Brighton Fashion Week 2012 - The Brighton Frocks show

Alice Parsons took in the first show at the 2012 Brighton Fashion Week:

The 2012 Brighton Fashion Week ‘Catwalk show’ at All Saints Church, Hove, had all the pre-show excitement, anticipation and awesome looking guests of previous years. Also the same lengthy queue for the bar (allowing more time for outfit perving). And the promise of an entire week’s worth of fashion to follow.

I had the great fortune of being seated on the front row, close enough to the catwalk to see every sequin and goose pimple. Also possibly close enough to be blinded by the whirlwind of an opener that was Celia Arias designs. A display of outlandish characters took to the catwalk. An evil puppet mistress steered a sumptuous Japanese puppet into view. They were followed by a cautious gollum sporting a skull and plastic aeroplane helmet, who checked his surroundings before beckoning a shy green monster onto the stage in Little Sister, Big Daddy style.

Latex was next, Lucky Dame showcased a collection of naughty, nude and pastel colored dresses led on by stunning BFW model Tess Georgia Dimos (pictured below). Despite latex’s saucy vibe, the outfits still had something cute about them, although along with Arias' creations perhaps fall into the not so wearable on a daytime/public spaces basis.

Frantic About Frances followed. The range of vintage style boudoir underwear is glamorous enough to get the sailors wolf-whistling whilst still looking pretty damn comfy. At this point my neighbour turned to me and asked ‘Are the gussets big enough?’ to which I replied ‘Yes, I think they are’, a special moment and a rarity in modern underwear, I’m sure some will agree.  It was also brilliant fun getting into the vintage spirit with a burlesque striptease and union jack waving.

Aneta Mackonyte’s ‘Rainbow Warriors’ are influenced by Tibetan, Mayan and Incan mythology. ‘I am trying to unite my own knowledge and emotions by mixing fantasy and the everyday in a child-like way.’ Mackonyte explains. Happy models, wearing relaxed chunky layers echoed her message. Clashes of tribal prints, bright woven fabrics, bear hats and knotted prayer flags would be great for snugly winter outfits.

Other highlights included feisty punks at Charles of London and Flash Gordon futurism at Shara Haze. The hairy zombie men clawing at us from the catwalk were also a big hit. Student and BFW fan Astrid Harbour commented, ‘What Jylle Navarro created with a pair of knitting needles was absolutely extraordinary’. My only complaint of the evening being the large number of lollipops carried throughout the show and the slightly abrupt ending after the final designer.

This year the models were stronger than ever. Local beauties (stand outs including Ellis Anthony, Desiree Laidler and Liv), many modelling for the first time and doing a spectacular job, were supported by the talented backstage crew as returning BFW model Dimos explains. "A team of hardworking individuals backstage power through the hours to perfect the look on the already very beautiful models. Make-up artists, hair stylists, dressers and designers were all working round the clock to get the models out and ready on time. Backstage madness is always worth it in the end; the models graced the catwalk in their stunning garments. Brighton Fashion Week has done it once again and put on a show to remember."

I quite agree.

BFW takes place every year in May. For more information visit: http://www.brightonfashionweek.com/
Follow Tess Georgia Dimos on Facebook. Follow BFW on Facebook.

Review by Alice Parsons. Photos courtesy of Theresa Power and Brighton Fashion Week.

Tess Georgia Dimos interviews Bobby Six!

Bobby Townsend, the, ahem, brains behind Bobbysix.com, is used to being the man asking the questions. Sometimes though, like here, he becomes the interviewee, where he stutters and stumbles his way through the simplest of questions. This week, he was interviewed by the delightful Tess Georgia Dimos (above, who he interviewed earlier in the year) about his experiences talking to models. Here's a snippet:

Hey Bobby ! So, you have interviewed quite a few models over the past year or so, is it a pleasant experience speaking to a model? 

I first started interviewing models as I was very keen to feature a more eclectic bunch of people on my blog, rather than just bands. So I spoke to some writers, artists, film-makers, models, etc. The model interviews always got the most views, so I was obviously keen to feature more. As I started doing more interviews with them, I found that the quality of answer was invariably very good. At first, I couldn’t really work out why these interviews always went so well, but then I realised that, often, models don’t really get the chance to air their voice. They are just treated as glorified clothes horses, bossed around and not always shown much respect. So, when someone actually makes the effort to say, “Tell me about yourself, I’m really interested in what you have to say,” they are happy to take the opportunity to show that they are more than two-dimensional characters. The thing that often comes across is how much more to their lives there is than modelling. The generally accepted idea that models are vacuous is completely unrepresentative, in my opinion. The vast majority of models are intelligent, friendly and endearing.

You can read the full interview here. 

Getting To Know... Tess Georgia Dimos

As well as being a finalist for the upcoming Sussex Model of the Year Award 2011, Tess Georgia Dimos is an all-round lovely human-being. So we thought you'd want to learn a little about her. Here goes:

Modelling is not what I expected it to be. When I first started getting into modelling seriously with catwalk shows and photoshoots, I expected all the models to be competitive and bitchy, just like they are portrayed to be... Designers to shout at size four girls telling them they are too fat and photographers to come-on to any female model that walks in front of their lens. I'm pleased to say that nine times out of ten this isn't the case. Modelling is what I'd call the perfect job; not for all the clichéd reasons of getting made-up to look pretty and perfect. I have gotten to meet the most talented, artistic and humble people. Modelling has opened so many doors for me and my mind; I couldn't be more grateful. I have made lifelong friends, been lucky enough to have seen some beautiful places and, of course, had the most fun ever these past two years.

I am half-Greek. I lived in Ilioupoli, Athens until I was nine years old. I love the culture, speak the language fluently and adore my Greek family and friends, as they are all very open and close. Everyone is aware of each others feelings. If there was any bad feeling it would be resolved quickly and I love that - unlike my English family who would keep their problems to themselves and deal with it. I think that's very unhealthy.

Aside from my modelling work, I dream. A lot. I dream about the future and make up little scenarios in my mind. This is going to sound very 'Miss Universe' but helping and saving animals is something I've always been passionate about and I wish I could do it fully. Since a very young age I helped raise money for various different animal charities, including helping the working donkeys in Egypt. I used to raise money through organizing cake sales at school and sending money off to various animal charities monthly. I dream that one day I'll have my own charity and help make a difference, as an animal is defenseless when it comes face-to-face with a human. Something I'd also love to do when I'm older is open my own nightclub, or a nice beach bar, in Greece.

I am currently listening to The Black Keys, 22-20's, Broken Bells, Muse (old stuff), Bob Marley, Radiohead and Pyx Lax (Greek Rock band).

I'm really inspired by art and music. My mother is an artist and growing up beside her work has played a huge part in what I've become today. I see beauty in a different way. My mother captured moments and just painted them. Even if the object she was painting wouldn't cross your mind as 'beautiful' if you saw it in front of you, in a picture or a painting it can look stunning and change the way you viewed that object originally. Music, also, is something I simply couldn't live without, I love listening to sad songs - music that has meaning and moves you from the inside.

It might surprise people to learn that I used to be a huge stamp collector and that I still flick through my collection occasionally! Maybe that's something I shouldn't admit.

In the future I want to be successful, still smile at the little things in life and always be grateful for the life I've had. I always go by this Leonardo da Vinci quote: "As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death."

Tess is represented by www.motmodel.com and www.freshagents.co.uk. Why not check her out as the face for the Ophelia Fancy Out Of Control collection, and have a squizz of some of her other work with uber-talented photographer, Kevin Mason. Also, you can keep up to date with all the good stuff she has got going on by following her on Twitter.

Interview by Robert Townsend.
Why not follow Bobbysix.com on facebook for more interviews such as this?

Brighton Fashion Week - The Video

Okay, so I'm a writer by trade, but I've always fancied myself as a bit of a movie maker. While the less that is said about the "comedy" short I wrote and directed when I was at college the better (choice bit of dialogue from this film:"Oh my God, his willy's hanging out"), I am pretty proud to have co-directed this music clip of my friend being slapped repeatedly round the face in a car park (watch it, it's better than it sounds), and also to have appeared in this one.

Anyhoo, to the point. In amongst reviewing, photographing, interviewing and generally schmoozing with the beautiful people at Brighton Fashion Week, I also managed to shoot a bit of footage, which I have rather crudely pieced together and set to music. It's hardly Oscar-worthy, but it'll give you a taste of what this year's event was like. And, basically, it means you can spend the next five minutes looking at pretty people. And everyone likes pretty people. Check it below:

Words, pictures and video footage by Rob Townsend.
For more music, video and fashion, follow Bobbysix.com on Facebook.