Style Your Life blog with celebrity stylist and image consultant Ceril Campbell
When Liberty X were runners up in 2001 on ITV’s “Popstars The Rivals ”
I was the 1st person to style and create a cohesive image for them to move forward in their music career as a chart topping band.
I worked together with them on their hairstyles, clothes and public image.
Here are how Liberty X looked before and after my 1st styling session
Kevin Simms appears tonight on BBC TV’s Voice
Couldn’t miss the press preview of the David Bowie retrospective at the V&A or the last minute matinee tickets we had obtained for the Book of Mormon today- even though I had been in bed with flu for last 3 days. So I emerged from the sick-bed leaving germs behind and excitement overtaking the flu-exhaustion.
The Bowie exhibition was just amazing- it assailed all senses. Reactive headphones to each exhibit allowed you to hear, see and completely experience Bowie from teenage career beginning to his tours, films, art and all aspects of his life. Bowie was my complete pin-up idol and I saw all his live concerts when I was in my 20’s so this was like living my past life for 2 hours again. I could have spent half a day there as there was so much to see, finishing with a room of giant video screens playing his last concert- it was nearly the same experience as being at the actual concert.
Just an amazing visual and all consuming sensory experience.
and then when I thought the day couldn’t get any better we laughed our way through the Book of Mormon.
It was sooooo camp and so funny that there was no mascara left on my lashes by the time it had ended-all cried off from laughing so much. Words cannot describe it except for camp, irreverent and brilliant…
I cannot recommend both experiences enough!. Rush to buy your tickets. You won’t be sorry.
I could go all over again. The best-est day !
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Birthday treat at the new Crazy Horse revue show on the South Bank. Fantastic marquee with neon lighting and a bar- makes you feel like you could be in Paris!
The show is full of identical perfect bodied girls all quite undressed, except for very clever artistic lighting creating modesty and illusion. The girls were more beautiful and slightly androgenous in their style of bodily perfection, rather than sexy, but it definitely made you want to book gym training sessions to get bodies like theirs.
The sketches were often amusing as well as cleverly staged and choregraphed, and definitely a great evening out in London – one with a difference.
then dinner at Bob Bob Ricard, in Soho. Loving the bell on the table ” ring for champagne”
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The question I get asked all the time is what makes a good stylist? In my opinion, after 30 years of styling, it’s being able to translate the client’s brief into reality efficiently, on a budget, and in a short time period, whilst making the artist look and feel wonderful for both their own esteem and public perception.
So when asked to create an image and look, at very short notice, for the new girl band VANQUISH, I talked to the girls themselves about their look and also their manager and their video director and listened carefully to all their wishes….to make sure there could be no mistakes
I observed their individual personalities,
watched them perform,
considered their target age audience for what looks would be aspirational
selected styles/colours/looks to fit each personality,bodyshape,and colouring
and most importantly made sure the artistes were happy and comfortable in the 3 sets of performance outfits my assistant stylist Sophie selected to my brief
With a selection of High st clothing ranging from New Look to Zara, Topshop, Primark and more all in one very long day, the girls had 3 sets of outfits together ready to perform on the main stage at the British Grand Prix last Saturday, the VIP tent on Sunday and for their new Video to be filmed across Monday and Tuesday
Here are some of the results
everyone seemed very happy, especially the girls.
At the Isle of Wight festival with Rory- my photographer son- great company for me- maybe not so cool for him to be with mum…?!
Got to festival early so browsed shops- hats, hats and more hats of all sorts- and "festival looks" such as tutus and "one-sies"
Some hat wearing examples I spotted
And I’m especially loving this look!
Grass skirts and Hawaiian shirts
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Men in kilts, diamante handbags sporrans….. should always be careful how they sit…..
So civilised in the VIP tent- a bit like turning left on a flight!
My favourite bands of Friday were Imelda May who had the audience in the Big Top rocking
And
The Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby Ruby Ruby fantastic…….
And the rain came- it didn’t dampen the atmosphere or enthusiasm but did change the style stakes…..
Tomorrow the acts I am most looking forward to are:
Mike and the Mechanics, Seasick Steve, Iggy and the Stooges, Pulp, Foo Fighters and ……. Tom Jones!
DAY 2
Fantastic weather today…
Lying in sun first on grass listening to the band Hurts- I hadn’t heard of them before- but what would I know? Oldy that I am… They were great- loved them.
Then went to meet Mike Rutherford (Mike and the Mechanics) and his wife Angie at the garden stage
to watch their son Harry’s band Stereo Son – Angie was telling me that Harry has produced N-Dubz and Mike and the Mechanics and I think I may have heard her say Eric Clapton too. He’s definitely someone to watch out for.
Then rushed back to main stage to watch Mike and the Mechanics
And Seasick Steve… If you’ve not heard him- think Memphis Blues
Spotted him later watching Tom Jones with Kate Moss in the Big Top tent
Kate Moss with her Hen Weekend girlfriends were dancing on stage with him at one point in his act too.
KM1 and KM2 were buggies designated to ferry the Kate Moss posse around from bar to stage to stage and back again!
Just had to take some random pix of another hat and some pirates
Feathers trend big- on hats and as earrings
As mentioned before you always see fairies at festivals
And, well what can I say? …good legs?
Had to see Iggy Pop as he’s a legend
Then – as I always listen to my son!- I went back to the Big Top tent to watch Chase and Status… Amazing… so good… I’m way too old to love listening to them just as music but experiencing them live was something completely different. Have never seen soooo many people in the Big Top Tent and around it. Like one huge Mosh pit
stood watching with a crowd just near the stage at the tent door getting wafts of steaming bodies from within.
Stayed there for Tom Jones
and then returned to the main stage for Foo Fighters. Sadly missed Pulp- would have enjoyed them.
DAY 3
And the rains came…
Drier in the VIP tent though….. did remind me somewhat of a refugee camp full of soaking wet people rescued though into the warm embrace of alcohol, and hot yummy Jamie Oliver food
Wet weather style of all sorts…
Girlband PARADE were in the VIP enclosure when their video was playing on the screen and danced around in front of it in the rain
Sunday: bleak grey and raining – not normal rain but that sort that comes in horizontally and completely soaks.
Not only raining but cold and windy too.
Favourite acts of the day were Jeff Beck – as my son said – a legend- who played fantastic John Mayall/Eric Clapton style bluesy-rock.
And then Plan B who I stood out in the rain to watch. Ben Drew is so talented and diverse in what he can do from rap to hip-hop to reggae to soul.
Absolutely loved the beat-box guy Faith SFX who warmed up for Plan B and then duetted with him, so cool……
By the time the Script came on we were so wet and cold that we went home but I can only say "all respect" to those who stayed the course to watch the closing act Kasabian.
A great weekend and looking forward to next year!
It’s 40 years since Jimi Hendrix played at the Isle of Wight festival. Most of my friends in my school year went to that festival, but I was one of the few girls whose parents wouldn’t allow to go. Was so upset!
Having got to my 50’s and still not experienced a music festival (although Ive been going to live gigs since the age of 11) I thought it time to visit the Isle of Wight Festival, especially as I now have a cottage on the island. So I packed my Festival gear- (no short shorts-would be proverbial mutton)! but did include wellies, parker and lots of layers suitable for all weathers.
So simple, you may say, to nip to the nearby festival ground to pick up your tickets in the car when you live on the island. But easier said than done! I spent longer in the car in the one-way systems around Newport than I did driving down to the Island. Tomorrow its definitely on foot and the local buses!
So here’s hoping that the weather improves for tomorrow as it has been bucketing down most of the day. Really looking forward to seeing Pink and Blondie in particular and Florence and the Machine.
DAY 1
Weather so much better and properly planned back route to festival in car -parking nearby in a field rented out for parking A very long lunch with friends at the Folly Inn at East Cowes and ready promptly at 4pm at the festival opening to watch my son’s friend’s band “I Blame Coco” (Sting’s daughter) in the Big Top. Was standing right up at the stage by the huge speakers. Everyone will have to shout at me for the rest of the day!
Commuted between the BIg Top and main stage during the afternoon and evening- catching Daisy Dares you, Shakespeare’s Sister, Mr Hudson, Doves, Calvin Harris and Florence and the Machine. By 11pm I had wilted and went home to watch Jay-Z from my bed on ITV 2!. That’s what happens when you get old….
Festival clothing style must haves…..face painting, hair decoration, hats, tutus, fancy dress and mud!
DAY 2
The highlights of Day 2 for me were Paloma Faith and Blondie. Loved Paloma Faith’s 50’s pin up girl styling and music. We all were singing along to Blondie’s songs. Also went to the Big Top and caught the Saturdays, Bombay Bicycle Club and N-Dubz.
Made some new friends on the audience!
DAY 3
The best! Pink was amazing. Stole the show. She entered the stage from a suspended box 100’s of feet above the crowd and then topped it by doing acrobatics on an aerial wire after being rolled around the heads of the audience in huge ball. Not only was her show fantastic but she had such a naughty twinkle and rapport with the audience. You would love to have a girlie gossip with her.
The finale was Paul McCartney who didn’t disappoint with all the old favourites, finishing off with Sergeant Pepper. Loved his drummer. He was enormous but looked like a large teddy bear. And the rain held off till the end, when after a short deluge which we danced through, cleared up again for the most fantastic fireworks.
Rory Campbell’s final music gig at The Arches, Southwark-whilst studying for a further Drumming Degree at the London college of Contemporary Music after a 3 year music degree at Oxford Brookes Uni.
I thought Rory and the band were great – so much improvement in a year from the first gigs. In his words on facebook….. “smashed it”! watch this space ….
