Darlene's Blog

Not many 7-year-olds get to strut down a runway with supermodels and actors, but Marlborough’s Samantha Marcia Stevens will do just that on Saturday in front of hundreds of people in Denver, Colo.

With a little help from her father, Brian Stevens, Samantha will for the second time in two years appear in the Global Down Syndrome Foundation's Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show.

Samantha was an ambassador at the foundation's fourth annual gala in 2012 and returns for this year’s event honoring all past ambassadors.

The Stevens family said the Global Down Syndrome Foundation connected them with medical professionals in the Denver area who have helped Samantha make significant progress and given the family hope that she will one day be able to walk and talk.

"Our goal is to make her life as happy as possible," Brian Stevens said. "I really believe in my heart and in my head that she will walk."

Stevens said last year he became the first parent of an ambassador to walk with his child down the runway.

Celebrities like jazz musician Quincy Jones, supermodel Beverly Johnson and "Scrubs" actor John C. McGinley are scheduled to appear at the fashion show, which aims to spread the word about the need for greater awareness and support to help those living with Down syndrome.

Samantha's mother Kathy said doctors told the family after a prenatal ultrasound that Samantha would be born with Down syndrome.

"We just take it one day at a time," she said.

The Stevens family has been dedicated to raising awareness for Down syndrome and giving to the cause.

In 2011, they donated $2.5 million to the Special Olympics headquarters in Marlborough and are currently completing projects at their home that will allow Samantha and other children with handicaps related to Down syndrome to work on their physical therapy and give them a functional environment in which they can learn and play.

Some of the projects include a harness system throughout the house, an outdoor playground for 60 children and an indoor pool.

"We're trying to be progressive with the families, too," said Brian Stevens, who refers to his daughter and other children with Down syndrome his "heroes."

Stevens said he has invited other parents and children with Down syndrome into his Marlborough home so that they can be close to local specialists and avoid hotel costs.

On an average day, Samantha attends school in Marlborough where she works with physical and occupational therapists, as well as a speech pathologist, Kathy said.

But on Saturday, the 7-year old will show off her individuality during the not-so-average evening of glitz and glam.

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It is 2 o'clock in the afternoon and I am sitting in my flat with all the lights on. Two of my coats are hung on a door drip-drying. My cat is looking solemnly through her flap and thinking better of venturing outside. It is, to be perfectly honest, bloody horrible. A platter of grey with a side of spitting rain. Nevertheless, we are entering summer. I know this because I double-checked my calendar. So it must be time to start thinking about T-shirts.

My favourite is the plain white tee. While wearing one I fancy myself to have a hint of the brooding Marlon Brando about me (I obviously don't, but indulge my pathetic fantasy, please). Unfortunately there is an ethical conundrum with this wardrobe staple. As soon as I pull a white tee on, something happens to my co-ordination. If I'm wearing a dark top, I never spill food. Or dribble orange juice down my front. Put me in a white tee, though, and I develop the food and drink-wrangling skills of a newborn. It's embarrassing. And no matter what these washing-powder makers say, it is never easy to get stains out of white clothes. There will always remain, in my experience, a faint ghost of where I dropped a bit of chilli con carne or pea soup or whatever on to my chest. And that won't do.

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Consequently I tend to buy cheap white T-shirts – I favour Uniqlo crewnecks – and then get new ones every time I ruin them. And that's the ethical worry. Of course I'd much rather buy one or two lovely high-quality tees which would last for ages. APC and Alexander Wang do some beautifully soft, well-fitting ones. But I don't trust myself. Perhaps the thing to do is invest in a bib. Does anyone make adult bibs? And if not, why not? There's a clear gap in the market. Note to self: start business producing Trendy Adult Bibs. TABs. Potential angel investors feel free to get in touch.

Beyond the pale, there is a multitude of options. Stripes seem to be "in", although to be fair, stripes have been in for, and this is not an exaggeration, all of living memory. I wouldn't be surprised if Neolithic cave-dwellers went nutty for a bit of furry Breton. Floral patterns are also blooming (thank you) everywhere. If you must wear a floral-print tee, at least have the decency to team it with plain everything else. Clashing prints give me a headache.

A quick word on fit and style: never wear tight T-shirts. Never wear plunging V-neck T-shirts. If you obey those two simple rules, you will look fine. If you do not, you will look like a berk. A berk from Towie.

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Erdem Moralioglu has made the leap into the world of direct retailing.

On Thursday, the London-based designer launched his brand's new website and global e-tail platform, Erdem.com.

"It's a really interesting language that was initially really foreign to me. I wanted it to feel legible, like something that you could understand and navigate easily, but I also wanted it to feel personal, like there was content there that was interesting," Moralioglu told Style.com.

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Through the new website, which launched to coincide with the release of Erdem's pre-fall 2014 collection, fans of the brand can browse its collections, shop their favorite pieces or explore Moralioglu's world of eye-catching prints and experimental fabrics.

The site also features a number of exclusive styles for purchase, as well as some of the brand's collaborative products, such as the must-have lizard-embossed pumps made by Nicholas Kirkwood.

When deciding whether to open a brick-and-mortar store or focus on a digital space first, Moralioglu said that ultimately, e-commerce made more sense.

"When it came down to whether we should open up a store or launch e-commerce, and what order to do it in, e-commerce felt like the most natural thing to do first," the designer told Style.com.

"It would provide a platform where we could offer something to my woman on a global level."

But those Erdem fans located in London, won't have to choose between online or offline shopping for much longer because a physical Erdem store is in the works, although the brand has yet to reveal when it will open.

"It's something that we're working on, and we're excited about it," Moralioglu said.

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At Monday’s CFDA Fashion Awards, pop star Rihanna took the stage to accept the Fashion Icon Award from the grande dame of fashion — Vogue editor Anna Wintour.

Never one to dress demurely, the Barbadian beauty wore a sheer gown designed by Adam Selman that exposed everything except her Social Security number — most notably, her pert nipples.

But the all-powerful editrix was all smiles, lending gravitas to Rihanna’s risqué fashion choice.

“This wasn’t a wardrobe malfunction,” says celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch. “It was intentional. You could not have done that on a red carpet years ago. A stylist would lose their job if there was a nipple showing.”

But while Rihanna’s bare skin was deemed appropriate for an awards ceremony, that hasn’t been the case on social media.

In April, photo-sharing app Instagram suspended the 26-year-old singer’s account after a topless picture shot for French fashion magazine Lui appeared in her feed. Rihanna responded by posting a covered-up photo of herself with a caption that read, “Rih’s next magazine cover if it was up to Instagram.” While Instagram insisted that the dust-up was a mistake, Rihanna ultimately deleted her account, which had more than 35 million followers.

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Which raises the possibility that the CFDA dress choice was more of a protest than a fashion moment.

She’s just the latest celebrity fighting Instagram for its habit of removing images of bare breasts as part of its controversial anti-nudity rule.

Last week, Hollywood progeny Scout Willis took a topless stroll in the East Village to protest Instagram, which had kicked her off its site for posting a snap of a jacket emblazoned with a photo of two topless women.

“What @instagram won’t let you see #FreeTheNipple,” she tweeted.

After her breast-baring stunt, Willis penned an essay for XoJane defending herself and bashing Instagram’s sexist policy.

“There are also some people who would criticize my choice to relate nipples with equality at all,” she wrote. “To me, nipples seem to be at the very heart of the issue. In the 1930s, men’s nipples were just as provocative, shameful, and taboo as women’s are now, and men were protesting in much the same way. In 1930, four men went topless to Coney Island and were arrested. In 1935, a flash mob of topless men descended upon Atlantic City, 42 of whom were arrested. Men fought and they were heard, changing not only laws but social consciousness. And by 1936, men’s bare chests were accepted as the norm.

“So why is it that 80 years later women can’t seem to achieve the same for their chests?”

While her actions have drawn a steady stream of criticism, others applaud Willis’ bold move.

“I think it’s commendable,” says Danny Agnew, the New York editor of men’s lifestyle Web site InsideHook, of Willis’ topless protest. “I think you have to do something a little extreme to get someone to notice. Plus I don’t think most people knew that it’s perfectly legal to be topless in the state of New York. I think it only becomes a big deal when people make a big deal out of it.”

Flash back 10 years ago to the polarizing moment when Janet Jackson’s nipple was revealed during her infamous “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 Super Bowl.

Jackson was pilloried for her indecent exposure, which, according to the FCC, drew 540,000 complaints. The event became known as “nipplegate.”

It’s an issue that is getting increasing, ahem, exposure as the nipple continues to seep into the consciousness of the fashion world.

Rihanna wore a mesh top without a bra to the Balmain show in February, Miley Cyrus posed topless for W magazine that same month and, Sunday, Nicki Minaj sported a mesh shirt over star pasties that just barely obscured her areolas.

“I think people like Rihanna are trying to break down those boundaries, and some people will like it and some people will call her a sinner. But [Rihanna] is gorgeous. She’s in her prime and not doing anything that Madonna wouldn’t have done 20 years ago, if she could have gotten away with it,” says Bloch, adding that as risqué as her Madgesty was, she never flashed her nips on the red carpet.

While Instagram has publicly defended its policy, debate continues to swirl — especially considering that it’s not just photos the site is censoring, but other art, too.

Last month, Grace Coddington, the flame-haired creative director of Vogue, was slapped with a suspension after posting a topless cartoon she drew of herself. She responded by posting a drawing of her cats — one with a black bar obscuring its crotch area.

Agnew says some of his fashion photographer friends who post artful nude shots have also had their accounts scrubbed.

“[Instagram doesn’t] take into account the overall purpose of the photograph. It’s just, is there a nipple showing or is there not? Context doesn’t matter to them.”

Some argue that the new vogue for sheer fashions is just another form of such artful expression.

New York-based designer Ann Yee applauds boob-baring threads with a high-fashion bent.

“I think nip fashion is fine if done in an effortless and tasteful way. It’s been apparent in fashion for years; Rudi Gernreich’s signature black suit comes to mind. American culture has always been a bit hesitant to embrace provocative dressing, so kudos to Rihanna for being able to rock that dress.”

Bloch echoes the sentiment that the singer’s style has implications beyond the fashion world.

“I think we all know Rihanna doesn’t play by the rules,” he says. “She is a modern feminist.”

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I love the summer time. Wearing casual, loose cotton T-shirts and shorts are staples of mine.

As my fashion sense continues to evolve, summer should be included as part of my journey to becoming a fashionista. Well, OK, not quite a fashionista. I would be happy to be dressing a little on trend and feeling comfortable.

To guide me on my way to becoming a snazzier dresser is Terry Rosen, Sales Director for Sandstyle Canada Group of sandwich_ clothing, from Holland.

Terry shared with me the top trends for summer and how to put together an attractive, comfortable summer outfit. She said it is quite simple to be on trend this season with a few essential pieces, which will make the world of difference to any summer wardrobe.

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Top Trends For Summer

Colours - On trend for summer, brighter bloom tones like fuchsias, oranges and sea bright aqua... (love this!).

Fabrics - Natural fibres like cotton and linen blends are strong. Adding a fluid fabric like tencel provides many options for updating any wardrobe. The big trend are knits mixed with woven fabrics in the same garment.

Blazers and Cardigans - The essential piece this season is a versatile blazer in any style. Best investment is a solid colour, this can be worn with many different looks. Heavy jersey knit blazers or woven jackets with knit inserts, are easy to wear.

Accessories - Very big this season is adding a piece of jewelry or bling to your summer outfit. Great scarves, colourful necklaces, multicolour bracelets and fanciful printed shoes are great ways to spice up your wardrobe this summer.

We are all lucky to have different body types. How boring the world would be if we were all the same shape. Terry shared with me her top tips on how to dress for your shape, to feel the most beautiful you can be.

Different Body Shapes

Curvier On Top (that's me!) - Monochrome dressing will flatter the upper part of the body. Dark tops, open necklines and fitted waists will flatter. Wrap tops or dresses will look fabulous with a fitted jacket (not boxy).

Curvier On Bottom - Monochrome or dark coloured pants or skirts, with light colours on the top work best. Wide leg trousers and a-line shaped skirts or dresses will look lovely on you. Small, discreet shoulder pads in the top or blazer, can provide a nice silhouette.

Few Curves - You will look beautiful in low rise flared or boot leg pants with big back pockets, pleated trousers and coloured skinny jeans that are still hot this season. Shapely tops with draping or waist detail and a fitted jacket, with gathering around the waist will suit your frame best. A wide belt over a simple dress, flowy tops, full skirts with a wide waistband and horizontal striped tops will look fabulous on you!

I will be stepping outside of my comfort zone of T-shirts and shorts this summer and trying some of these tips so I can feel comfortable and beautiful.

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You’ve heard of food trucks – now fashion trucks plan to descend on Carmel this Saturday

Fashion will go mobile June 21 at Carmel’s City Center when five different fashion retailers roll up to sell their products from the interiors of specially modified “fashion trucks.”

Female fashion retailer Boho Pretty will sport a refurbished 1970s camper, complete with a sitting room and displays of clothing. The company, started by a pair of entrepreneurs, visits a variety of events, restaurants and breweries to sell its products.

“We like to provide affordable clothing and a good shopping experience,” said Amber Huber, co-founder of Boho Pretty.

The company also often donates 10 percent of their day’s earnings to a charity of the event organizer’s choice.

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“The whole concept is going mobile, going where people are,” said Heather Pirowski, director of Retro 101, a similar fashion truck business.

Retro 101, the first mobile boutique in Indianapolis, operates out of “Ellie,” a converted 1978 Chevy minibus. The company operates as part of the American Mobile Retail Association. Pirowski provides consultant services through the association, pointing new business owners towards the resources that will help make their own mobile retail stores take off.

“It’s a growing industry,” Pirowski said. “I’m there for people to ask all the time, ‘What kind of life do you lead? Where can I find a bus?’”

Retro 101 also teams up with other organizations for charity, including School on Wheels, an Indianapolis-based group that provides education to over three thousand homeless children.

Pirowski will be debuting a second truck for Retro 101 soon, nicknamed “Stella.”

The free event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 21 in the interior plaza of City Center. A DJ will play music during the event and it will feature fashions from Boho Pretty, Ellen and Elvin, Genie’s Closet, Retro 101 and Urban Frenzy Boutique.

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Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning dress for 'Maleficent' Tokyo premiere

Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning walked the red carpet at the Tokyo premiere of "Maleficent" on Monday, still dressing to match their characters. Jolie, who plays the title role, was in a skintight, sexy black cocktail dress by Atelier Versace. Fanning was demurely princess-like in a frothy white Alexander McQueen.

Lea Michele wore a black-and-white strapless gown by Paule Ka with Tiffany jewelry Saturday night when she sang a duet with Kristin Chenoweth at theHollywood Bowl's season opener.

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Juicy Couture has announced plans to close all its stores, but Kohl's will begin carrying the label this fall.

Thanks to a new promotional campaign forOld Navy, a brand new pair of flip-flops is only one Tweet away for folks in New York and L.A.

North West, daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, celebrated her first birthday with a weekend "Kidchella" celebration featuring a karaoke stage, Ferris wheel and tie-dye birthday cake. The toddler wore a fringed dress that was either reminiscent of traditional Native American garb or festival boho, with a headband.

But pictures of her aunt Khloe Kardashian in a feathered war bonnet drew criticism from the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, whose spokesman called it "insensitive" for a celebrity to wear the headdress at a kid's party.

Nordstrom plans to open Bauble Bar counters in all of its U.S. stores and online this month.

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A rare collection of items from top designers amassed by an elderly 'shopaholic'' before she died are going under the hammer in Derby.

HANDED a sum of money to enjoy before she died, an elderly woman suffering from a terminal illness used every penny she had to purchase unique designer items.

From a Paul Smith football, Dolce and Gabbana jewellery and rare Versace handbags – the woman collected more than 500 items.

Now, the fascinating collection is being auctioned off at Bamford Auctioneers, in Derby, at an evening fashion sale on Tuesday.

Justine Hammond-Wiseman, saleroom manager at the auctioneers, said it was a "unique" collection.

She said: "As far as we can gather, the lady was diagnosed with a terminal illness and decided she wanted to live her life before she went.

"She was given money before she died and spent it on designer labels.

"She really was a shopaholic. We have never seen a collection like this before."

Justine said the huge collection was brought in to the auctioneers, in Chequers Road, by the woman's husband, who did not want to be identified.

It is not known where the woman stored the items, nor how much the total collection is worth.

Extensive research has been carried out by the auctioneers to find out more about the host of quirky items, which are packed into half a showroom at the site waiting to be viewed by the public.

Among them is a Union Flag Alexander McQueen clutch bag, embossed with a skull clasp, with matching Union Flag boots.

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Justine said: "The retail price of the clutch was £1,000 and, having done some research, the bag is being sold on eBay for a buy-it-now price of £750.

"There are thousands and thousands of pounds worth – retail price – but we have no idea how they will sell, which is why we have not put any estimates on the products or reserves."

Sought-after designers range from Vivienne Westwood to Marc Jacobs and Dolce and Gabbana.

"We also have a selection of wooden handbags from Enid Collins, a Texas designer, with samples of her work as well," said Justine.

"And, for those who enjoy sport, there is a Dolce and Gabbana football, which was signed by the Italian football team from a couple of years ago. Some of these items you just cannot buy!"

A black "bondage-style" Dolce and Gabbana dress laced with buckles is also among items on the dressing rail – still with its original price tag of £370.

A quirky range from Beverley Hills designer Timmy Woods is also up for grabs. They include unusual handbags in the form of a rabbit, frog, deck of cards, butterfly and monkey.

"There is also an Eiffel Tower-shaped bag, which is the same one that Carrie Bradshaw, out of Sex and the City, had in the TV series," said Justine.

The collection is to be sold in 310 different lots. More than 100 pairs of shoes are being sold, both individually and in lots.

But what would an elderly woman want with such expensive designer items? "From looking at the shoes, the sizes range from a woman's size five to seven," said Justine.

"There is the suggestion that she collected the items as opposed to wore them, although some do look worn.

"Many of the items are still in their dust bags and boxes and a lot of the jewellery and clothes still have their tags on. Some of it has never even been touched. This collection is a shopaholic's dream."

Justine said the sale was the first of its kind.

She said: "We do not know what to expect. We hope that people come along and, hopefully, get themselves a bargain."

DRESS TO IMPRESS

AN evening fashion sale will be held on Tuesday, July 1, at Bamfords Auctioneers, in Chequers Road, Derby.

More than 500 items will go under the hammer, including 100 pairs of shoes.

Designers range from Vivienne Westwood to Dolce and Gabbana.

The public can view the collection on Sunday from 2pm to 5pm at the auctioneers and on Tuesday from 1pm to 7pm. The sale takes place at 5pm on Tuesday. Nibbles and drinks will be served.

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Crayola Experience casting young designers and models for kids fashion show

Have your kids ever dreamed of being a professional model or designer? Now is their chance.

The Crayola Experience and New Jersey Fashion Week are coming together to present the second annual kids fashion show. According to a news release, the show will have a panel of judges, including Project Runway finalist Carol Hannah.

Designers and models will be competing for big prizes, including a modeling contract with New Jersey talent agency Jo Anderson Models, and a chance to spend the day with designer Carol Hannah in her New York City fashion house.

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This year's fashion show theme is "Wrapped in Color." The theme was inspired by the Crayola attraction "Wrap it up," where kids can name and wrap their own Crayola crayon. The fashion show will take place Sept. 13, according to the news release.

"This amazing project encourages, highlights and supports the creativity of young emerging fashion talent from across the country." New Jersey Fashion Week Founder Donnella Tilery said in the release, "And I'm so proud to be a part of it."

To participate in the fashion show, children ages 7 to 16 must attend a casting call. The casting calls take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 11-12 at The Crayola Experience. Although tickets are required to enter The Crayola Experience, 30 Centre Square in Easton, all children auditioning will get in free. Adults may purchase a special discounted ticket here. Children must bring the registration form to casting.

Designers should bring a mood board representing their vision, the release states. Models should have a headshot or photo and show off their runway walk.

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Sia is one of the most unconventional pop stars on the planet. Though she's responsible for writing some of the catchiest pop songs of all time—Rihanna's "Diamonds," Beyoncé's "Pretty Hurts," and David Guetta's "Titanium" among them—she doesn’t want to be famous (hence the paper bag on her head in her official press portraits, having Lena Dunham perform as an avatar on Late Night with Seth Meyers, and her refusal to be photographed for a recent New York Timesprofile. But shyness be damned! We caught up with the Australian one-name-wonder to talk about sobriety, her dreams of working with David Bowie and Sting, and, oh yeah, her incredible new album, 1000 Forms of Fear:

Who is Sia as a person and an artist?

It’s very subjective; I have no idea. As a person, I’m a good person who shows up for my friends. I do my best to be good. As an artist, I have no idea. I just sort of show up for the process. It’s just channeling, really. I feel like it has nothing to do with me.

What’s behind the title of your new album, 1000 Forms of Fear?

I just heard someone say it once. One of my friends was having a baby and I asked her how she was doing and she said, 'Oh you know, the usual: a thousand forms of fear.' And I said, 'Can I call my album that?'

How would you describe this album in three words?

Awesome, poppier, and outstanding.

Exactly how I would describe you!

Such a fucker!

1000 Forms Of Fear is your sixth album. What do you want fans to take away from this particular body of work?

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No message at all. I believe that once I put music out, it’s owned by the listener. That’s what I like about music, when it gives me feelings. I want them to project whatever they want onto it and make it their own so that it marks a time in their life. I think that’s what everybody wants when they put out music: for people to connect to it.

Let’s talk about the first single, “Chandelier." Sonically and lyrically it’s at such different ends of the spectrum. "Sun is up/ I'm a mess:" Is this about your life?

I’m three-and-a-half years sober.

So this is who you used to be?

I guess this is one of those. When I’m writing a pop song I’ll just write formulaically, strategically. I had the title and the concept and as I wrote it, I was just like, 'This is cooler than usual' and then when I sang it I thought, 'Oh, this song’s for me.' It was one of those pop songs where I was like, 'I don't want to give this away because I actually relate to it.' A lot of the time I don’t actually relate to what I’m writing about in pop songs.

Was there a defining moment when you said to yourself: “I’m going to be a musician. There’s nothing else I would rather do…"

No. I thought I was going to be an actor. I liked entertaining. I was pretty much tap dancing for attention from a very early age. My family was kind of musical and there were people in the circus next door and actors across the road. I just enjoyed messing around with music growing up, but I really thought I was going to be an actor. I was maybe 17 or 18, I went to London and somebody heard me singing karaoke and offered me 50 pounds to write and sing on some house tracks. I did it and then I went back to Australia shortly thereafter and saw an old boyfriend on the street and he told me he was putting a band together. I said, randomly, because a few people had told me I had a good voice, 'Do you need a singer?' He asked, 'Are you one?' I just lied and said 'yes.' I was in the band and got offered a deal, but I stayed with the band because they didn't offer the band a deal and I was loyal. Then I ended up in London and got offered another record deal and by that point I was like, 'Okay, people just kept giving me money to sing.'

What was the song you sang at karaoke?

“Lean On Me” by Bill Withers. I guess I realized I enjoyed the act of singing. Over the course of the last 12 years, I realized I didn’t enjoy everything else that comes with it, which is why you’re like one of four interviews I’m doing.

You’ve worked with some amazing people over the years. Was there a song that you'd wish you kept for yourself?

No, not really.

Is there anyone you would love to collaborate with?

I don’t really care. There’s no one left. [Laughs] I guess it would be fun to do something with Stevie Wonder or David Bowie. I wouldn’t mind writing a song with Sting, like a really good ballad. It turns out I do care, I just didn’t know until you asked me.

What has been your proudest moment so far?

Meeting Letterman. He’s kind of like a fake dad.

What’s on your bucket list? What’s left?

I want see the pyramids, obviously now’s not a great time. I’d like to go to Hawaii. I’d like to take pottery classes. I want to see the spaying and neutering laws better enforced. I want to see the end of pets being crated in crates that they cant even turn around in. A lot of animal stuff. That’s not really a bucket list, sorry, I digress.

First thing on your mind when you wake up?

My dog.

Finish this sentence. “I can’t go to bed unless I’ve…”

Watched an enormous amount of television.

What’s your favorite show?

I really like Homeland. I also loved the Lindsay [Lohan] documentary.

Do you have a celebrity crush?

Not really. Is that weird? The people I find the most attractive are probably James Franco and Bradley Cooper. I find them interesting as opposed to having a crush.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

I don’t feel guilty about it, but I do really like these Australian chocolates called Tim Tam Truffles.

Worst personality trait?

I’m critical.

Do you have a hidden talent?

I can put a short pencil in my belly button and write the alphabet and I can practically hold a dozen eggs on the top of my hands.

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Who knew the promise and expectation of a big night out would make such fascinating material?

The influence of the style of David Bowie on football casuals, the radical beginnings of fashion brand Jaeger and a rare viewing of 1970s cult fan film, Roxette, are just some of the events being planned by curator Mairi MacKenzie in the Fashion Cultures strand, from July 24 to August 3.

It has been the perfect opportunity for the research fellow in fashion and textiles at Glasgow School of Art to explore why we love to dress up.

"It was the first thing I noticed when I moved to Glasgow. People make a lot of effort and I think there's a real love of fashion in the city," says Mairi, who grew up in Stranraer and moved here to study history at the University of Glasgow.

"I wanted to do something that was a celebration of fashion in the city and brought together retail, culture, history, performance, music and art. It sounds a very grand ambition, I know, but I just want to capture different aspects of fashion."

Plays and literature, especially the work of John Byrne, have perfectly captured the style of the city in all its glory.

"Glasgow has more boutiques than any city outside of London, the per capita spend is very high here in fashion retail," explains Mairi.

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"This is a celebration of fashion and to move it beyond the idea that it is just an object; it's a culture, an economy and a way of life.

"It is a part of everyone's identity, whether you want to engage with it or not."

Ms B Presents: Glam Rock, at The Corinthian on July 27, revels in the joy of fandom. Compered by artist Claire Biddles it is a one-off version of a series of events she runs regularly at The Old Hairdresser's, in Renfield Lane.

Combining performance and a lecture with music, the night is themed around glam rock, from David Bowie and Roxy Music to the New York Dolls.

"It's a really rich area for the surrounding culture," explains Claire.

"It's not just a band, it's the whole look, I see it as something that is still important now in pop, in the look of things and I see it as quite present. Obviously, David Bowie and Roxy Music are really influential on performers now because of the idea of creating a world. I think that's what my events celebrate - the world created around it."

Trained at the environmental art department at Glasgow School of Art, Yorkshire-born Claire hopes fans of Glam music, as well as people interested in fashion, will come along.

She says her events are as much a journey of discovery for herself as well as those attending.

"Mairi MacKenzie is doing a talk on David Bowie, about a certain look, in The Man Who Fell to Earth, which a lot of football casuals took inspiration from, and that was something I had no idea about," she says.

Studying environmental art encouraged Claire to get involved in public work and she says she sees her event in the Fashion Cultures strand as a work of art in itself.

"All my work is about fandom and popular culture and how people engage with popular culture, so I just see this as a way of facilitating that. I make a lot of works to do with karaoke, because I see that as a great way of engaging with pop culture. I will be doing some karaoke at this event."

The biggest coup for Claire's night is a rare screening of Roxette, made by John McManus in 1977 to document a group of Manchester art students who were Roxy Music fans getting ready to go to one of the band's gig.

"It's a fabulous film, I saw it at an exhibition at Tate Liverpool, so it's pretty amazing for us to get it," she says.

Other events staged at Fashion Cultures include a talk by Grace Woodward, of television's Britain's Next Top Model, an exhibition and pop-up shop by cult Scottish designer Pam Hogg, left, an exhibition of Pharrell Williams' Billionaire Boys Club fashion brand and work by former i-D magazine art director, Scott King.

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