The Brief:With Converse launching their first bag collection just in time for the new school year, a handful of the UK's finest experts on style and self expression representing fashion, music and culture reminisced about what defined their own unique style, getting nostalgic about what it means to be an individual once the new term begins. Provided simply with a canvas duffle bag from the Converse Bags & Accessories launch collection, a pencil case and notebook, they got creative to express their personal style in their very own special way...
Alexis Knox:
About Alexis Knox: Style Mentor on T4's Style the Nation alongside Giles Deacon and Nick Grimshaw, Alexis Knox is an expert on expressing personal style. By Day she is Fashion Director at Notion magazine and a renowned stylist and by night she is a host at the surrealist club night ‘Circus’.
Describe your school style?
Accessorise to the max! I went to a Convent school where the uniform was pretty strict.... a kilt! So it was all about customising to the max with plastic bangles, kids accessories and gweebo bunches!
Britta Burger:
About: Britta Burger is acting Fashion Editor at surf, skate and snow title Cooler magazine.
The inspiration behind the bag:
The duffle bag really reminded me of all-American High-School basketball heroes, the whole sporty collegiate style. It’s also about the way I grew up, the whistles remind me of my parents who were sports teachers and the poms poms are kind of like balls. The canvas of the bag was just asking to be drawn on with the markers and I suppose it's also an abstract take on the classic stars and stripes, but I was inspired by the iconic pop art aspect of it, not the fact that it's a national flag.
Hope Von Joel:
About: Stylist and Accessories Designer Hope Von Joel’s fashion credentials begin at home, as Niece of Supermodel Jean Shrimpton, Hope studied knitwear at Central Saint Martins, working for the likes of Alexander McQueen and Gareth Pugh, before becoming Fashion Editor at The Super Super . From styling London Fashion Week shows for Charlie Le Mindu to fashion editorials for titles such as Elle Girl,Tank, Arena, Oyster, Dansk, and UK Vogue, Hope is now contributing Fashion Editor at Fiasco and one half of the talented design duo behind http://www.
How did you style up your school uniform?
With a big smile and old paisley scarf, fur muff to keep hands warm and old second hand shoes in a shiny 60s black and white!
Chantelle Fiddy
About: Chantelle Fiddy is a journalist and renowned commentator on London's grime scene, whose music credentials include penning for Ctrl.Alt.Shift, RWD Magazine, Mixmag, Sunday Times Style and Dazed & Confused as well as presenting on Channel 4's 'Generation Next' and making multiple appearance on BBC Radio 1's Review Show. You'll mostly find her online.
Describe your school style? My school style flitted between record bags and (hideous) rave jackets (I hereby admit to rocking a Technics number) to holding my (entire mop of unbrushed) hair up with felt tip pens and wearing leg warmers alongside my yellow shirt and green blazer.
About Converse Bags:
For AW’11 Converse took the illustrious heritage and iconic style, that has seen their classic sneakers and Chuck Taylor All Star logo omnipresent since the 1900s, to create their first ever dedicated Bags & Accessories Collection. The debut collection reflects the simple and versatile styling synonymous with Converse complete with the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star logo, steel eyelet details and the ever versatile canvas.
The new line of Converse Bags & Accessories is available now at stockists including Schuh, JD Sports and www.blackleaf.com. Prices range from £19 - £54.95
Enjoy, Fashion Fantasist xx
(Images include Alexi Knox's creation, Hope Van Joel's wooden masterpiece and Britta Burger's collegiate style creation)
