By Amy and Rachel

Looking back, so much has changed in the past year. January 2010 saw the launch of British Style Bloggers’ ‘Body Image Season’ campaign to raise awareness of body image issues in the media and fashion industries. Many readers were probably involved – we had a great few months, and we’re so proud of what we achieved, but this year, we have decided that there is more to it than that.

In May 2010, we were screen-tested with Channel 4 for their campaigning programme, Battlefront 2, where we decided to focus on airbrushing in the media – and to fight that. We sadly didn’t get through – which is a blessing in disguise because so much has changed in our personal lives since then!

This column, though, is the launch of a whole new campaign: NATURE MADE US BEAUTIFUL, a campaign to ask the media to diversify its representation of women. We’ve worked so hard to come up with an inclusive vision for the campaign and we think we might just have one now. We want to talk about people with disabilities, people of different races, people who aren’t the right shape or height...

Because we think this is beautiful, what others in the industry see as "imperfections" are what make you, you. They show where you've been and where you're going. And we think you should be proud of that.

During our campaign we will be encouraging women to stand up and use their voices to rebel against the media's idea of beauty by showing them that we are beautiful - every single one of us. We want you to remember what it was like to not care about your appearance or what others thought. Don't ever grow up.

As young women in this industry we have both witnessed and been subject to the body image prejudices that occur every day in the media. Airbrushing in particular upsets us as we feel that by doing so magazines and advertisers tell women that we should only be satisfied with our bodies if they have been "perfected"

We hope you will support our campaign and that in turn we can help you feel more confident about who you are.

You can find out more at www.naturemadeusbeautiful.tumblr.com or by emailing nmubcampaign@britishstylebloggers.org.uk.

This is a guest-blog by the lovely Sara :)

We've all coveted those front row spots the celeb bloggers have been snagging these past few seasons at fash weeks around the globe. Who hasn't felt a teensie weensie stab of jealousy when we pour over gushing interviews of the famous few in the glossies? Let’s face it; we would sacrifice our dearest Louboutins to be in their shoes. But you know what? I think 2011 is going to be the year that the lowly fashion blogger goes mainstream.

Sure, the stars probably need to be perfectly aligned, the planets tilting on the right axis, not to mention the assistance of a few leprechauns and a handful of rabbits feet (faux of course) stuffed into our Mulberry Alexa’s. The celeb-bloggers may have been at their trade a little longer than the rest of us, but who’s to say that there aren’t more Tavi-tastic teens or Tommy Ton snappers out there just waiting to be discovered.

The transparency that social media and the blogosphere have bought to the fashion industry has meant that editors and journalists alike, have slowly come to terms with this new age - there’s no gilded curtain anymore – with live streaming anyone can watch a show.

So, how to get to the celebrity infested front row? Or hey, even just through the door to a fashion show? Aside from being Ms Jay Alexander or an up and coming starlet, the answer lies in front of your nose – it’s your blog of course.

2011 is the year to consider your edge, your USP, what are you bringing to the party that thousands of others are not.

1. Follow the advice of those ‘how to’ blog posts – make this the year that you join that forum, pluck up the courage to attend that networking evening and join in the debate. At a recent networking thing I went to in New York, Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist) was right there, toting his camera, digging the scene with the rest of us…

2. You have an opinion – make it heard – but remember, once out there, there ain’t no retracting it. Be professional, constructive and courteous. Blogging is a relatively new media platform for sure, but as it gains respect, an amateur attitude will have you falling by the wayside.

3. PR companies have thawed towards the lowly blogger – sign up to their email lists to receive news and press releases on their clients. Try http://www.modemonline.com/ for fashion weeks, pr agencies and trade shows.

4. Register for Fashion Weeks, there’s a few formalities to fill in on the application, but they’ll check out your blog/content and who knows, with a little hard work and luck you might get that golden ‘press’ ticket.

Paris Fashion Week - http://www.modeaparis.com/?lang=en

New York Fashion Week -http://www.mbfashionweek.com/

London Fashion Week -http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/

Milan Fashion Week - http://www.cameramoda.it/mmd/index.php?STL=en

Or for more fashion weeks than you can shake a stiletto at – check out this list - http://www.cosmoworlds.com/fashion_weeks.htm

5. Once you’ve got the nod (or at least the press pass), start applying for shows to the pr’s & designers themselves – I can’t tell you how dull this process is & there’s no amount of rsvp’ing and then confirming you’ve rsvp’d to the rsvp you already rsvp’d to – but to be fair, with belligerence – it’s worth it. Run a tight organizational ship and you’ll reap the rewards. Here’s hoping over here in New York this year, the innovative Fashion GPS system will put paid to all that rsvp/check in trauma of the past.

So that’s it – figure out your USP, sell it to the PR’s & Fashion Week accreditation folk and you’re off to the races. If you do anything in 2011, strive to make this the year that sets your blog apart from the others and you could make it to the front row…

This is a guest post by the lovely Emma of EmmaPlus

I’m lucky enough to have my own fashion store in the heart of Brighton’s funky North Laine area. I’ve been here for over 20 years now (I worked for several previous owners before I took the place on myself). What makes the shop so unusual is that we are actually a plus-size womanswear store.

When I first started in larger-size fashion, most specialist stores were catering to an older market. To be honest, most of them were selling clothes, not for mothers, but for grand-mothers. I’m guessing this was because women do tend to get larger as the get older. So our shop was almost unique, because we were one of the first shops to specialise in plus size fashion.

I soon found out that there are a lot of larger women down in the ‘deep south’ of Britain, and many of them are extremely interested in fashion. We’ve always tried to be innovative: we were the very first plus-size store to have an online presence (even before the multiples like Evans and Anne Harvey), and also the first to have a blog.

These days I write a blog about fashion and style, and we have a forum for customers who would like to know what’s going on, or who have particular questions or problems about fashion.

I’m always being asked what’s new…what’s going on in our fashion speciality? Well, there are long-term trends, and there are the short-term, annual trends.

On the long term, plus-size fashion is changing enormously. Because we are getting bigger as a population, there are more and more younger women who are plus size. This has had a ‘normalising’ effect on what it feels like to be large. In a nutshell, plus-size women don’t any different from anyone else, and know they can look as good.

The emphasis these days is very directional. Instead of the old plus-size mantra of ‘cover up at all costs’, young, fashionable larger women are showing off and enjoying their curves.

Some of the established names like Marina Rinaldi (in the Max Mara stable), and Elena Miro (another well-established Italian brand) have responded to these new forces and are producing much more body-conscious and directional clothes. And there have been fantastic new designers who have come to the fore. Anna Scholz would be an obvious example of a collection that celebrates the body shape of the curvy woman.

The look for this summer, particularly in the plus-size ranges, is still towards pretty colours and soft tailoring. There are quite a few dresses coming through, from short dresses, which many larger girls will wear with leggings, or full-length flowing florals in clashing colours.

When we did my buying last season, my colleague, Jaq, and I took the liberty (we often do!) of trying some of Anna Scholz’s versions (in her signature stretch silk), and posed for photographs with her sales team….Jaq’s on the left, and I am second on the right.

Now, I’m already thinking about next winter, because I am going to be starting my buying for that season very soon. And, after the two cold winters we’ve just had, I’m thinking knits, knits, knits……

I recently wrote a blog post on Bunny Habits looking at the book Luella’s Guide to English Style.

I love Luella Bartley’s insight into what makes girls from England so good at expressing their personalities through the clothes they wear.

As she writes in the book:

“Oh, the French have their chic ladies and their Left Bank intellectualism, the American girl grooms like no other breed, the Japanese take kitsch to a whole new level and the Italians have trash down to a fine art. But the English girl is a multi-faceted dresser with an unrivalled eye for irony and a much more interesting take on everything.”

Vivienne Westwood S/S11 (image)

Meadham Kirchhoff S/S11 (image)

With the Royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton this April, it seems only fitting that 2011 should be the year of embracing one’s roots and channelling one’s inner English rose.

Ms Middleton chose a dress from English label Issa for the official engagement announcement, causing the design to sell out within a day, and sparking legal uproar about the rush to produce copies (cheap knock-offs).

Issa S/S11 (image)

I think this should be our year to make more of an effort to adopt the classic English qualities when it comes to our wardrobes: eccentricity, idiosyncrasy, contrariness, eclecticism, aloofness, and a dirty sense of humour.

England is blessed with so many incredible, world acclaimed designers, each so talented in their own way, and each imbuing their collections with something quintessentially Brit.

To name but a few: Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, Burberry, Meadham Kirchhoff, Henry Holland, Phoebe Philo (for Celine), Paul Smith, and now, almost inexplicably, even Victoria Beckham. All consistently producing fashion that is exciting, individual, and mould-breaking. Characteristics that any English girl should aspire towards.

Stella McCartney pre-fall 11 (image)

Celine S/S11 (image)

Victoria Beckham handbag collection (image)

Punk, heroine chic, Cool Britannia, Teddy Boys, Mods, Sloanes… it all started right here. Come on, be proud of your sartorial heritage and let’s show the rest of the world how it’s done!

A guest post by our lovely intern Lizzie

I don’t know about you, but personally I think there’s nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon than to while away the hours with a period drama DVD. From Atonement to Downton Abbey, in recent years we haven’t been able to escape the intrigue and scandal amongst the Grand houses of Regency Britain and 2011 is likely to bring even more classic adaptations to our screens, full of dashing heroes, intricate costumes, and wonderful, cinematographic escapism.

In 1847, two novels supposedly the work ofbrothers Currer and Ellis Bell, were published within months of each other - and this September they go head to head once more. First, Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, a tale of a ‘mousy governess’ who discovers her charismatic employer’s dreadful secret, and this year starring Mia Wasikowska in the title role. Jane Eyre is a bleak, brooding masterpiece, and though countless adaptations have preceded this one, director Cary Fukunaga promises a fresh take on the definitive tale – but we’ll have to wait nine months until the 9th September to see what he comes up with!

Later in the month, the 30th September marks the release date of Wuthering Heights, with 18 year old Kaya Scodelario, famous for her role as Effy in Skins, as perpetual tragic victim Cathy Earnshaw. This, Emily Brontë’s only novel, is an intense, powerful story of obsession and elemental love, and fingers crossed will be just as dark and ominous when translated to the big screen! Though there are thousands of devoted Brontë fans around the world who might be scandalised by the prospect of yet another adaptation, I personally can’t wait to see how these two young actors tackle the challenging roles. So how about everyone else? What do we think of the idea to make another period drama? And what other films are we looking forward to in 2011?

I'm afraid that's not a typo, i genuinely believe 2011 will be full of the stuff. And not the flaky metal-mould you find on your bike after it was left in the rain [sob!], no I'm talking colour. Deep, burnt-orange, glorious colour. Whether it's the colour of your clothes or even your hair, rust is definitely a must this year!

The highstreet is already full of rust coloured gems, so I thought I'd share my pick of the crop with you :)

clothes.

Cobweb top~Miss Selfridge // Pintuck Dress~Miss Selfridge // Leather Portfolio Clutch~ASOS

Crepe Cape Tunic // Oversized Epaulette Mac~ASOS // Tiered Mini-skirt~Miss Selfridge

Rust Plain Cape Tee~Miss Selfridge // Seedbead Multirow Necklace~Topshop // Pleated Wideleg Trousers~Topshop

hair.

Some celeb inspiration!

Oh how I've been longing for those rusty coloured locks. Sadly, I'mma have to wait til this dye's faded before trying it, but for those of you thinking about taking the plunge make sure you check out MessyCarla's tips on red-hair upkeep: it's a go-to guide for any hair colour fans!

Her video is [here], and her wonderful blog is [here] ~ many thanks to her for letting me include this!

So, there you have it. May your year be healthy, happy, and wonderfully rusty.

Just take a tip from me and don't leave your bike out!

xxx

Hello everyone, hope 2011 is treating you well so far. Before I begin I’m going to explain what’s happening for one month only. At the end of the month myself and Amy our lovely editor are going to be launching something very special, so because of that we will be sharing each other’s columns.

Introducing 2o11 the year of “us”!

Source

RACHEL:

2010 was tough and amazing at the same time for me, I had some struggles still hanging over from the previous year but I fought through those and had some amazing opportunities. Most importantly I began to believe in myself again and this year I know that if I work hard ad stay focussed I can achieve near enough anything. By the end of this year I would like to be able to say that I  finished college, got into my top Uni choice, have gone to a top fashion event and most importantly had the most fun ever.

Ever since I realised my fashion dream I have known that I wanted to go to London College of Fashion so everything I have done so far has been building up to that. I finally took the leap in December and applied there, this year I will continue to build up my portfolio and stick in at college to achieve my ultimate dream.

In my life nothing has ever been handed to me on a plate so if you want to catch your dream you have to chase it.

Source

AMY:

I don’t know about you, but I really love reading blogs about other people’s lives. It’s fascinating in that it lets you live their dreams, and see their hopes, and it helps you to shape your own.

One of my biggest dreams in life has always been to travel. I’ve seen a lot of Western Europe, and a tiny bit of America, but it’s a really really big world - who wouldn’t want to see it?

As I write this, then, I’m crossing my fingers a lot. I’ve applied for a year abroad with my university, in either Australia or Canada, and in a few days time I should find out what’s happening. I would love more than anything to have a year in the sunshine, spending New Year at the harbour bridge in Sydney - or to go to Montreal, perfect my (Canadian French) and head down to New York for some time to live out a daydream.

Source

So, what are your dreams, hopes, and ambitions for the coming year? This year, we promise it can be the year of “us”.

Lots of love and hugs, Rach & Amy xxx

Wow - it's New Year's Eve already! And, as everyone else seems to be getting ready to take stock of everything that's happened to them this year, BSB decided to be a little bit different. What's the point of taking stock of the past when there's so much of the future to look forward to?

This year has, admittedly, been amazing for us - but next year is already shaping up to be even better. At last night's Editorial Team Meeting, we came up with a plan for the first few months of the year, and we think you'll really like what we have to share with you over the coming months.

The themes for January to April have been decided on, and we're going to introduce January's now: 2011, the year of...

So, what do you think this year will bring? In terms of fashion, your life, TV, movies, music, or anything else, really? If you have something awesome to share, do email us (editors@britishstylebloggers.org.uk) and we'll get right back to you!

If you want to advertise in January's ebook, the last date is 22nd January. Advertising information can be found HERE.

So, happy New Year, lovelies! We hope that you get everything you dreamed of, and that it sparkles and shines like all the fireworks you'll see tonight.

Before we go and prettify ourselves for tonight, we thought we'd better share the final BOTM winner of the year with you, too - you can apply to be next month's from tomorrow.

Blog of the Month #12, Dec 2010:

Congratulations to Lauren Loves Blog. If you could email amy@britishstylebloggers.org.uk, we'll sort your badges out for you!

Here's to 2011!

LoveLoveLove

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