Jazz Age aficionados look no further...

With Baz Lurhmann’s long awaited remake of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s quintessential Jazz Age novel, The Great Gatsby, due for release this year, the fashion world is preparing to go ga-ga over the glitz and glamour of the roaring twenties.  

The Great Gatsby follows the mysterious life of Jay Gatsby as he immerses himself in the sumptuous yet superficial world of 1920s New York, in an effort to rekindle romance with his childhood sweetheart Daisy Buchanan. 

Widely considered a classic “American Dream” novel of personal quest, materialistic excess and inevitable tragedy, Fitzgerald’s influence remains pertinent to this day, still oozing the inspirational charm of effortlessly elegant chic.

In a world of economic prosperity, alcohol bootlegging and lavish parties, Gatsby’s girls understood the paramount importance of nailing a look.  Finally, Long Island fashion is making a comeback, with the 2012 spring/summer catwalks giving a firm nod towards Daisy’s enviable wardrobe.

Ralph Lauren's 2012 Collection

Gucci showcased a shimmering array of black, white and gold sequinned flapper dresses with drop-waists and beaded fringing, while Ralph Lauren catered his collection for both day- think cloche hats, patterned headscarves and silky florals, and night- add some feathers and gold art deco jewellery.  

Riding on the riotous success of black and white silent film The Artist, footwear centres around classic takes on the curved “Louis” heel with girlish “Mary Jane” straps, while it’s all about the embellished purses and cigarette box clutch bags. 

Furthermore, if you’ve always fancied accessorising for a lazy summer picnic or garden party with a lacy parasol, your opportune moment has arisen.

Hope and promise, for Gatsby, take the symbolic form of Daisy’s green dock light; for Durham students, in this dark age of revision, minimal sleep and hourly Yum coffees, it hovers on the horizon in the form of hazy summer balls, boozy formals and that all-important buzzword among finalists, “graduation”.   

Already puzzling over what attire to indulge in? Palatinate Fashion is ready to assist, for soon we’ll be saying goodbye to exams and hello to diamonds, daiquiris and decadence…

Spotlight: Minjae Lee

Minjae Lee is a young self-taught artist who lives and works in Seoul, South Korea. His work exudes an insatiable appetite for drama, vivid colour and alluring mystery. 

Using a range of mediums from marker pens to acrylic paint, Lee expertly blends a sense of innocent fragility with decisive, often aggressive patterning. The fascinating detail of his intricate collage-like style places his artwork in the realm of the brilliant, revealing more with each fresh observation.

Lee cites his favourite artists as the Japanese photographer Hiroshi Nonami and the Gibraltar-born fashion designer John Galliano. 

Canvas prints and originals of his work can be bought from his website. If I weren't merely an impoverished student, I'd snap my favourites up without hesitation (above and below).

Link to Minjae Lee's website: www.grenomj.com.

Evolution Festival to ensure a post-exams extravaganza

What better way to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this summer than with a host of live bands supplied by Newcastle’s annual Evolution Festival?

The authenticity of this ‘festival’ experience has undergone scathing criticism in recent years, with various reports of drunken punch-ups, vicious catfights, dangerous over-crowding, underage stoners and innumerable puddles of vomit. This year’s irresistible line-up however, will tempt those of us who defiantly proclaimed ‘never again’ to return for some more quayside carnage.

Heading the bill at Spillers Wharf in early June will be Dizzee Rascal and Deadmau5, with other popular names including Maximo Park, Noah and the Whale, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Rizzle Kicks and DJ Fresh.

The Ballast Hills stage will surrender its folksy roots in favour of cutting-edge electro and dance. ‘What?! Why?!’ I hear the Hop Farm and Green Man lovers among you cry. Well, in truth, Evolution has always been an inherently urban event, and sets from SBTRKT,Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Toddla T promise to keep hype levels in acceleration mode late into the night.

Local talent will have the opportunity to showcase their sound on a stage partnered with Generator, the UK’s leading Music Development Agency, offering a prime chance to discover future festival stars.

Evolution’s promoter Jim Mawdsley commented, ‘We are very proud to bring such a strong and progressive line-up to NewcastleGateshead. We look forward to partying with you all in June.’

The event is without question an absolute bargain, at only £35 for a weekend ticket and £25 for a day pass. 

Link to Palatinate: http://www.palatinate.org.uk/?p=20459