Fashion or pancakes? Annie Mac or Aniston? Books or bands? One potential weekend includes feeling incredibly cool with FKA Twigs one night, dancing to an Annie Mac set full of hits the next, eating more pancakes than humanly possible for breakfast on Sunday before squeezing into a fashion week outfit to see how much free stuff (probably just those bags of healthy popcorn) can get blagged in one afternoon.
**The fashion week events that you can attend even if you’re not a hot new blogger… **
ASOS panel talk @ Somerset House, London
Sunday 22 Feb
Braid Bar pop up @ Sketch, London
Fri 20 Feb onwards
With the increased profile of the Men’s Collections, it feels like it’s A Fashion Week more than it’s not. Still, come this weekend, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll have a moment of puzzlement as you queue for a coffee surrounded by perfectly eyebrow-ed people who manage to mix this year’s spring/summer fashions with seasonally appropriate socks and elegant takes on puffa jackets before realising ‘Oh yeah. It’s that time again’. If you want to feel one-of-them, first read the Debrief guide to pulling off the looks (for less than the price of say, a keyring down at Opening Ceremony) and second, try these two Fashion Week-related events that don’t require you pretend to be an upcoming Swedish fashion blogger in order to get a pass. From Friday the Braid Bar will be popping up at Sketch in Soho - for anyone who wants their hair plaited by a pro (prices start at £15) while on Sunday ASOS host a fashion pow-wow discussing how to build a brand featuring the brilliant Sharmadean Reid of WAH Nails, former Debrief fashion ed Pandora Sykes, journalist Lou Stoppard and tech guru Melanie Ashley. Stream it online if you really can’t bear the crowds.
The book to order if you’re just interested in the theory…
*Emer O’Toole - Girls Will Be Girls: Dressing Up, Playing Parts and Daring To Act Differently *
Or if you’re a bit suspicious of the fashion industry or just interested in how dressing up (or down), beauty and being a women intersect then you may be interested in ordering this new book from journalist Emer O’Toole (who you may remember her from this clip)). Out on the 26th Girl Will Be Girls explores what it means to ‘act like a girl’ and gender stereotypes through her own experiences.
The club to celebrate with BBC Radio 1’s new evening host…
***Annie Mac Presents @ KOKO, London ***
Sat Feb 21
Congratulations to Annie Mac who, it was announced this week, is taking over Zane Lowe’s evening BBC R1 show saying that she was 'excited and humbled' to now have the chance to give you even more of those 'private epiphanies' radio can provide. Woo for private epiphanies. But that doesn’t mean her Annie Mac Presents nights will be letting up (for now), with a night this weekend at London’s Koko planned. She also plays Brighton on the Friday, where elsewhere in the UK it’s a strong weekend for going out with Hessle Audio on tour taking over Sankey’s in Manchester (Fri 20) and Hope Works in Sheffield (Sat 21). Ten Walls and SMD appear at Canal Mills in Leeds while Glasgow’s The Art School hosts a night from the excellent Swamp81 label. Or if you prefer live music…
**FKA Twigs, The Maccabees, D’Angelo Jungle, George Ezra, **Royal Blood Palma Violets & more
Various UK Venues, Feb 20-22
You’ll be spoiled for choice this week if live music is more ‘your thing’. As well as the upcoming Brit Awards there are plenty of tours from big sellers and new-names starting or ongoing this weekend. If you managed to get tickets to FKA Twigs’ Roundhouse shows (Feb 20) you’ll be in for a gorgeous sounding and impeccably poised treat while if you like something gruffer Rough Trade favourites Palma Violets head up the NME Awards tour visiting Leeds (Feb 20) and Glasgow (Feb 22). Number 1 achieving noisy duo Royal Blood headline the Barrowland in Glasgow also on Sunday. If you want to be reminded of the festivals you went to last summer (and ones you may go to this year) then you you should be seeing Jungle on tour in Oxford (Feb 20) or Liverpool (Feb 22). If you want to feel real feelings (or just squeal) then hold on to your ticket for D’Angelo, as he returns to the UK to play Hammersmith Apollo.
**The cafe to visit if you haven’t had your pancake fix… **
Pancakes @ The Proud Archivist, London
Until Sun 22
On actual pancake day there was a huge queue outside a pancake house on High Street Kensington. 'WTF?' thought the Debrief 'who in their right mind would go out for pancakes when they are so simple to make at home?' Yes, they are, but the sticky paste is also a right mess to clean off your kitchen tiles after another unsuccessful flip. ALSO, Tuesdays aren’t the best time to savour just how delicious pancakes can be, so this lazy weekend try The Proud Archivist and it’s self-explanatory ‘Where The Pancakes Are’ event. Enjoy pancakes by the canal with a cup of coffee, mulled cider or a cocktail. Because cocktails are pretty obligatory at this kind of thing.
**The films to watch if you want nothing to do with fashion
Cake**
In UK Cinemas from Friday 20
Free February @ The Custard Factory, Birmingham
Feb 20 - 22
Talking of Cake, this week sees the release of Jennifer Anniston’s new indie film. She stars as Claire, a woman who has survived a horrific accident and is dealing with it’s aftermath and a life with chronic pain. While some critics have found its bleakness (and slightly Oscar-chasing vibe) left it a little directionless, Aniston’s against-type performance is worth a look. If you fancy something classic (and free’er) for the next two weeks Mockingbird Theatre and bar continue their FREE FEBRUARY, with cheap pints and a ‘best of your DVD collection’ line ip. This weekend see Trainspotting, This Is England and Dracula.
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Follow Sian on Twitter @SianRowe_
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.