Keeping Cosy

 

Fair Isle knits are one of the best things about winter fashion. Originally created nearly a hundred years ago on a small island off the coast of Scotland, the patterns are now something of a wardrobe staple throughout the colder months. Often featuring motifs such as snowflakes, reindeer, and stars, the knits are naturally synonymous with the build up to Christmas. The popularity of festive patterns on clothing and accessories over recent years has ensured that this is a seasonal trend that can be revisited time and time again.

This season at Brat and Suzie, we incorporated Fair Isle inspired patterns in a selection of illustrations used on our cosy sweaters, to bring you a fusion of classic knitwear prints with some adorable winter animals (as is our speciality) without any of the need for hand washing or de-bobbling! Each costing only £35, the sweaters will prove invaluable throughout the colder months as they not only keep you toasty, but can be worn in so many ways that you never need to compromise style for being nice and snug.

The first sweater features a sweet seal pup donning fuzzy earmuffs and a magenta Fair Isle onesie and is printed on a pink marl background. Next, putting on a few extra pounds to stay warm is the fat owl, with a Christmassy pattern proudly displayed across his chest. This beautiful bird perches on a light grey sweater and will go with any colour scheme you choose. Last, but not least, is the prepared panda who is sporting an amazing matching mint Fair Isle beanie bobble hat and scarf. Standing out against a snowy white sweater, he is ready for our British weather.

Though it is hard to pick which wonderful winter creature will sit best amongst existing pieces in your wardrobe, we think that they all look their best when paired with contrasting collars or statement necklaces, as seen in our look book. We’re sure that you’ll love these statement sweaters as much as we do, and after all, select any glossy fashion magazine and you’re sure to read how the new take on the humble jumper this season is now the ‘it’ item to buy – what better excuse do you need?              

Written by Sophie Seymour.

Tumblr Inspiration

Here are just a handful of my favourite images that I have reblogged on Tumblr this week:

     

    

Click to visit my page. 

Always a bookworm...

This year, in hopes that it would encourage me to read more, I have been writing down each and every novel that I finish.  So far my count sadly remains under thirty, but I have a little while still to go and if I stop choosing such elaborately long fiction, I might make it to a respectable fifty.  

I have always thought that one of the best, and the worst, things about reading fiction is the surprise of finding a piece of literature that completely grips you and proves itself to be worth recommending.  The downside of this, is how few and far between these gems often prove to be.

Having recently struck lucky in my local library, I thought I would share this one with you all, as I know only too well, the struggle of finding something good to read.  In my opinion, too many trashy 'chick-lit' novels are published and flood our bookstore shelves like a plague, leaving such a small gap for the works of writers with genuine value, but I digress.

 "One Night in Winter' by Simon Sebag Montefiore appealed to me, as I have harboured an interest in Russian history since my endless years at senior school.  Add to that a dash of crime, the possibility of murder and some unexpected twists and I'm completely sold.  Written stylishly, with the confidence of an author who knows his subject inside out, the novel has a fast paced and addictive plot, which I found myself struggling to tear myself away from.  So as not to spoil the intriguing series of events that leave you rushing to turn the next page, I will end here, simply imploring you to get your hands on a copy as soon as humanly possible.  (Buy on Amazon here.)

Enjoy!

Drawing Dogs: An Illustrator Interview

 

Here at Brat and Suzie, we absolutely love finding new illustrators to bring to life some of the ideas that we have for our ever-expanding selection of animal inspired garments. When Charlotte was introduced to Ria Edmenson last New Year’s Eve through a mutual friend, they discovered a shared love of animal illustration. Adorable dog pictures were discussed, sketches were made, and now Ria’s work forms part of the current Brat and Suzie collection. We spoke to our latest recruit to find out more.

Having graduated this year with a degree in illustration from the College of Art in Edinburgh, Ria’s love for creating animal based artwork is already proving a success.  Despite one of her dreams being gaining a career in television, telling us: “I would love to work in film or TV – my dream job would be a TV presenter,” it seems that the world of illustration is a perfect match.  One of her designs for Brat and Suzie is already currently available to buy online at Asos - just look out for the adorable grumpy pup sitting in a swing and donning a blue polka dot party hat.  Make sure that you also keep an eye out for another of her creations in our soon-to-be available Autumn/Winter collection; a design featuring a French bulldog with a cupcake on his head and an “It’s my party!” caption was made possible by the artistic talents of this creative graduate. 

Delightful dogs such as those already mentioned occupy plenty of Ria’s work.  “My favourite things to draw are definitely dogs. I love everything about them – they have always fascinated me and have such in depth characters. They love you regardless, and are such beautiful creatures. They are so much fun to draw,” she says.  Her favourite breed is the bold Bassett Hound, and though she already owns two Beagles named Barney and Rosie, she has her hopes set on adding another puppy to her collection of furry friends.

It was Ria’s two Beagles that formed the name of her budding illustration company “Barney and Rosie’s” (www.barneyandrosies.co.uk). Selling the likes of t-shirts, greetings cards, postcards, cushion covers, and limited artwork prints, fans of Brat and Suzie should most definitely take a look at her solo work.  Despite running a busy company of her own, Ria was excited to work with us, explaining that: “I love that Brat and Suzie use animals on all of their clothing and it can be styled with literally anything! Plus the girls are very good to work with.”  To produce the images featured within the Brat and Suzie range, the illustrator used fine liner and watercolour (when needed) to create the designs, before simply scanning the artwork in, and editing them on Photoshop.  She makes it sound easy!        

When asked about her personal sense of style, Ria describes her fashion choices as being “a little bit vintage, a little bit Edinburgh… it ranges from Doc Marten’s with long dresses and woolly jumpers to cropped high waisted jeans, Converse and little crop tops - depending on the weather and my mood!” Whereas she details her signature methods of illustration as being “very linear; colour is used sparingly because the image is so detailed. I like to use different patterns and swirls and lines to create the different tones and textures of the dog (or animal) to match the character of her/him.”

Referencing Vic Lee and Jon Tremaine as inspiration, alongside film favourite Tim Burton, Ria tends to create her artwork whilst listening to a mixture of film scores, XFM podcasts, 80s power ballads, and a dash of Laura Marling or Dave Matthews Band.  “These are the things that help me create my pups,” she explains.  A couple of pups in particular that the illustrator has produced are firm favourites – she tells me “My favourite work would have to be my latest Christmas collection. I have drawn a Pug with a little bow on its head, as well as a happy smiling black Labrador kitted out in a Santa hat and coat… I absolutely love Christmas.

With her favourite season just around the corner and her contribution to the new Brat and Suzie collection soon to be released, now is a very exciting time for Ria Edmenson.  Make sure you follow her various social media pages to keep updated on her latest work, as more delightful dogs and incredible illustrations are on their way.

Facebook: facebook.com/BarneyandRosies
Twitter: @BarneyandRosies
Tumblr: barneyandrosies.tumblr.com
Instagram: @madteapartay
Website: www.barneyandrosies.co.uk

 
Written by Sophie Seymour.

Halloween Poster

 

Another poster I was asked to design for my local.

Will be dressed as a cat for this one!

Posting about a poster...

Thought I would upload the flyer I designed today.  The local pub I drink at/ work at asked me to make a little something advertising their first annual Oktoberfest event and here it is:

 

A Feature for Semple Magazine...

BOOTY AND BEAUTY OVER TALENT AND TASTE
 
You've only got to listen to the current top ten to recognise that the artists tend to fall into two clear categories.  Firstly there are men, typically part of a band, who are for the most part left to dress as they choose, being recognised for their musical talent. Think Mumford & Sons, Bastille, Imagine Dragons et cetera and you're on the right track. Secondly, there are female singers, who perform tracks that have largely been written by others for the sole purpose of chart success. The latter group are scantily clad and famous for their defining body parts.  

When was it decided, or rather assumed, that a female musician will be marketed in a certain way to ensure that 'sex sells'? Surely if the artist has all t he other necessary talents for fame then her career should not be governed by how much flesh she flashes? However, in a society that expects and demands celebrities to look and act in a certain way, it would seem a considerable risk to attempt to break out of the typical mould of the female star. To do so might ironically prove more shocking than to continue along the ever-more-skimpily dressed route. So immense is the pressure to dress a certain way that even Madonna, despite her longstanding musical career, is still insisting on cavorting around in little more than her underwear, despite being a mother over the age of fifty.

It is important not to deny that male musicians surely face similar pressures; we are all aware of the typical 'poster boy' good looks that are part and parcel of many bands' fame.  However, it is the extreme pressure heaped on women which divides the two genders. The importance placed upon looks is far greater for the female, as they constitute such a defining part of her image. For males within the industry, by contrast, good looks seem to be merely a bonus - an easy way of securing a gaggle of obsessive fans who will relentlessly buy associated merchandise and scream wildly.

In the case of a mixed-gender group, the pressure appears to decrease, as with popular bands such as The Lumineers and Paramore.  Here, there is typically only one female within a band, the remaining (male) members dissipating much of the pressure that might have otherwise been exerted. The focus remains on the music itself and the skill of the band, and few or no corsets or hot-pants are required.
 
Songstress Kate Nash recently spoke out about her distaste for the intense focus on looks and body size within the music industry, arguing that when the media slate the looks of a particular singer they are simultaneously insulting any audience members of a similar build. The quirky singer appealed for publications to focus on the talent and objectives of each individual, ditching the information regarding age and weight for something with a little more gravitas.

Sadly, our current music industry feeds many of the same issues associated with celebrity life in
other sectors. Body dysmorphia, eating disorders and exhaustion are increasingly common - the notion of 'car crash' fame, in which the general public observe the rise and fall of an individual, is a phenomenon that will not go away as long as the industry remains in its current state.  Britney Spears is the classic example; a young innocent girl who rapidly rose to fame before it destroyed her. When Britney first appeared few would have suspected that she would later make headlines for drug abuse, violence, emotional breakdown and manically cutting off her long blonde locks.
 
In an ideal world, popular culture would be full of responsible personalities like Kate Nash, who are conscious of the image they portray and castigate the media when they cruelly home in on shallow flaws. Instead, however, the picture is more one of artists who tirelessly post photographs on various social media platforms, proudly displaying their fondness for drug use, tendencies to wear very little clothing, and pursuit of relationships that are publicly known to be violently abusive.

Yet there are two key female artists who have bucked the trend over the past few years. Both Adele and Florence Welch have achieved high levels of fame. And it is their clear vision and undeniable vocal skills that have defined their careers, as opposed to their flesh, proving that there is another way, which does not involve being pictured on the front cover of Playboy.
 
Undoubtedly, presentation and style will always be an appealing, glamorous aspect of the music business; but I would argue that what is required to change the current state of affairs is to market artists with a greater degree of taste.  It's true that sex sells, but it is my firm opinion that talent and taste will always hold far more value.

SOPHIE SEYMOUR