New Dog, Old Tricks teaser

Well, its March! And the Spring edition of TruStyle fashion magazine is due to be printed next week! In the final stages, we here at TruStyle HQ are working on the final touches to deliver you a fabulous fashion guide for the season and a collection of features you'll want to read over and over.

Here's a teaser of the final article "New Dog, Old Tricks", featuring the swarve and sophisticated styling of A.L. our very own modern day Heathcliffe/Darcy:

“Clothes are amazing, but most people just don’t understand them”, a bold statement for today’s typical 20 year old man. But compared to the low slung denim crotches and neon print t-shirt wearers around him, Alex Lithgow is a modern day dapper gent, with an understanding and appreciation of labels better than most women his age, let alone the men.

Standing over a cream aga stove, gently stirring a golden casserole dish of aromatic Moroccan tagine, Mr Lithgow’s appearance and general demeanour  are more that of a Dickensian gentleman than a 21^st century ‘lad’.

Dressed in a sea blue, woollen cardigan with coffee coloured chinos and top siders, his style reflects a traditional outlook on fashion and quality. He describes his look as a blend of country attire and English heritage, mixed with a sophisticated Scandinavian dress sense.

Looking good

Things are definitely coming together now, with the interviews completed and the articles getting their final edits, it's time to get vein and concentrate on the looks of our our Spring Edition. Starting with head shots for the front cover!

Concentrating on soft pastel shades and BIG hair, here's a cheeky look at today's photo shoot:

I also sat down with the TruStyle Editorial Designer and talked columns, colour and quotations, piecing together the pages of our Spring edition. Remember, this magazine is all about including the reader and keeping it personal, so any hints or tips on what you want to see are welcome!

Over the next few days, our Kurt Geiger Stylist will be given a double page spread on her choices for this season's footwear and we'll be talking handbag SOS! Choosing those fail safe items that can take you from day to night, without a snagged stocking in sight! Keep reading!

This week...

Over the last fortnight there have been a lot of photo shoots on the go as we work towards putting together the feature pages of the first edition of TruStyle magazine.

Cock-a-snook Tattoo artist and gentry style enthusiast Greg Scott will appear in the up and coming article "Dapper Gent" where we take a look art the modern day man who still has an appreciation for smart daily attire. Greg is also the winner of FHM's "Bearded Heroes" competition, he says the clean shaven look simply isn't him.Waist coasts, pocket watches, cravats and velvet blazers all still have a prominent place in fashion, showing there's no such thing as being overdressed, it's simply a case of making the effort.

In preparation for the Spring season and in contrast to the straight laced monochrome trend, our 'Pretty in Pink' photo shoot was the perfect opportunity to get all girly and indulge in a bit of sparkle.

And a quick return visit back to Couley's Tat2 Parlour to take some snaps of artist Gabriela Alicia Lastra's sketches, gave us the opportunity to see the painted lady having a beautiful portrait of her mother tattooed on her arm.

Over the next few days, the TruStyle diary is fully booked with more interviews and shoots. Coffee and chat with a local stylist to discover her favourite pieces for the season, dinner for two and a root through the wardrobe of a savvy label shopper who always finds a good bargain and an interview and shoot with a self-made clothing and jewellery customiser...look out for more updates!

Tattoo teaser

Here's a snippet from the 'Style Skin Deep' article TruStyle is working on. Big thanks to Gabriela Alicia Lastra and the lovely people at Couley's Tat2 Studio, Gateshead.

The sharp buzz of the tattoo needle is a distinct and evocative noise for anyone who has experimented with body art. A constant electric hum rhythmically fills the room, occasionally pausing to allow the artist to consider her work and ask “Are you okay? Are you going to faint?”

Deep blood red and noir walls are decorated with a plethora of colourful sketches, fresh from the pages of the darkest fairy tales.  Here skulls and zombies are the equivalent of cuddly woodland creatures and snow white would have had no trouble fending off the huntsman with her sharpened axe and demonic grin.

The dark and twisted designs of apprentice tattoo artist and painted lady Gabriela Alicia Lastra are in her simply put words “weird”.

She said: “I’d always been an arty child when I was growing up but never knew that I could do something real with it. I just thought I’d die as some poor artist.”

In soothing contrast to the dark obscurity of the tattoo parlour, the artists sitting in their conjoined booths are all giddy, vibrant characters, sharing laughter and stories from their tattooing past. 

Me and My Wardrobe taster

Have a peek at this insert from TruStyle's "Me and My Wardrobe" with fashion blogger Eve Alice Smith, writer of "behindtheseams.blogspot.co.uk"

From a young age Eve has had a keen eye for fashions and shown interest in piecing together outfits after a colourful start in dance school. She said: “Fashion has always played a big part in my life. When I was little and came home from reception, I would always comment on what the nursery teachers had been wearing, rather than what we had done that day.”

Growing up in Northants, high fashion retailers were scarce, yet Eve found a creative and fashionable outlet in choosing dance competition costumes.  She said: “I loved to wear elaborate, decorative clothing. Colourful leotards, full circle skirts decorated with crazy daisy chain ribbons and glittery neon tights. “

Burlesque Teaser

Here's a cheeky taster of what's to come in an article on the art of Burlesque fashions to feature in the Spring edition of TruStyle:

Sequin embellished corsets, long, silk gloves, elaborate feather head dresses and sheer stockings; the art of burlesque dancing is all about fashion and how women wear this decadent style with confidence.

Burlesque dancer, teacher and advocate for this liberating fashion trend Trixie Blue talks about the essential relationship between burlesque fashion and dance.

She said: “Burlesque attire is crucial in enhancing the performance style. The way garments are removed in burlesque is what makes up the act as a whole”.

 

The seductively slow pull of a satin glove or rolling down of a seamed black stocking can be both alluring and empowering in one single moment.

Trixie said: “The fashion is incredibly elegant from the smallest detail, like the make and stitch of your stockings to an over the top rhinestone head dress”.

 

An introduction to TruStyle

TruStyle fashion magazine gives you all the latest news and trends from the catwalk and top designers, but with advice on how to achieve these looks on a high street budget, without compromising on quality.

TruStyle is a strong believer in style individuality and promotes how real women choose to dress in order to express themselves and their sense of fashion.

With a wide choice of style articles, inspirational interviews with people you can relate to and the latest fashion collections of the season, TruStyle is for the confident young fashionista who has a true love for fashion.

TruStyle has a vibrant personality and a clear understanding that you want to look and feel your best without compromising on quality or price. Helping you to stay up to date with the hottest trends and help you to achieve self-expression through fashion, TruStyle is set to be your greatest fashion confidante.