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First Year Journalism Portfolio

Kerry-Louise Barnaby

December 2008

“Please God; Let me wear high-heeled shoes!”

Last year I suffered a very serious accident involving my back, and

yet the most upsetting part of that, was that all I wanted was to wear

my favourite shoes!

Written By: Kerry-Louise Barnaby

The two most covetable items in any

woman‟s life: chocolates and stiletto

shoes. A very wise Forest Gump once

said: “Life is like a box of chocolates,

you never know what you‟re gonna

get”. Well let me just say that last

October I was devastated when I had to

swallow the worst chocolate I have

ever tasted. And that chocolate

changed my life forever.

I have been an actress for as long as I

can remember. My mum always said I

could dance before I could walk, I

could sing before I could talk and I

never needed an excuse to be dramatic.

So it seemed only natural that, at the

age of 16, full of dreams, I left the

warm, comfortable shelter of home and

migrated to the big city that is London.

My dream had come true and I was

setting off to spend the next two years

studying Musical Theatre at the BRIT

School of Performing Arts. My life

couldn‟t be better.

For the next two years I spent my days

singing, dancing and acting and spent

my evenings doing pretty much the

same. Those two years flew by and

before you could say “Action” I was

playing the lead in a professional

production! Needless to say, I had the

nicest box of chocolates I could have

hoped for; and I never wanted the

chocolates to run out.

However, a box of chocolates can

never last forever - especially when

they‟re your favourites. You‟re lucky

if they last a week!

Then, about a year ago, while doing

some further training, in Physical

Theatre at East15 Acting School in

Essex, I suffered an injury to my back.

Even now, I don‟t really know how it

happened; all I know is that it changed

the course of my life as I know it.

Suddenly I was bed-ridden and facing

the very high possibility of never being

able to move fully again. No more

dancing, no more performing, no more

living! After all, what is the point in

living if you can‟t be happy and live

the life you want to live

As a petit girl of just 4‟11”, I am a

heel-a-holic! I can‟t get enough!

Super high, platforms, kitten, stilettos,

you name a type of heel and

guaranteed, I will be wearing them!

So you can imagine my despair when I

realised that I could barely walk let

alone walk in heels! And, on top of

that, I didn‟t even own any pairs of

flats, well,

unless you

count my

jazz shoes,

ballet shoes

or trainers.

I was

devastated.

What shoes

was a going

to wear?

What

outfits did I even own that would look

right without heels?! Though, I

suppose initially this question just

didn‟t matter…

I spent two months, gradually

strengthening my back, attending

physiotherapy and going on 10 minute

walks before I would have to lie down

again. The rest of the time, I spent

with my new best friends. Friends by

the names of: Vogue, Elle,

Cosmopolitan and Glamour.

As days turned into weeks, and weeks

turned into months, and magazines

began merging into one, I happened to

flick past an advert in Glamour. “Ever

wanted to work in Fashion, well we

have the perfect course for you!”

That was it! I could feel the heat from

the light bulb flashing above my head:

“Idea Idea,” it was saying. Why not?!

Why not work in Fashion? Why not

use my experiences to write about how

fashion is more than just choosing the

clothes that you are going to wear in

any given season; they are an

expression of yourself. You are a book

and they are your cover. They help

give the outside world a glimpse into

who you are, what you stand for, and

how you approach life.

Isn‟t that what I had learned? That

without my clothes I didn‟t feel like I

could be myself? I had just lost

everything. My chocolates had gone; I

was a shoe whose heel had broken and

been unceremoniously dumped. At

that moment I felt like my life was

over, I was finished- until I saw that

article.

Suddenly fashion seemed a very real

possibility. And as the walks

progressed from 10 minutes, to 20

minutes, to one hour, and I began to

gradually heighten again, my heart

began to beat harder than it had in so

long. Colour returned to my cheeks

and fashion took over my

consciousness. I was a woman

possessed. I understood that my

physicality had been damaged

indefinitely and I knew that that

chapter of my life, that box of

chocolates was finished and the line

had been discontinued.

It was time for me to find a new

favourite. It was time for me to start

living again.

With that, I applied to study a BA

(Hons) degree in Writing Fashion and

Culture. I decided that writing about

fashion was my new way to express

myself. I decided that fashion was the

thing that had brought me back to life

and I owed it. It deserved for me to

thank it properly and to repay it by

realising and understanding my

passion for shoes and clothes and

identity and to make other people

realise how important it is in their

lives.

We all go through

times when we feel

low, so low that we

don‟t know how we

are ever going to

make it. Carrie

Bradshaw once said: “Will I ever laugh

again?” My answer to this question is

yes, you will. When? When you

realise that if life hands you a

chocolate that you don‟t like, it is some

greater chocolatier telling you that it is

time to taste it, swallow it and re-

awaken your taste-buds. Because that

chocolate doesn‟t taste bad, it tastes

different and that chocolate could

satisfy you in ways the old one never

could

.

The Clothes Show Live – A right of passage!

The week comes but once a year, when fashionista’s of all ages come

together for a day of fabulous fashion, crystal cocktails and

mesmerising make-up – The Clothes Show Live 2008!

Written by Kerry-Louise Barnaby

Happy Birthday

There comes a time in every

fashionable ladies life, when she must

pass through that tunnel and emerge a

fabulous, fashionista! The tunnel in

question, is, you guessed it, the

wonderful, the brilliant, Clothes Show

Live - the biggest fashion event in the

UK and ultimate pampering day.

This year the Clothes Show Live, held

at Birmingham‟s NEC, celebrates its

20th Anniversary! So, let me begin by

saying: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY

CLOTHES SHOW!!!” For the past

two decades the Clothes Show has

played host to designers, models and

celebrities alike. There are many

fashion events throughout the year, so

what makes this one, so unique?

The Clothes Show is the single fashion

event in the country which brings

together clothes, shoes, accessories,

make-up, relaxation and the crème-de-

la-crème the Fashion Theatre. It is the

one day in many women‟s lives when

we can all forget about the monotony

of our drib-drab lives and let loose, and

do what women do best – SHOP TILL

WE DROP!

The Zones

Whatever it is that you are looking for,

you can be sure to find it here! For

ease of shopping, the Show has, this

year, been divided into colour coded

zones. So ladies “My name is… and

I‟m a shopaholic” – It‟s probably wise

to start practicing this sentence for all

those Shopaholic Anonymous

meetings we shall all no doubt be

forced to attend, after the Clothes

Show seduces us into parting with that

money of ours!

The Red Zone

As someone who, unfortunately has to

limit herself to a set budget for events

like this, my first stop will be the Red

Zone, very well-entitled, “Fast

Fashions”. A heaven of edgy and

eccentric bargains all waiting to be

enjoyed. What are you waiting for, go

ahead and do some utterly guilt-free

shopping! After all, no-one can really

call those prices shopping can they?!

It‟s like Swishing; with money!

The Blue Zone

Next on my list is the Blue Zone - a

boutique brimming with high-street

chic and one-off vintage pieces. So

again, we can hardly be told off for

doing too much shopping can we, its

just like a glorified, more up-market

car-boot sale; a limousine-boot sale if

you will! And believe me; I am more

than ready to hunt through that boot to

bag myself some hidden treasures.

Join me in the rummage won‟t you?!

The Purple Zone

“Urban Streetwear” the ghetto for all

you streetwise senoritas to get your

wardrobe brimming with goodies. The

Clothes Show has described this

section as: “a unique mix of styles

inspired by sports, the streets and a

hint of chic”. So if that sounds like

you then don‟t miss out on this unique

chance to get all your top brands in one

section all under one glorious roof!

The Black Label Zone

For you lucky ladies who have either

managed to undergo this “recession”

unscathed or just you lucky ones who

believe that if we must be poor, we

must at least look like a million

pounds, I have found the perfect zone

for you: aptly named – The Designer

Pavilion - The Selfridges of the

Clothes Show. The place where you

can grab hold of top designer wear at

hugely reduced prices – the reason,

women deserve to wear the best! You

know we all deserve a little bit of

heaven, a gift to ourselves, from

ourselves, a treasured piece that will

take the thrown in our wardrobes and

the piece to which all our other, lower-

class pieces of clothing will bow down

to, and aspire to become! Of course

they can never reach the same

hierarchal status, but teamed with the

Queen, they can be tricked into

believing that they are. So ladies, treat

yourselves, you know you deserve it!

The Pink Zone

The pink zone is overflowing with

make-up and the hottest cosmetic

companies. If you are looking for the

best “fake bake” then look no further.

Have your beloved hair-straighteners

reached retirement? There are plenty

of stalls looking to help find you a

young, fresh, pair! If you‟re feeling a

little bored, then why not head down to

the Toni & Guy stand where they will

be doing haircuts and hair products for

ridiculously reduced rates. Believe

me, by the end of your visit the only

thing you will be in need of is a make-

up bag the size of China – they may

not have made them that big yet but we

can dare to dream!

The Wellbeing Zone

Exhausted from all that shopping or is

your purse the exhausted one?

However you are feeling, don‟t forget

to make a highly anticipated public

appearance here! Be preened and

pampered; be made to feel like the

wonderful goddess that you are!

Whether it‟s a make-over, massage,

manicure or complete spray tan you

can find everything here to make your

body and mind glow. Not to mention,

there will be expert advice on health,

exercise and nutrition, so if you have

any questions, don‟t be afraid to ask!

Be Bold, Be Beautiful!

The Fashion Theatre

In one-word: Indescribable! This is a

fashion show like no other. Full of

models and dancers it is an exciting

blend of fashion and dancing to

tantalize the body and the mind. It is

not just a wonderful sight to behold but

it is guaranteed to wake you up and get

you in the party mood. From

mysterious, almost freaky scenes, to

clubbing and partying, with a lovely

visit to Wisteria Lane, it combines the

latest designer wear with the latest

designer dancing. Topped off with a

special live performance from, “The

Saturdays”!

Go for the Theatre, stay for the

Shopping. The Clothes Show live is a

kaleidoscope of colours and music. It

has, not just something, but an awful

lot of something‟s for everyone and is

guaranteed to re-awaken the little girl

and the goddess inside!

Dr John Harvey:

Professor, Author and Man in Black!

Written by Kerry-Louise Barnaby

Sipping a cappuccino at Emmanuel

College Cambridge and scanning through

“Men in Black” the little girl inside me

couldn‟t help but imagine that, at any

second, Tommy Lee Jones would come

bursting through the door; time would stop

and he‟d say – “Never Fear: The Men In

Black are here!”

Unfortunately, my girlish fantasy did not

come to light. There was no Tommy Lee

Jones, just a grey-haired, bearded man.

Yes; in a blackish suit, but wearing a pink

and purple shirt/tie combination. Time did

not stop. If I didn‟t have his book, I would

never have known that an, award-winning

author had just entered the room.

I am, of course, referring to Dr John

Harvey, MA, PhD, Cambridge Professor

and author. Whose books include:

“Victorian Novelists and their Illustrators”,

“Clothes”, three novels for which he has

won awards and the book behind this

interview, “Men In Black”.

Maybe time didn‟t stop when he first

walked in, but, it definitely did when he

started talking. I was captivated! How did

he decide that fashion was as important as

the works of Blake, Dickens and

Shakespeare?

“I was working with an art historian

friend. We were doing a study on Realism

when I noticed that in every slide, the men

were wearing nothing but black. This

intrigued me. Why was it that while

women seemed to wear lots of colour men

were restricted

to this non-colour – it‟s not in the

spectrum and it‟s not in the rainbow?”

This man teaches English Literature at one

of the world‟s most prestigious

university‟s. Twenty, thirty years ago,

fashion was not seen as a subject

appropriate for an Academic. So I ask:

“what spurred you on?”

“You‟re definitely right. A few years ago

it wasn‟t an appropriate subject. I think in

the last few years, with the works of

philosophers such as Freud, the study of

fashion has undergone a huge turnaround.

It used to be seen as vain and superficial,

but in recent years, as people begin to

believe that you can read someone‟s

personality through their clothes, it has

become a much wider study of, why

people wear what they wear. From

looking at the way someone is dressed,

you can put them in to a social bracket, a

class and even understand a bit about who

they are.”

This answer is textbook Barthes:

Semiotics through clothing.

So, what does a man in black say to

Society, semiotically speaking?

“Black is very interesting. It is a paradox.

It‟s not a colour. It can be highly

conspicuous and yet highly inconspicuous.

It‟s connotations throughout history are

paradoxical. White has been associated

with innocence and purity, while black has

been seen, in Western culture, as a colour

of bereavement, aggression, and authority.

Black has been associated with some of

the worst „groups‟ in history - the Fascist

Parties and the SS. However while it can

be seen as strong and authoritative, it is

also used today by people wanting to be

invisible.”

Does this mean that women wear colour to

express their personalities, yellow for

happy, red to stand out; while men are kept

in the dark? Do women today wear the

trousers? Or are the men in black the

domineering and authoritative members of

society?

I start to wonder: “Dr Harvey, what colour

would you choose to wear in an ideal

world? Do you prefer the connotations

attached to black, or white or bright

pink?!”

Dr Harvey‟s face lights up and a youthful

giggle escapes his wise lips: “I‟m

reminded of the 60s, when I bought a

black bellbottom suit. Embarrassing to me

now, I could never wear them. Even

though it was black, the bellbottoms were

too big a statement. I‟m too shy to wear

an all black suit, just as I am to wear an all

white suit. They are binary opposites and

have such strong connotative meanings. I

tend to favour what I am in today: charcoal

suit, pink shirt and purple tie. Though,

quite recently, advised by my wife and

daughter I bought a very light, aluminium

suit. It gives me a lift and improves my

mood but is far too light for this time of

year.”

Just as I am about to leave I overhear Dr

Harvey ordering himself a coffee, black or

white I wonder. “Strong black of course”,

he replies and I smile as I approach my

immaculate white Clio.

What a “Swishing” Spree!

By Kerry – Louise Barnaby

Fashionista's will flock to Southampton‟s

Orange rooms on 14th

December for a

Shopping Experience with a twist.

Katie Taylor, a graduate of BA (Hons)

Writing Fashion and Culture at

Southampton Solent University, is

collaborating with the Orange Rooms,

Vernon Walk, to host the ultimate

Swishing Spree.

“Swishing” is defined in the dictionary as

“to rustle, as silk” however, “swishing”

has become the term for “clothes swapping

parties”.

“Swishing” is not a new concept; women

have been swapping clothes for years,

whether it is at jumble sales or on eBay.

Now, in the climax of this current

economic crisis, we can‟t afford to be

spending, on average, £13,000 a year on

clothes that are never worn. Therefore

“swishing” has become the craze for

shopaholics everywhere.

Think of “Swishing” as cash-free

shopping.

“Swishing” first started in America, and

shares the ideals of the Tupperware party.

Women would meet at a chosen venue,

usually a house, and would take their

unwanted clothes and swap them between

each other.

“The concept is simple; people bring

clean, unwanted items of clothing,

jewellery, bags or shoes from by-gone eras

to present day bargains. We then put them

out on display; you forget about them, and

you set about reinventing your style and

your wardrobe.

“Everyone brings at least one item and can

leave with however many they want.

There is no limit. You can‟t complain if

you bring one and leave with 10 or bring

10 and leave with one as it is unwanted

anyway,” explains Katie Taylor.

Katie Taylor continued to say: “My main

inspiration for hosting this event was the

infamous Twiggy, and her new BBC

programme „Twiggy‟s Frock Exchange‟.

I saw this programme and immediately

thought, it was brilliant, and I had to

introduce it to the local community”

Katie Taylor said: “Swishing has been

going on for a while now but unfortunately

the main events are based only in London.

There are none in the smaller cities. That

is why I thought it would be a great idea to

introduce to concept to Southampton.

“My aim with this first „Frock Swap‟ is to

make people aware of the concept and,

more importantly, get Southampton locals

excited about Fashion.”

Katie Taylor continued: “I am in talks with

a university student who is starting her

own business, who will hopefully be there

selling vintage clothes and another girl

doing clothing alterations. So you will get

the best of both worlds, even if you don‟t

find anything to swap then you will still

have the option to buy clothes from the

stall”.

Entry to this event is just as simple as the

concept itself. Just go onto the Orange

Rooms‟ website and register. Katie said:

“The registration is available now. The

event is free. All you have to do is register

your details and the approximate number

of items you will be bringing and you‟re

done”.

No fuss, no finance just one hell of a

frenzy.

Just a few words of wisdom from Katie

Taylor: “Get there on time. Make the most

of the half an hour you will get for

browsing, know what you want and grab

it. After all, it‟s free!”

Solent Students:

Saviours or Slackers???

The only way to get a true and honest answer?

Take it to the people!

Written by Kerry-Louise Barnaby

Southampton is one of many cities

throughout the UK which is becoming

overthrown by students‟. Today, the

local people spoke out about the

impact the students‟ indulgent and

carefree lifestyles are having on their

beloved city.

The general consensus was positive,

and even the teenagers agreed: “They

are fun and good role-models,” Sarah

Brown a 16-year-old schoolgirl said.

While in the midst of a Recession, the

more mature generation, saw the

students from an economical

perspective.

Arthur, 73 and Margaret Billington,

69, shared a positive view of the

students. Arthur and Margaret are a

couple who have lived in Southampton

their entire lives and have seen

Southampton undergo a huge

transformation since the university

started drawing more and more youth

to the city.

Arthur said: “They are good as they

bring trade and business I think the

students are a brilliant addition. They

bring lots of trade and business which

is good for the city‟s economy”.

Mrs Tina Hutchins, a 40 year old

university receptionist, thinks: “It is

good for society to have some clever,

motivated and determined people

around – they are good role-models for

the children.” Tina is married with one

child and has lived in Portswood,

Southampton for 12 years.

The “just-graduated” mid-20 culture,

were unanimous: “We love the

students. They bring life to the city”

Tina Edwards a 26 year old recent

graduate of Solent University said.

“The university attracts people from

all areas and makes it very multi-

cultural and an exciting community to

be a part of,” – Radha Patel, a 24-

year-old recent graduate. Miss Patel

continued: “After returning to

Southampton after living away for a

few years, I was really happy to see it a

much changed, more vibrant and

energetic community in just a few

short years.”

The only people to strongly disagree

with this opinion where the parents of

young children. This section of the

community agree that the “Students are

noisy and litter” from Rachael

Macmillan, a 35 year old female with 2

children.

While: “They can be a worry when u

have small children as they may get up

to no good” was the view of Mr Adam

Boyd-Brown, a 29 year old male with

children, who lives in the Bedford

Place area of Southampton.

Mr Boyd-Brown continued to say:

“Living in Bedford Place, which is a

very popular choice for students going

on a night out, I see and hear the

students in the streets, coming out of

clubs at all hours. This is disruptive

and keeps the children awake”.

James, 38 and Sonya Killick 35, a

married couple summed this view up

perfectly.

“I understand that they are young and

enjoying themselves but the city does

not revolve around them. They need to

grow up, show some respect and stop

being selfish.”

Sonya said “It‟s very clear to me that

the students have absolutely no respect

for the community”.