T4 Testosterone.

I went to the GQ & Selfridges SS event on Thursday evening in MCR. Wrote about it for Manchester's Finest (opinions welcome)

Highlights X 5

1. Gladiator sandals for men. Really Kurt Geiger? Truly French Connection? This is MCR, not Milan.

2. Free Coke, vodka-tonic, Makers Mark and beer? Tick

3. Selfridges are too slick to comprehend

4. Jameela Jamil is Goddess like. An individual who genuinely lights up a room/whole floor of fashion

5. When males make an effort, I melt like crayons in the back of a hot car. Wowzers.

3 days later & I daren't think about the testosterone flying about that floor. Straight or otherwise there were some delightful sights. The clothes were pretty flash as well.

Filleting a Fish.

MFN (Manchester Fashion Network) put on a darn good talk Monday night; 'The Affiliate Marketing Talk'. The blurb, for want of a better word, was enticing; 'an opportunity for brands, bloggers and PRs to (s)ome* together to learn more about affiliate marketing, how it works and who it can benefit.'

In a sentence? This was a no-nonsense, informative event that did what it said on the tin. With gusto-enhanced-balls.

The three panelists were overly apt; Paul Hurst (online Marketing Manager at Boohoo.com), Justine Goldstraw (affiliate account Manager at R.O.EYE Ltd) and Vicki Day (owner of Fashionable Maven).

Any perspective you were interested in hearing about, they covered. From brands, to portals. Blogging, to company marketing strategies, this was a jam-packed hour, getting to the roots of what affiliate marketing is about. Who it's for. &most importantly how to make a pretty penny from it.

I won't whittle on about what I personally gained from the talk, but I shall note their top tips;

Register everything

Brands want to give you information, work with you, & for you

Small blogs make a difference (!)

Post regularly

Be yourself

The sites to check out if you're interested in affiliate marketing (for want of a less daunting phrase) is linkshare, affiliatesforyou.com and Google analytics

Shopping Trolley Art.

*Yes ... it was a typo.

Banging. Bang on.

Another day, another builder.

The new abode seems to be inundated with plasterers, lino-fitters, emultioners, matt/gloss painters and electricians. I kid you not. I can't move from my dining room. The bucket in the corner is looking tempting (!)

Thank flip, am off to the MCR Fashion Network Affiliate Marketing event this evening; shall report on my findings. One issue; the site. For an 'in the loop' fashion knowledge laden company, the site simply does not reflect this. Perhaps I'll use my one question to address MFN rather than the panelists (lies).

Today has been a flurry of glamour-grenade launches. The army of fashion-opinionated buzzy-bee-bloggers noting Oscars fashion triumphs and trumps has been almost as unbearable as the medias sickly-sweet relationship with Kate Middleton & her style. I shant add kindle to this bandwagon but I would like to note my most treasured Oscars dress. I still dream of this exquisite eyesore.

Vogue

The full list of '50 worst ever Oscar dresses' OH contraire.

Liver & Onions.

Spend the weekend in Liverpool. Rollercoaster ride of hilarity, delusion, libation (of the alcoholic nature) & lightly whipped banter.

Liverpool 1 is a must, naturally. The climax to our purchase hunt was Cavern Walks, a boutique bonanza. Sublime. I've never desired a whole shop. Genuinely. Until I fell in love with Lola. Lola Loves has stolen my heart & savings (/overdraft).

Next visit planned. Credit card drained.

Clubs visited? Shipping Forecast. Tick. Largos. Tick. Bumper (watch out for thieves). Tick. 3 bars blurring into one? Tick.

&we were only there for 23 hours. Riot.

The accent still grates on me.

Liverpudlian Artist Ian M.

T for Tango.

Life must've really been gay then. This was taken for a female dancing troupe of 1923. All so swanky. Just think; the scandal of the tango, epitome of the era Charleston, and the seductive Shimmy. Bring on Broadwalk Empire fashion, gaiety & frivolities in the coming year.

Vexed Verse.

Luke warm emotions, plod.

Crabby & irked. Perma.

Thwarted.

It's plaintive. I'm plaintive. It's plaintive.

Inferno

Next Generation.

Whilst flouncing round Pure I noticed a competition-cum-designer X factor type project. Next Generation.

The idea was to create a platform for the creme-de-la-creme of emerging designers to present original collections in a strong forum thus gaining the enormity of exposure that Pure Spirit can offer.

Judged by a panel of five experts (understatement of this years calibre), the competition was insanely intense. The two winners; The Village Green and Connected Generation, received a stand, while nine runner ups were awarded highly subsidised rates.

I particularly admire Village Green’s manifesto: to bring quintessentially English gems back from the grave, with honesty and respect their forefathers. It reminded me of a store I saw in NY. It took tired threads & revitalised them. On occasion making them more desirable than they were in their newness. Shall definitely be visiting them in Covent Garden when next down 'sarf. (I'm very tired ...)

I'd really recommend looking at the winners and runners up, some truly great pieces.

Maxjenny

Cashmere in Love

Silk and Sawdust

Trisori

The project has opened its doors again, this time for the August event. It's not simply to support the future talent, but to present buyers, press and visitors with the innovations and innovators of tomorrow.

Buyers were hugely impressed with this addition to the show, with buyers from iconic French department store Galeries Lafayette describing it as "an extremely interesting platform. We were taken aback by the passion from these upcoming designers." (Next Generation).

Check, check, check, check it out.