THE COVETED MAG

Immaculate Conception

The Coveted Mag simply cannot wait for the Go Reborn Pop Up Shop in Princes Mall, Edinburgh.

Behind this great idea are the good people of Godiva Boutique who, like us, are champions of Scottish talent and local design.

Go them!

Perking me up.

Absolutely dying of the cold right now, which is not good as photoshoots need to be organised, articles need to be written, and launch parties need to be scheduled. Not good indeed.

Sifting through the usual rubbish in my inbox, a launch invite caught my eye for Edinburgh based Adil Iqbal's new collection. He states that his three main influences are Northern Pakistan, Vintage and Futurism. The range will be available to buy from Kakao by K.

 

 

 

Ooooh Fancy!

Che Camille have finally got their brand new fancy pants website up and running! I really hope that they keep their events diary up to date and regularly post on their blog! Check it oot here.

Good luck to them for tonight's Scottish Style Awards!

Ooooh purchases!

The purchases made at The Maisonette Launch party include this gorgeous PETA-would-approve fox scarf by Knit and Destroy and feather and sequins headpiece by Margolily. Before posting the photos, I had the foresight to photoshop out the hot double chin action, just in case you think the lower half of my face looks a bit, em...blurry. There is also a cheesetastic photo out there somewhere of me paying for these items as the Maisonette's 2nd official customer. Claire from Miso Funky pipped me to the post. Dam her!

A Crafty Housewarming

Just back from Glasgow's West End where The Coveted Mag were guests at the VIP launch of the Made in the Shade Maisonette in De Courcy's Arcade on Cresswell Lane. It was super-dooper and we purchased some fab things. Check the pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And introducing The Tiny Gallery...A 1metre squared exhibition space currently showing Jennifer Nicolson's post-it-note art. I wanted to test the theory that only one viewer can fit in at any one time, when a lovely looking man with a goatee and a leather jacket came in, but thought best not to...

 

Don't they know it's Hallowe'en?

The Scottish Style Awards takes place in The Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow on Saturday 31st October. Yip, you read correctly. They clash with another huge fashion event: Halloween.

Ever since Jenni Falconer won Most Stylish Female at last year's Scottish Fashion Awards, our respect for, and any credibility associated with, these sort of events took a serious nosedive.  Is Jenni Falconer really the most stylish Scottish person? Is she heck. Nothing against the girl. We come from the same neck of the woods, and I have heard she is a lovely person, but these event organisers needed to realize that just because someone who is on the telly and doesn't dress like a dog's dinner, and just happens to be Scottish, does not automatically make them the toast of the fashion world.

However, as I posted earlier, Queen Michelle from Kingdom of Style is up for the Most Stylish Female award. Is this a hint that these events will be looking less to the z-list for fashion inspiration and more to underground cult fashion exploration like blogs, zines, and dare I say it, online magazines? I hope so.

Anyway, if you haven't been invited to any wonderful Halloween parties, and make it along to the awards, here are our predictions...

MOST STYLISH BAR

Bilberry, Glasgow
Cuan Mor, Oban
Hummingbird, Glasgow
r Bar @ Rocpool Reserve, Inverness
The Ailsa Bar & Lounge, Turnberry
Treacle, Edinburgh

MOST STYLISH RESTAURANT

Chez Roux, Inverness
Dining Room, Glasgow
Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond
The Saint, Edinburgh
The Two Figs, Glasgow
Ee–usk, Oban

MOST STYLISH HOTEL

21212, Edinburgh
Blythswood Square, Glasgow
Hawke & Hunter, Edinburgh
Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh
Malmaison, Aberdeen
Hotel Hebrides, Isle of Harris

MOST STYLISH ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

An Lanntair, Stornoway, Western Isles
Bacaro, Edinburgh
Eden Court, Inverness
SWG3, Glasgow
The Green Room, Edinburgh
The Supper Club @ 29, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH HIGH STREET RETAILER

All Saints
H&M
River Island
Reiss
Schuh
Topshop

MOST STYLISH BOUTIQUE

Agent Provocateur, Glasgow
Boudiche, Edinburgh and Glasgow
Che Camille, Glasgow
Jane Davidson, Edinburgh
Mulberry, Edinburgh and Glasgow
Vivienne Westwood, Glasgow

MOST STYLISH FEMALE

Karen Gillan – Actress
Louise Linton – Actress
Michelle Haswell aka Queen Michelle – Co–founder, Kingdom of Style
Penny Martin – Writer / Broadcaster
Stacey Duguid – Executive Fashion Editor, Elle
Tessa Campbell Fraser – Sculptor

MOST STYLISH MALE

Alan Cumming – Actor
Gerard Butler – Actor
George Lamb – Radio and television presenter
Michael Clark – Dancer
Richard Madden – Actor
Simon Harper – Editor, Clash Magazine

MOST STYLISH BAND OR MUSICIAN

Biffy Clyro
Calvin Harris
Codeine Velvet Club
George Demure
Glasvegas
The Aliens

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION

Harris Tweed Hebrides

Needless to say, our tickets have been given to our (over the moon) mother who will be flying the Coveted Mag Flag while we go to a party dressed as a peacock.

Queen Michelle - Most Stylish Female in Scotland (fact)

As the nominees were announced for The Scottish Style Awards, I was half expecting the usual list of vaguely familiar names of Scottish actresses and presenters that have graced our TV screens over the years, but whom are hardly known for taking any risks fashion-wise. I was very pleasantly surprised when I noticed Michelle Haswell (although it took a minute to click that they were meaning Queen Michelle) in the list of nominees for Most Stylish Female.

I don't have a clue who is on the judging panel for this, but I think that it is a pretty easy call to make.

Anyone who goes out in the mean streets of Glasgow in a feather headdress will always get my vote!

Hot heads.

The stereotypical Scottish person wears a tartan kilt, drinks Whisky, is mean with money and has lots of red hair. At The Coveted Mag, we HATE cultural stereotypes, especially of the Scottish variety when used in relation to promoting Scottish fashion. We will NEVER EVER forget the horrific promo materials for the 1st GFW, emblazoned with models wearing tartan dresses. People that actually know what is happening on the Scottish fashion scene cringed with embarrassment and many of them refused to show their support for the fledgling event. I heard it summed up perfectly recently, when a friend said that the logo resembled that of a Garden Festival.

 

YUK!

With GFW 09 happening (ok...possibly,maybe happening. I sent an email over a month ago to their press department and they still haven't replied with confirmation) in The Lighthouse in November, it will be interesting to see their approach in the event's third year. Despite any misgivings and cringe-heavy memories I have, I am going to go to as many shows as possible this year and view the whole thing with an open mind.

One Scottish stereotypical feature, however, that I would NOT mind them taking advantage of is the misconception that we Scots all have red hair. The fashion world is going red-hair-crazy at the moment from musicians Florence Welch, Paloma Faith and Beth Ditto to model legend Karen Elson for H&M, Elise Hélène Gatschene for Danielle Schutt and Tod Lynn, and the glorious Alice Gibb, Keats and Mariya Markina for Mulberry S/S 10 shows. 

Redheads rock.

 

 

 

 

Sarah xx

The Mobos. Aye.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you will be aware that Glasgow is hosting the 2009 Mobo Awards.

I am more into my metal, grunge and emo, but the buzz around this year's Mobos has been infectious, even for a hardcore rocker like me. The banners around Glasgow, along with dj sets in Buchanan Street and sightings of DJ Ironik have left me hankering after some good old fashioned bling. But Bling, Sarah-style. I bought this cute, but also morbid in a mafia related way, horse's head necklace from my mates at We are the Robots.

Not Smiling: Check. Double Chin: Check .Can't even see the fricking detail on the stupid horse's face because of stupid flash, rubbish camera and no skillz: Check. Woop....here is another shot:

The Coveted Mag's Editor, i.e. me, was asked to style some people for this event, so all day today, I was traipsing around town pulling together outfits for one of the acts. I went everywhere, from Primark to Cruise, and from Office to Che Camille. Ideally, being a supporter of Scottish independent design, I would have loved to have had everyone decked out head to toe in stuff from Rabii Denim, Claire Hamilton and Rebecca Torres. I tried. But as hard as I might, there was no way I was going to be allowed to sneak a fab 'Glasgow' motif Tunnocks caramel wafer t shirt into the look, or an amazing vintage Gold leopard print jacket from new vintage kids on the block, 'Betty Swollocks'. The producers had a particular look in mind, therefore I had to keep to it, which meant borrowing clothing from the high street chain stores. Big thanks go to Camille from Che Camille for taking the time to go through possible outfit combinations with me, and for risking her neck, standing on her workshop tables taking photos. I will post some photos of the eventual outfits after the event, so as not to spoil the surprise, but until then, here are some looks that didn't make it.

Every time that I have been into Che Camille in Argylle Arcade, I have left with a mental list of items that I want to buy and of designers that I want to learn more about. There are some pieces that are not to my taste, but it is more their message that I love. They actively encourage innovation, new designers and artists without any pretension or snobbery. This is a designer boutique where you are welcomed and encouraged to interact and learn something new.

Anyway, hopefully, I will have oodles of pictures to post on Thursday from behind the scenes. Keep reading the blog and make sure you watch The Mobos on Wednesday 30th Sep, BBC3, 9pm.

Sarah xxx

Roll Up! Roll Up!

Here's some images from the Pin Up Nights Circus featuring Naboo (who incidentally 'turned his back on me' annoyingly when I was trying to take his photo).

Uber kitsch We are the Robots were my drinking buddies...

Pistol Whip Vintage

Some chick in the toilets that had cool pink hair and purple eyelashes. Go her!

I want this girl's jumper.

Nabooooooooooooolio.

Some random clown who is also a pretty good photographer.