Spring is well and truly here and at Motel HQ we know that florals are the way forward! As a symbol of femininity, floral prints date way back, starting in the East and Asia. The floral print back then consisted of highly detailed, ornate embroidery, and wearing one of these pieces was seen as a symbol of wealth and high status. From there, these beautiful garments were brought over to Europe, where, not to our surprise the trend quickly grew, with Europeans re-creating these prints at a cheaper price.
Made massively popular in the 70s – think Hollywood starlet Lana Turner – and then re-invented in the 90s, floral prints have been seen donning the catwalks in every SS season. From oversized posies, repeated prints and appliqués, there are plenty of options for everyone! Such a versatile and wearable trend for all ages shapes and sizes. Perfect!
Fast forward to today and flora is everywhere. It’s the ultimate girly print and we can’t get enough! Here at Motel we’ve created the perfect bloom for you, a summery mix of dusky pink, white and grey, the Floral Buzz print is just what you need to inject some sweetness to your look. Need some inspiration? Look to the likes of Dior and mix up your blossoms with holographic hues, or dress á la Christopher Kane and go head to toe print. We love a bit of matchy matchy!
With our Flower Buzz available in fitted dresses, crop tops with sweetheart necklines and the statement Kadie Skirt, catch the buzz and pair with lightweight denim and fresh white for a style that’s here to stay!
After months of anticipation The Great Gatsby is finally coming to our screens, and here at Motel we are excited! The film coincides with the return of 1920′s fashion, which means glitz, glamour and lots of extravagant parties. The dazzling cast includes Toby Maguire, Isla Fisher, Carey Mulligan as the effervescent Daisy Buchanan, and Leonardo DiCaprio as the iconic Jay Gatsby. Directed by Baz Luhrman of Moulin Rouge! fame, it should be an experience to remember, particularly for the stunning soundtrack and luxurious costumes!
Having seen the trailers, we are already swooning over Carey Mulligan’s ‘flapper’ style outfits. From glittering headbands and fur coats, to opulent pearls and lace, she will be shining as the vibrant Daisy Buchanan. It is the vintage dresses we are most looking forward to, however, with an array of pastel pink, gold and lilac fabrics encrusted with shimmering jewels. We also love upcoming actress Elizabeth Debicki’s androgynous portrayal of Jordan Baker, dressed in dark, dipped-hem dresses studded with gold. Team all this with a massive party and a large crowd of well-dressed young men, and who doesn’t wish they were born in the roaring ‘20s?
One of our favourite girl bands of the moment Stooshe recently popped into our show room to say hey! They were eager to check out all of our brand new looks for their upcoming shows and events so the girls paid us a visit between a hectic schedule of press interviews this week. They were on their way to get ready for a magazine awards ceremony that very night so of course they came to Motel for some style inspiration!
All of the girls went away with some of their favourite pieces to match their funky eclectic style and will be rocking Motel at all of the hottest festivals this summer. Courtney, the youngest member of the band, was loving the Crop Sweat in Tie Dye Print so will be channelling her inner hippy chic. Alex. whose style is described by her band mates as ‘ladylike and glam’. was a fan of our summery prints and will be looking as sweet as sugar in the Nessy Dress in Marble Pink and the Catalina Off Shoulder Dress in Paisley Blue.
The final member of the band, flame haired Karis, describes her style as ‘girlie and playful but with an urban edge’ and so she fell in love with our Paisley print and will be rocking this alongside bang-on-trend camo in our Delphine Jacket and Jolene Dress. Now that the girls are set to look hot this summer with their new Motel pieces, all efforts will be focused on the release of their debut album ‘London with the Lights On’ which will be dropping on the 27th of May. No doubt that our summer playlist will be bursting with more of their catchy tunes, including the retro Slip, out this week. We can’t wait!
Giving a nod to some of this season’s hottest trends, denim is the effortlessly easy way to stay on trend for SS13. Acid wash denim teamed with mesh inserts gives an edgy sports vibe which will sprint you into the fashion stakes. Try the Margie Sheer Sleeve Shift Dress for a sassy take on the trend or throw the PU Sleeve Bomber Jacket over a cute dress to add a touch of sports luxe to your outfit. Double denim is hot again this season – just don’t forget to wear different shades! Team the Renie Sleeveless Crop with the Anna Dark Denim Skater Skirt and you’ve got yourself one hot festival look.
Storming down the catwalks, we saw denim used in many a designer’s ss13 collection. Stella McCartney set the tone for the perfect denim shift dress, striking a resemblance with our Sugar Sheer Sleeve Denim Shift. Ashish led the way in denim dungarees sp get yourself a pair of Demi’s in Acid Wash to rock this trend. Baggy denim trousers were seen at DKNY and Phillip Lim so it’s time to get the look with the Jogging Pant in Acid Wash and team with a pair of pointy white courts for laid-back chic.
Blogger Suzie Bubble shows us how to rock double denim in muiltple washes whilst Alexa Chung works a classic dungaree with a contrasting snake skin bag. Visit out Denim Trend Page for the hottest new pieces to add to your acid wash wishlist.
This week we caught up with style icon, fashion it girl and cyber queen Niki Takesh! Hours have been lost scrolling through Niki’s Tumblr page so we are super excited to share the exclusive guest Pinterest board she recently put together for us! Niki also gave us her fashion gossip and revealed her favourite new Motel styles.
Niki is a pro at all things Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter but she has more tricks up her sleeve as along with ruling the social media world, she spends her time styling shoots, writing pop songs, and designing clothes. Balancing all of those things with her self confessed obsession with Britney Spears and everything related to the year 2001 must be a full time job! We got to interview this busy lady however, getting the low down on her favourite LA hangouts, music festival memories and her Ones to Watch for 2013.
Describing herself as ‘crazy, chill and lazy’, Niki’s Tumblr page reveals her many inspirations from places such as Toyko to her favourite TV show Boy Meets World. As a brand born out of the 90′s it’s no surprise that this it girl is a big Motel fan, with our babydoll dresses and crop tops being particular favourites of hers. We love how she has styled the Andrea Mini Skirt in Black Daisy with the Mesh Sleeve Bomber Jacket, and how well she rocks the Mizzy Striped Hotpants with an edgy biker jacket.
The festival season is well on its way and here at Motel Rocks HQ we can’t wait for Glastonbury. Undoubtedly the biggest and baddest of the UK music festivals, 2013 is set to to be one of the best yet. With some killer artists performing across the five-day festival there’s a certain few we are looking forward to the most…
Headlining Glastonbury’s revamped dance stage alongside the likes of Disclosure is the hot new electric duo Aluna George. They were shortlisted for the critics choice award at this years Brits and came second in BBC’s sound of 2013 poll, setting them up for their debt album release next month. Mixing up electronic music with R&B and Hip Hop Aluna George creates such a mesmerising sound and show us how great British music can be.
Next up on our can’t miss list is Cali girl group Haim. They had us at hello with their 90′s inspired music, rad wardrobes and love for Motel Rocks! They were recently spotted in an ASOS magazine feature wearing our Kadie Skirt in New World Print; the perfect match for their poppy soft-rock sounds. Performing on the Pyramid stage this Glasto 2013, we can’t wait to see them perform – and see which Motel item’s they will be wearing!
Last but certainly not least is long time Motel girl-crush Rita Ora, also rocking out on the Pyramid stage alongside Haim. Known for banging out some awesome festival sets, we are reaaaally looking forward to see what she has in store for Glasto 2013. The style stakes are always high when Rita’s around, make sure you stop by our Festival Shop and get yourself suited up for the season.
Prom season is almost upon us and summer is shining through so Motel is bringing you the hottest prom styles to date! Whether you go classic with the glamorous Off-Shoulder Komang Gem Detail Dress or alternatively sleek in the Nessy Black Halter Dress, we have got the style to suit you. We have been reminiscing through our favourite old prom movies for inspiration…
10 Things I Hate About You is one that always tugs at our heart strings. That unforgettable romance between Patrick and Kat never fails to leave us feeling sentimental; a proper 90′s feel-good flick. We loved Kat’s sleek spaghetti strap navy prom dress so get her style with fresh twist with the Lina Sequin Dress in Blue Marble.
Mean Girls is the cult high-school flick of the noughtie’s and the bitchy scheming goodness has left us with memorable quote upon quote. We are getting inspiration from their sleek little cocktail numbers á la prom Regina and house-party Cady so the Hali Cross Front Bodycon Dress in Black totally echos that Mean Girls vibe. Or go all out like Getchen Wieners in the Bow Strapless Lace Bodice Dress - you’ll look so ‘fetch’!
Bringing it back to the 80′s, our favourite teen drama is Pretty in Pink, rife with cliques and very big hair. Molly Ringwald is a haze of powder pink in Andie’s thrift shop dress and you can throwback to the cold-shoulder style in the Maria Cut Out Shoulder Dress or Hali Cross Mini LBDs. If you want to be pretty in pink too, the Flower Buzz Print will add a dash of floral fun.
Don’t forget to check out our Prom Shop for the newest prom styles!
Whilst in LA we can’t ever resist a visit to one our our favourite art hangouts, Gallery 1988. It is a pop-culture haven which many celebs have enjoyed such as Jessica Alba, Nicole Richie, Good Charlotte, Seth Rogen, DJ AM, Samuel L. Jackson and Jonah Hill. Gallery 1988 had become the premier venue to witness the rise of emerging artists before they break out, giving an opportunity to purchase pieces before their prices increase with their popularity and price! The gallery leans toward highlighting emerging artists, one of whom is Bruce White, a previous tattoo artist who paints iconic characters from cult TV and film. His work includes many famous faces that you will recognise from cult characters like Ferris Bueller to the more scary likes of Frankenstein’s monster!
The gallery has been featured in dozens of magazines including US Weekly, Jutxapoz, The Los Angeles Times, FHM, The Washington Post, and The National Post and with openings now seeing upwards of 2,500 people, it’s not just us who love it! Make sure to put this art space on your to-do list if you ever find yourself in the Melrose shopping district and you will not be disappointed with recent shows including Young Adult (which was presented with the help of HelloGiggles, a trio including Zooey Deschanel!) and a group show named A Tribute to Judd Apatow. Young Adult featured many pieces based around young fiction and a few of our 90′s favourites such as Sweet Valley High and Nancy Drew even popped up.
When we asked Motel fans to illustrate their favourite Motel pieces, we received hundreds of incredible designs from so many of our talented fans. The judges deliberated and now you can meet our wonderfully talented illustration contest winner herself: Anke Weckmann! Our judges had a tough time choosing a winner from our top 10 finalists but were unanimous over Anke’s unique artwork! We caught up with her to find out what’s behind her inspiration and her plans for the future…
How does it feel to be the winner of the Motel Illustration Contest 2013?
It feels quite surreal and I’m so excited! I didn’t expect it at all. I was already so happy to be among the ten finalists. When I heard I won, I re-read the email about five times to make sure it was really for me, hehe.
When did you start drawing?
Probably before I was one years old. I’m not sure when exactly, but definitely when I was very small. I enjoyed drawing on big rolls of paper with crayons and finger paints. And drawing with chalk on the street outside our house. I’ve been obsessed with making things for as long as I remember.
What inspires you?
The great thing about illustration (and art in general) is that anything and everything you experience or are interested in can flow into your work. I’m always inspired by people I meet, characters in films and books, good food, the trees outside my window, going for runs and of course music – that’s big inspiration to everyone.
Why do you love Motel?
I love that Motel has a collection of clothes that’s really fun and different from other shops out there. There are so many great prints and everything seems to be all about having fun with fashion. That’s what clothes should be like.
Why did you choose to draw the Peace Print?
I submitted three illustrations to the contest and chose pieces I liked and that I also thought the characters I was drawing would like to wear. I decided to keep all of the illustration in a limited colour palette, which limited my choice of clothes but in a good way – I think that limiting yourself always helps with ideas and creativity. In my mind, the two girls in this illustration are best friends that would like the same things but style what they wear slightly differently. And the Peace Print t-shirt something I’d definitely wear myself, it’s such a fun print!
What is in store for the future for your illustrations?
I would love to do some more fashion related illustrations! Drawing characters is one of my favourite things to do and it’s so much fun to dress them. Other than that there are so many things I would love to try. Even though I’ve been a freelance illustrator for 8 years now, I still feel like I’m just starting because there are so many exciting possibilities! I would like to do as many different things as possible.
The surf’s up and the beach party has started! Dudes, we’ve just launched our new swimwear range here at Motel Rocks! Following the hottest of the summer swimwear trends, we have brought you THE must-have swim pieces for the season.
On the ss13 catwalks we saw a fresh variety of new trends. First up was boudoir as designers have been heavily influenced by lingerie and underwear this season, with sheer panels and multiple string straps. Rock this trend with the Lapis Sheer Detailed Bikini or work the Sunstone Set with it’s string straps. We saw the monochrome trend being carried through to summer in graphic Aztec prints, the Peridot is an aztec one-piece wonder! There were also bright pieces being sent down the catwalks with wild prints like our Opal Swimsuit in Forest Print, followed by neon colour pops.
The eye-catching works of Hanksy, a New York-based graffiti artist whose claim to fame was recreating Banksy’s work with Tom Hanks’ face, have been spotted in Los Angeles in the last few weeks. As publicity for an upcoming show at Gallery 1988, Hollywood, we kept spotting his work during our LA travels and couldn’t hide a giggle. For this California swing, Hanksy customised Angelenos pieces, with Nicolas Cage battling against a robot in Cage Against the Machine, a leggy Brad Pitt for Legends of the Tall,Weird Gal Yankovic saw the singer’s head placed on a pin-up’s body, and DeGene-saur-es Rex featured Ellen DeGeneres as a dinosaur. Hanksy’s art even appeared on eggs at the White House Easter Egg Roll!
This week we are treating you to a guest post from electric DJ duo The Jane Doze. The double Motel fans gave us an all-access view of the typical Doze day and told us about their recent trip to The Bahamas and the incredible gig they played there. Motel dubbed these girls as ones to watch earlier this year and the are proving us right as they tear up 2013…
“Two weeks ago we set off on a 24 hour journey out of the country. As most young New Yorkers were heading home from a night out, we left our apartments and hopped in a ride to the airport. By 10:30am we were standing at a customs counter in Nassau, Bahamas, fielding questions about the nature of our visit. “We’re DJs – we’re playing a show tonight…” One hour and multiple phone calls later we were cleared to enter to the country and officially begin what would be craziest shows of our career thus far!
“The club was unlike anything we had ever seen: an indoor/outdoor space modelled after the architecture in ancient Greece – the Parthenon of nightclubs. The stage rested under a portable tent, with the dance floor extending from its base.”
30 seconds of soundcheck revealed a thumping soundsystem. Bass resonated through our bodies as we played through the first few tracks of our set. When we returned a few hours later we were not prepared for the scene that greeted us: hundreds pouring out of a bus and into the venue. What felt like seconds later, the night’s host announced our name and walked out to take our places behind the decks. Jen grabbed the mic and re-introduced us, then asked the crowd if they were ready to party with us? Screams erupted and we started to play…”
As our set came to a close 60 minutes later with our favourite song of the moment Icona Pop’s “I Love It” blasting from the speakers, Jen grabbed a bottle of champagne we’d hidden behind the booth, jumped into the front row and sprayed it into the screaming mouths of 18 year olds (hey, it’s legal in the Bahamas!). I turned the music all the way down as the chorus hit, letting the voices of 1,000 kids fill the room – “I LOVE IT” they screamed.
The lights dimmed and we walked off stage – hours of travel, anticipation, and in 60 short (but very sweet) minutes it was over. Until next time… antlers up!”
Check out their latest mash up ‘Hous of Doze 2: The Road To Coachella 2013′ – with perfect sounds to get you ready for summer we cant stop listening to it.
