NOUS

The British Issue!ssue One

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Collaboration of a Couple

Collaboration of a CoupleA Letter from the Editor

Welcome to NOUS Magazine! We are an online fashion magazine for couples. We feel there is a gap in the market for a magazine directly targeted towards fashionable couples. We all catch our other half’s reading our favourite magazines, so why not just make it simpler and create something that you can both read, together.Our first issue is carrying the torch for Britain. The Olympics may now be over but British pride is far from it. The Olympics has brought out the best in British culture and along side this, the Queen’s diamond Jubilee started the summer season off in strides of red white and blue. This is what our ‘British’ issue will continue to do spread the British pride, with fashion, music, culture and most importantly, couples.

Enjoy

NOUS

Laura HansonFashion Editor

Collaboration of a CouplePaul Woodward and Laura Hanson are a couple who work for NOUS Magazine The pair of them have been together for four years and this will be the first time they are working together. Elli Blackwell discusses with them both the pros and cons of working in an intense professional environment together.

Paul is the art director at NOUS Magazine. He designs the layout and graphics in the magazine. Laura is the fashion director. She is responsible for gathering all the content for all the features, fashion stories and trend reports. She also styles all of the fashion editorials in

the magazine.

H ow do you feel working together has benefited you both?

Paul: Great! Although I have many different jobs going on at the moment, I enjoy working with Laura and the line of work she is in. Designing a fashion magazine is a new area for me as I normally focus on other graphic design work such as branding and advertising.

But it’s a great way to develop my skills in different styles of design and also working with different people in the industry.Laura: We are able to spend more time together, which is the main benefit for me. We are both so busy with all our other work most the time. It is good being able to combine both of these things and in the process we get to see each other more.

Are there any cons of working together?

Paul: Not as much as i thought, we have got along quite well but there are a few times where she is asking for things that i don’t do as a graphic designer, such as some layouts that she had in mind, or certain typefaces she would like to use that, sometimes, wouldn’t be legible. But together we seem to work quite well as a team and together have produced some beautiful work.Laura: It’s a lot easier to disagree with each other, which means the professionalism suffers. It can quickly slip into an argument, whereas working with a stranger that would possibly not happen. Of course this can be a good thing as I feel I can be a lot more honest with Paul if I don’t like what he has done which means the problem can be solved faster.

Have you ever encountered any problems and how did you deal with them?

Paul: I think time has been the biggest issue as we both have very little at this stage of the year.Laura: I agree, I think time has been the main problem, trying to work around each other’s schedules and commitments and making time to work on the magazine.

Do you ever feel a sense of ‘competition’ between you both at work, elaborate?

Paul: I wouldn’t say so but secretly I think we both do. Regularly we both have our own,

separate ideas for the magazine. We’ve had to reason with each other; deciding somewhere in the middle. (More my way though!)Laura: I don’t think so. We are both quite level headed; there hasn’t really been any competition between us yet.

How do others respond to your working relationship?

Paul: People haven’t said much about it to be honest. I think they would agree in saying it’s a great way to collaborate with designers who work in different areas at such an early stage of our career.Laura: People have generally been positive about it. As we have been together almost 4 years now, I don’t think anyone would have anything bad to say as we know how each other works and its always good to collaborate with our industries.

What advice would you give to other couples who work together or plan to?

Paul: As it has gone so well I would just say, enjoy it. It is all about gaining a great experience for you. You may argue about a design or idea, but the outcome will be for the better.Laura: I think it is important to have your own space during the time you work together, it can easily become too much when both working and being together as a couple. I think you just need to be aware of each other and know each other well enough before working together professionally. It has been a great experience and I feel I have learnt a lot from working with him. So I would definitely recommend working with your partner professionally.

Would you work together again in the future?

Paul: Of course, it has been a joy. I look forward to the next time we do hopefully it will be at a quieter part of the year.Laura: Yes, definitely. I think it has allowed us to be more patient with each other and listen to each other’s ideas more. It would be great to work together again in the future.

I think it is important to have your own space

during the time you work together.

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T r e n d R e p o r tA u t u m n

W i n t e r2 0 1 2

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VALENTINO

MICHEAL KORS

VALENTINO

LAUREN MOFFATT

MULBERRY

BALMAIN

LAMB

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

TEMPERLEY LONDON

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD RED LABEL

TSUMORI CHISATO

DOLCE & GABBANA

This Autumn/Winter season has seen a combination of beautiful models wearing equally as beautifully crafted clothes grace the catwalks around the world. Nous’ very own Laura Hanson investigates this seasons most hyped fashion trends.From the vampy leather looks as seen in the Gareth Pugh collection to the intricate lace pieces of Valentino, the swinging 60’s at Betsy Johnson to futuristic inspired sportswear by Proenza Schouler and from wrapping up warm at Mulberry to the ever rising hemlines at L.A.M.B. This seasons designers have presented the fashion world with a wide spectrum of fashion extremes ready for Autumn/Winter 2012 and now we can’t wait for the cold weather to come so we can

show off our new fur trimmed Anna Sui coats and knee high Gucci boots. Here at Nous, we’re just thankful that our favourite designers are helping us to get over our post Olympic blues, because lets face it wearing tracksuit bottoms outside of the gym is not acceptable fashion behaviour, or so we thought until we saw the models coming down the runway at Sportmax. But these are not your usual tracksuit bottoms, oh no, these are oversized glossy tracksuit bottoms and combined with a Y-3 satin gloss bomber jacket you are guaranteed to add style to any gym outfit. These designers have really given it their all this year and created

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YVES SAINT LAURENT

BETSY JOHNSON

SPORTMAX

GUCCI

MOSCHINO

PROENZA SCHOULER

GARETH PUGH

ANNA SUI

BALENCIAGA

MUGLER

ALICE & OLIVIA

Y-3

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'Sthe solution to the universal problem ‘What shall I wear today?’ by providing us all with an outfit for every occasion imaginable, and all packed into one fashion season. From that ski holiday booked in the Alpes to that perfect Christmas dress we spend our whole year trying to find, they’ve thought of it all. Including the search for the perfect coat. This season has seen a range of different styles both classic and newfangled. Dolce & Gabanna have produced some uniquely beautiful embroidered capes, Jean Paul Gauliter has introduced us to an irresistible fur gilet and Mochino shows us their bright and bold Peter Pan collar peacoat. You will not go cold this Autumn/Winter we have been truly spoilt for choice!

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YIGAL AZROUEL

DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

MULBERRY

ROSKANDA ILLNIC

JIL SANDER

SKAIST TAYLOR

DKNY

VALENTINO

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD RED LABEL

GUCCI

MARCHESA

CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION

There was an array of colour coming down the catwalks this Autumn/Winter season. From the deep purples at Yigal Azrouel to the pastel blues at Marc Jacobs. This winter is all about the bright and the light, winter darks vs. winter pastels. These top six colours made their appearance in many shows across each fashion week, helping us brave the winter cold with these bright and warm colours. The glossy vibrant blues at Carven against the leather corn yellows at Tommy Hilfiger help beat those Autumn/Winter blues with sophisticated style. It is the norm to save your brights and pastels for spring, but not this season, why wait six months to wear something you want to wear now? Designers have embraced

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CHADWICK BELL

RODARTE

CARVEN

LUISA BECARIA

ACNE

BALENCIAGA

MARC JACOBS

TOMMY HILFIGER

LANVIN

PROENZA SCHOULER

MATHEW WILLIAMSON

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this 10 fold and this season we may be feeling cold on the outside and in but who will know when you’re walking down the street in your Luisa Becaria velvet aqua coat. Its not just our day wear that’s making us look and feel happier about this bleak season, the evening wear created this season, from the flaming red’s at Valentino to the thawing plums at Gucci, we will be looking our best at any event this Autumn/Winter. Our prayers have been answered, as much as we love slimming winter blacks it is time for a change, and orange is the new black this year. Just one statement dress, like that of Mulberry, will make you stand out in the crowd and turn your back on the glum and dreary British weather. The summer of celebrations may now be over but our fashion merriments are far from it. Last year bought us multi-coloured capes, monochrome dresses and emerald green furs. Autumn/Winter 2011 may be a distant memory in some ways, but in others the strong colours have the reflections from past seasons and inspired the present and enforced it with colours that aim to bring joy to women and make them exultant about the end of year fashion.

What’s Red,White& Blueallover?

Photographer Jane WaringStylist Laura HansonMake-Up Ally Willars

Hair Zoe Severs

Models:Sophie WellsSarah Walsh

Char Cox

What’s Red,White& Blueallover?

T r e n d R e p o r tA u t u m n

W i n t e r2 0 1 2

The Menswear catwalks this Autumn/Winter season were filled with winter warmers and innovative designs. From the classic style brought to us by Christopher Bailey of Burberry Prorsum to the edgy futuristic designs of Yves Saint Laurent. This season has mixed ethnicities and femininity, with flourishes of different textures and patterns, making this Men’s Fashion week the place to be. This season is all about the layers, Etro have created Mexican style ponchos over suits, Missoni layered their knitwear as they sent the models walking down the catwalk, there is no mistaking that this winter you will not be cold. You will no longer need to buy a coat that suffocates and constricts, this year as menswear designers have created looks that are both fashionable and practical. Seen on the models at Rag & Bone and Vivienne Westwood big coats are layered on top of layers ready to help you brace the autumnal weather. In the hands of Antonio Azzuolo we see traditional refinement of the tailored jacket, compared to the

contemporary man in a cape of Jil Sander, the juxtapositions of this menswear fashion week are spread far and wide yet all join together to form the temperament of modern day. Sportswear is high on the agenda this Autumn/Winter and not just as the key trend itself, it is easy to see its wide spread effect on other trends and designers, from the hard leather at Mugler to the simple shapes at Z Zenger. They would easily fit in with the likes of Duckie Brown or Lacoste. The simple silhouettes of sportswear bring us back to the excited feeling of the Olympic summer. The warm weather may be gone but that does not mean the sportswear needs to go too; this is sportswear winter style. The brightly coloured rain macs and the neon shoes convey a summer mood that help bring a feeling of warmth and pleasure that would help anyone get through these stormy months ahead.

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ANN DENEULEMEESTER

DUCKIE BROWN

ANTONIO AZZUOLO

JEREMY SCOTT

ALEXANDRE PLOKHOV

LACOSTE

MUGLER

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JIL SANDER

ACNE

DOLCE & GABBANA

JOHN VARVATOS

YVES SAINT LAURENT

BURBERRY PRORSUM

ETRO

DIOR HOMME

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

MISSONI

DAMIR DOMA

NICHOLAS K

Z ZENGER

MIHARAYASUHIRO

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

RAG & BONE

The season Menswear is classic vs. bold. With traditional blacks as seen at Comme des Garcon against the bright blues from John Galliano, the cloudy greys from Jean Paul Gaultier to the brilliant reds at Givenchy. There were subtle tones of navy and muted camel that ornamented the menswear catwalks, timeless with a fresh twist. Many of the looks this season have been inspired by the past and the future, put together with these six key colours it is even easier to see the thought behind many of the designers collections. Don’t be afraid to be bold this Aumtun/Winter, there have been many reasons to celebrate these past months and

this should always be reflected in how you dress. The way people can express themselves is through colour, it can reflect your mood or your personality. What’s the saying? ‘You should dress to fit your mood’ well maybe you should dress to enthuse a mood. When its still dark outside in the morning when you’re getting ready for work, before you leave put on your daring Giorgio Armarni coat and it would brighten up anyone’s day. In this economic state it is easy to sink into bad habits and start dressing in dull lifeless clothes, reflecting how you may feel. Well its time to put a stop to that, if you want to dress in darker tones, then do it. But make it stylish, add some spark, Kenzo has combined a fresh grey suit with red accessories. An ingenious way of combing trends and colours. Texture can go a long way, just look at the leather detail Alexander McQueen has used one their jacket, it might be a dark shade but that doesn’t mean it has to be limp and dreary. Its time to revolutionize your wardrobe, whether you go for classy camel or modest midnight wearing any of these colours this season will make it hard to go wrong.

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ELBL

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ALEXANDRE PLOKHOV

BAND OF OUTSIDERS

BALENCIAGA

PRADA

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

ALEXANDER WANG

COMME DES GARCONS

MARNI

C O L O U RR E P O R T

TRUE

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DNIG

HTS

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LOUIS VUITTON

JOHN GALLIANO

JOHN VARVATOS

ALEXIS MABILLE

BALMAIN

VERSACE

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

GIVENCHY

CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION

CARVEN

FENDI

ISSEY MIYAKE

PAUL & JOE

GIORGIO ARMARNI

KENZO

E. TAUTZ

Stylist Laura HansonPhotographer Sharleen KandaHair and Make-up Livvy Stokes

Assistant Jessica Lacey

Models:Oliver-James Gratton

Char Cox

WilkestockAt aged 22, Olly Wilkes has achieved so much. His most notable being Wilkestock festival. The festival is held near Stevenage, usually on the first weekend of September. So, where did the idea stem from and what’s left to see of Wilkestock?

Ellie Blackwell discusses the ins and outs with the man himself.

What makes Wilkestock different from other festivals?Wilkestock is different to other festivals because of its ‘up close and personal’ feel that you instantly get from walking on the sight. This seems to be what other festivals are lacking. That and the fact that all proceeds from the festival go directly to our two chosen charities, Keswick Mountain Rescue and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Did you ever think Wilkestock would be as successful as it has been?Not at all. When I had the first one I was just creating an opportunity for my band and all the other local bands to play at! Then my brother got involved and all of his hard work has made it bigger and better every year.

What are your plans and ideas for Wilkestock in the next few years?Our plans are simply just to keep improving and surprising everyone that comes. We are hoping to get some bigger names involved but of course still keeping our trademark personal feel.

What do you enjoy most about running a festival? And, what do you dislike?I think it would be unfair for myself to take all the credit for the running of the festival. Since my brother took the reins it has grown in size as well as popularity and he is constantly working on making it better and better. But in answer to your question, I love the satisfaction of hearing peoples good memories and great feedback from when they have attended the

festival. To hear people appreciate the work we put in is a great feeling.

How much preparation goes in to the buildup of the festival?A lot. My brother is constantly working throughout the year organising many parts of the festival. Then through the summer we are all hard at work getting the site ready. The last 2 weeks before the event are always very hectic-getting everything finished and looking good.

What sort of people come to your festival?What sort of people dont? All sorts come and we welcome everyone. With bands and acoustic acts throughout the day and DJs in the

night there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Do you feel the festival is ideal for couples as well as families?Definitely! We think it is important that families can come and enjoy themselves which is why we offer special family ticket prices (check out www.wilkestock.com for all ticket prices) It is a great weekend for everyone, couples, families or even on your own. Come, chill out

with a drink and enjoy some awesome music!

Do you feel the festival promotes British pride? and How/why?I suppose you could say it does. It is all about enjoying great local, British talent in a beautiful setting as well as

supporting two very worthwhile British charities!

It is a great weekend for everyone, couples, families or even on your own.

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b e a u t y

t r e n d sA U T U M N / W I N T E R

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From left to right;

Anna SuiDries Van Noten

PradaRoberto Cavalli

From left to right;

BalmainTom Ford

Chole Vera Wang

This Autumn/Winter has seen a whirlwind of different looks painted on the models backstage ready for the catwalk. Here are three distinct trends that every woman should try, from the beautiful simplicity at Chloe, the radical brights at Roberto Cavalli to the kohl blacks by Lanvin. This is the time to try something new, try something you have been too scared to try before. If you were lot of makeup on a day-to-day basis why not try going natural? It’s not as daunting as it may seem, or if you’re the kind of woman who likes to go barefaced embrace the colour, this doesn’t mean you have to be as extreme as Prada, but isn’t it worth a try? Any of these looks can be worn from day to night; you can tone the down or vamp them up. The possibilities are endless; there is no need to limit your self when it comes to beauty. These looks aren’t permanent; so don’t be afraid to test yourself and the makeup.

From left to right;

Jean Paul GualtierLanvinMarc JacobsVersace

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Roberto Cavalli

Marc by Marc Jacobs Chanel

Balmain

Donna Karen

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Here are the three key trends that adorned our catwalks this season with their beauty and the simplicity of each design enhancing each look. From the sleek style at Marc by Marc Jacobs, the nonchalant waves at Balmain and the suave up-do at Rodarte this Autumn/Winter has shown us some chicest looks ready for any occasion. The best part is each of these styles can easily be recreated and worn with many different looks. You can grunge down your sleek do with some dark lips like Bottega Veneta or refine your loose locks with a simple braid as seen at Emilio Pucci then to add some sophistication to your look try a bun as done by Stella McCatney. There are many ways to wear your hair and here are just a few styles that are easily done and simply maintained and will guarantee leave you looking at your best during this icy season.

3.1 Phillip Lim Bottega Veneta

Emilio Pucci Chloe

Rodarte Stella McCartney

S w e p t u p

s l e e k

l o n g a n d l o o s e

Androgynous. Metrosexual. Ladette. A guy ‘in touch with his feminine side’. What were once two clearly defined gender roles have merged together so that now the line between them is blurred, sometimes nonexistent. Gender has been redefined, updated for the 21st century. The traditional stereotypes are relics of a bygone era, more popular in design and photography than in real life.This century, the country mourned the death of the lad. The beer-swilling, meat-eating, ‘real’ men are dead and buried, replaced by tanorexic pretty boys who spend more time in front of the mirror than their female counterparts. As for women, the shackles that bound them to the kitchen sink have been snapped off, and they’re now free to swig the beers. And swig they have, with the percentage of women binge drinking doubling since 1990. With marriage and birth rates dropping dramatically in the same period of time, it seems that 2.4 kids and a semi in the city don’t cut it anymore. So what is the future of the couple? Did the boundaries that we thought restricted us actually help to define a relationship? If both individuals are wearing the trousers,

how can they ever be united as one?Perhaps it’s a positive thing; a step in the right direction for equality. Every couple is different. The hundreds of books on relationship advice on the market: useless. You can’t quantify love; it’s not something that can be broken down into steps and stages. It’s up to you and your other half to define your own rules, and not live by those dictated to you by other people or the media. Conventional couples have become a rare thing. What with the legalisation of same sex marriage in certain parts of the world, and long distance relationships becoming more and more popular with the advent of social media and global communication technologies, there is hardly a norm to be judged against anymore. Jenny Noakes, a 25 year old Retail Manager from Kent, believes that it’s a case of each to their own when it comes to couples:“My parents consider mine and my boyfriend’s relationship to be quite strange, just because it’s different from anything anyone of their generation would have had. Just like many other couples I know our age, I’m the primary earner in our

Two become oneBy Seoana Sherry-Brennan

http://frisbeewind.blogspot.co.uk

http://therefusedstone.blogspot.co.uk

household. I have a full time career, while my boyfriend, Matt, is a freelance photographer, so doesn’t have a steady income. Photography is his passion, and I don’t mind supporting him while he pursues it. I deal with all the household bills and I’m the one who makes the majority of financial decisions. It’s not because I decided that I had to be the dominant one in our relationship, it’s just how it came to be and it works for us. “I’ve always been a party girl, and I love going out and having a drink. Matt is much more quiet, we’re like ying and yang really! They say opposites attract and it’s definitely the case with us; while I like trying all the crazy water sports when we’re on holiday, Matt’s lounging by the pool topping up his tan. “Society is a lot more free now, and there’s a lot more opportunity for people to choose their own paths in live. While mine and Matt’s relationship wouldn’t have even existed fifty years ago, it’s what works for us right now. Maybe in ten years time he’ll have a full time job somewhere, and I’ll be at home trying to get a book published. There aren’t any rules with us, it’s a fluid partnership and one which I can (hopefully!) see working for a long time to come. “Whether you’re sticking to tradition or breaking the rules, the fact is it’s up to YOU how you define your role in a relationship. While there may still be pressure from parents and the press, the only people who can tell you how to live your lives are you and your partner. If you both enjoy a bevy, hit the pub together. If you’re both a fan of the tan, share the St Tropez. You’ll never have to worry about reaching those awkward bits again...

http://frisbeewind.blogspot.co.uk

http://therefusedstone.blogspot.co.uk

http://flickrhivemind.net

Photographer Zoe RollingsStylist Laura Hanson

Hair and Make-Up Clare Copus

Models:Ross Kitcher

From left to right;

YSLLouis VuittonMiharaysuhiroSalvature Ferragamo

From left to right;

Issy MiyakeRoberto CavalliMarniCerruti

From left to right;

3.1 Phillip LimAlexis MabilleLanvinPringle of Scotland

G E L L E D ///////A N D C O M B E D B A C K

S W E P T B A C K A N D V O L U M O U S

S t r a i g h t F R I N G E

Male grooming

trendsautumn winter

2 0 1 2

From left to right;

John Laurence SullivanDsquared

Ermanno ScervinoAgnes B

From left to right;

WooyoungmiViktor & Rolf

Ermenegildo ZengaDolce & Gabbana

From left to right;

MoschinoJonathan Saunders

Rick owensGivernchy

For Autumn/Winter male grooming is all about effortlessness. These six key styles all look great, can be worn easily and can be changed without much bother. From the sleek partings at Rick Owens, the blunt fringes at Alexis Mabille, the styled waves at Viktor & Rolf to the loose curls of Ermanno Scervino. These trends stem from many places, they are, like the clothes, inspired by the past and the future. We are in a time where we enjoy the feel of nostalgia and feel hope towards the present. This is truly reflected in this season, male grooming is overflowing with sophistication. Even the edgy fringes at 3.1 Philip Lim have that sentiment of future superiority. Whichever style you choose this season don’t be afraid to wear it with pride, show off those winter locks and don’t be afraid to change it up every so often, what’s the harm in a little change? L o o s e C u r l s

W A V E P A R T I N G S

S M O O T H P A R T I N G S

L o o s e C u r l s

W A V E P A R T I N G S

S M O O T H P A R T I N G S

CouplesStreet Style Inspiration

images courtesy of; Streetfshionmonitor.com and twokools.com

It’s not always easy to look as good as your partner, let alone being stylish together, but these couples show us how it’s really done. From the streets couples show us their style as individuals and as couples.

With many thanks to;

Elli BlackwellClare Copus

Char CoxOliver-James Gratton

Sharleen KandaRoss KitcherJessica LaceyZoe RollingsZoe Severs

Seoana Sherry-BrennanLivvy StokesSarah WalshYasmin WardJane WaringSophie WellsAlly Willars

Paul Woodward

NOUSM A G A Z I N E