flea markets. Charles Saatchi was a customer, who collected old records.

By 1972 the shop had morphed into Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die, and they sold outrageous, provocative clothes with slogans such as 'Only anarchists are pretty' and a punk edge designs inspired by fetishists, prostitutes and the burgeoning punk movement. Items such as razor blades, dog collars and toilet chains were incorporated with Scottish tartans. Malcolm was designing for the New York Dolls.

In 1974 the shop was renamed SEX. Their slogan was "rubber wear for the office". John Lydon started hanging out at the store, and Johnny Rotten and The Sex Pistols were born.

In 1976, Malcolm started to manage and dress the Sex Pistols. SEX became The Seditionairies and opened to cult status. The BBC refused to play 'God Save the Queen' and the Pistols seemed a culmination in everything Vivienne & Malcolm stood for - punk, anarchy & freedom of speech.

The Pistols split up in 1978 and Sid Vicous OD-ed on heroin in 1979. Meanwhile, Vivienne's interest moved on from punk and her aesthetic shifted to a more bohemian, gypsy look fused with pirate chic - think Captain Jack Sparrow crossed with Prince. SEX changed to World's End, as it remains today, and Vivienne began studying historical dress, and held her first fashion show in 1981. The seminal 'Pirates' collection was shown in 1981, and embraced the 'New Romantic' movement, all billowing shirts and flowy scarves, a re favourite look of Boy George and bands such as Human League and Spandau Ballet. Malcolm started dressing bands such as Bow Wow Wow and Adam and the Ants.The next few years brought collections Savage, and Buffalo Girls. Buffalo was an 80's British street look that domianted the 1980's, pioneered by designer Ray Petri. Buffalo was symbolized by flight 'bomber' jackets, baggy suits, Rayban Wayfarers, Levis 501s, shoulder pads, bike shorts & scrunched down socks with chunky shoes or combat boots (think Yazz 'The only way is up' and Nick Kamen in the cult Levis ad in the laundrette). This look that inspired by Neneh Cherry in one of my fave songs, 'Buffalo Stance' from 1986.

Buffalo Girls collection, 1982/1983

From 1988 - 1992, Vivienne drew inspiration from 18 & 19 Century French painters such as Boucher, and the beautiful corsetry of the Victorian era and aristocrats. Her attention moved to 'It girls' and the upper-crust as her 'mini crinis', 10 inch heels and amazing corsets were featured in upper crust mag Tatler, and clad the most amazing bodies in fashion - the new breed of models - 'Supermodels' - Linda, Christy, Naomi, Kate, Niki, Karen and co.

Niki Taylor in corset, British Vogue circa 1991

Christy Turlington in 'Statue of Liberty' corset, 1988

Karen Mulder in Boucher print corset shot by Karl Lagerfeld, 1990

Susie Bick in corest, 1991

Corset Collection 1990

Linda Evangelista, Spring Summer Collection 1996
Westwood muse Sara Stockbridge in a mini crini

Vivienne's inspiration from French culture resulted in her Anglomania collection: "On the English side we have tailoring and an easy charm, on the French side that solidarity of design and proportion that comes from never being satisfied because something can always be done to make it better, more refined - hence an elaboration that always stops short of vulgarity - and then that 'je ne sais quoi' that pulls it all together."

Kate Moss as tartan bride, 1993/94 Anglomania collection

In 1992 Vivienne received an OBE, causing a stir by twirling around in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace to reveal that she was 'going commando'. In 2006 Vivienne was made a Dame - she collected this award wearing horns (Lady Gaga you're 5 years too late!). She has been named British Designer of the Year three times.

Flashing at Buckingham Palace collected her OBE, 1992

Collecting her DBE in 2006
 

Kate single-handedly revived Vivienne's pirate boots from her 1981 collection when wearing her pair from vintage London store Rellik in 1999, starting a frenzy and forcing them to go back into production. You will have seen many a photo of Kate rocking these boots!

Kate has appeared in countless Westwood shows and campaigns, a few here below.

Kate & Vivienne

Westwood stands shoulder to shoulder with Alexander McQueen as a pioneer of that eccentric, outrageous British style and is embraced by many a celeb including artist Tracey Emin, actresses Pamela Anderson, Demi Moore, Christina Hendricks (who is the face of her new jewelery range), Keira Knightley, Sarah Jessica Parker & Helen Bonham Carter, media identity and super chef Nigella Lawson, Burlesque diva Dita Von Teese (who wore an electric violet Westwood wedding dress), singer Gwen Stefani, and models and friends Jerry Hall, Susie Bick, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell (who famously fell on the catwalk wearing vertiginous Westwood heels , the resulting image being beamed around the world for posterity). It is no surprise that her designs are beloved by strong, confident, sexy women - her signature cinched in, corseted dresses showcase a killer cleavage, cinched waist and va va voom curves.

Naomi stacks it, Westwood show 1994

The divine long-time Westwood advocate Helena Bonham Carter

Dita Von Teese's wedding dress, marrying Marilyn Manson in 2005

Carrie Bradshaw's wedding dress

Demi Moore in Westwood shoot, 'Queen of Sheba' dress 1995

Demi Moore in Westwood at the Costme Designers Guild Awards Feb 2011

Nigella in Westwood at 2008 fashion show

Gwen in pink Weswtood at Aviator premiere, 2004

Christina Hendricks, new face of Westwood's new jewellery line, 2011

Tatiana Sorokko and Jerry Hall

Amazing Testino shot - Vogue's Millennium Party 1999 featuring Vivienne holding court with Helena Christensen & then husband Norman Reedus, Fatboy Sim, Tracey Emin, Paul Smith, Blur's Alex James and milliner Stephen Jones among others

Vivienne's collaborations with the outrageous Pamela Anderson are a particular favourite of mine. She met Pammy at a 2009 show and was so taken with the blonde vixen that she put her in her show and an outrageous trailer-trash chic photo soot for her line shot by Juergen Teller. The shoot was inspired by Pammy's then-home, a trailer - and culminated in the Queens of the Stonage dropping around to the trailer for tea. “Yesterday, I was considered soft porn, but today I am art,” says Anderson of her cultural rehabilitation from trash-TV pin-up to high-brow connoisseur. “I have an eclectic group of friends. I like people who can feed your soul,” she continues in her breathy, little-girl voice. And Westwood is one such person." The Observer, 2009 article

Pamela in Westwood shoot ( & also featuring Vivienne & partner Andreas),
shot by Juergen Teller, 2009

Pammy walking for Westwood in 2009

When Pam met Viv - My Polyvore set

In 2004 a major retrospective of Vivienne's work was shown at the V&A. Vivienne and Malcolm's son Joseph launched divine lingerie brand Agent Provocateur in 1994.Met Gala, 2006

Vivienne Westwood is one of my favourite designers. She's rock, she's punk, she's outspoken and her designs are audacious, sexy, original and impeccably made. Long live the Queen!