#FindOutFriday - Summer School Series, Lesson 4: How to Build a STRONG Social Media Catalogue...

One of the staple things that I work on with each of the brands within the ESP Family, is building a solid foundation network for all of you lovely readers; so that you can access all of the latest information and content that we produce. Using most of these sites daily, I'm fairly confident in the use of them; but in bringing my own catalogue up to date and looking at ways to expand over the past few weeks, I was surprised at how little helpful advice exists in what you would think were the most obvious of places!

So this week, with the help of my own personal Web & Graphic Design Superheroine - better known to you all as the lovely Charli-Anne (have another read of her #FindOutFriday if you need reminding of her never-ending super powers...I mean multi-talents); we're going to look at what a Social Media Catalogue actually is, how you can create your own and finally how to use relevant Social Media to your advantage. By no means are we claiming our methods to be the best, we're just going to share a few of the tidbits that have gotten Us the biggest response from You...Shall we get started?

Social...Media...What Now?

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Tumblr, ReverbNation, Soundcloud, WordPress, Blogspot...

All of these and many, many more, are the Medium that most of us  use to keep up with the latest from our friends, family, people and topics of interest. Twitter didn't settle on the term 'Trend' for nothing; it's the shorter, more effective (and less annoying) equivalent of a Hilton-esque, "That's Hot" Seal of Approval. Whether for personal or professional use, most of us have built ourselves a catalogue. With the added ability of direct interaction, that's when online storage becomes our own Social Network.

Now this is the point where I take my technophobic Mother and make her my muse - see? You DO inspire me...What if you now understand what a Social Media Catalogue IS, you want to start building your own, but don't know how to go about prettying it up and avoiding the dreaded Spam Trap? Read on Class, this is the Tony Hart vs. Blue Peter in 4D part. Or for you non-80's Babies of the BBC-era; here's where the Expert takes over...

Charli-Anne's Cyber Creative Corner

Ever wondered how you can make your Social Media profiles say WOW? Well when it comes to graphics, there are ways to do this well and ways to do it badly! Read on to find out how to avoid the classic mistakes and follow some simple tips to create your own slick graphics!

The Avatar - and we don't mean the blue thingies...

ESP Twitter

This is a graphical representation of YOU, The User. It is usually square in shape, no bigger than 150 pixels squared and used as the thumbnail (miniature) image for your profiles. This could be a photograph of yourself or if you are a business, you could use this tiny graphic in a number of ways:

• The Logo - Simply shrink down your logo to fit in the box
• The 'Alt' Logo - This is far more effective in my opinion, as most logos distort and become illegible when shrunk down. Your 'Alt' logo needs to be a bite-size version of your actual logo, so it's important to stick to the same fonts and colours.
• The Random Image - You could use an image of one of your products or something that represents you, or what you are currently promoting. But remember - the less detail in the image, the better!

TOP TIP! When using a photo, create a great graphic by focusing in on one small, but interesting square of the image and crop it for your avatar!

Photoshop Tidbit: To do this, create an Avatar template file (.jpg or .png), by making a blank square of the correct dimensions (851 x 315 pixels for Facebook, 1040 x 180 for Google Plus, etc.) and saving it. Then simply open it in Photoshop and drag and drop the image you want to use straight into it! You can then just move it around and resize it within the square to see what looks best as an Avatar.

The Facebook Timeline 'Cover' - For Girls, Boys AND Brands...

LIKE Deer Oh Deer on Facebook...

This is the image that appears at the top of the new FB Timeline pages for both personal and business profiles. There are some very strict rules around the use of this area and what you can display, so make sure you are following all of them!  Basically they are:

• No Price or purchase information
• No Contact Information or Web Links
• No reference to 'Liking' or 'Sharing'
• No Calls to Action (read full list of rules)

Don't despair though! You can still use the cover as a great showcase. You could keep it simple with a product snap; or go all out and create an image incorporating text, photographs and graphic elements, without breaking any of the rules - just think creatively! ;)


TOP TIP! Take a funny snap of yourself pointing up and use that as your Avatar! This will not only make people laugh, but it will let people know that you want them to look at your 'Cover' image above!


Photoshop Tidbit: Create a brightly coloured square and place it in the area where your Avatar will overlap, so that you can see how it will look on your page. Make sure you keep the square as the top 'Layer' and you might want to make it slightly translucent using the 'Opacity' slider, so that you can see what you are doing in other layers.


The Wallpaper Background - you won't find these in B&Q...


Twitter, YouTube, MySpace and Tumblr are all good examples of sites that encourage you to fully customise your profile / home page. The best aspect of this is that you can upload your own background image so really, the Sky is the limit! They all have different size specifications and upload size limitations (try 1350 x 605 for Twitter, but you will have to tweak for the new 'Let's Fly' update; file size is maximum 800kb), but you could create one great branded image that can be adapted for use across all sites (with a bit more tweaking)!

Follow Drassick DIGITAL on Twitter...

Familiarise yourself with the areas of a background that are visible and not obscured by a text box, video or image. Use those areas to place images and text. Keep text to a minimum! Just a couple of links and a quote is more than good enough ;)

Follow Lekhem on Twitter...

TOP TIP! Don't be afraid to 'Crop'! Avoid 'stretching' images to fit; it looks much more professional to have images in the correct dimensions, even if you can only see part of them!


Photoshop Tidbit: If your background image doesn't 'fit' the dimensions of your wallpaper, hit the 'Shift' key while you resize it, to stop it from stretching.


In conclusion I would say, if you can afford a Graphic Designer, use one, but Shop Around! You don't always get what you pay for. Equally, don't just go for the cheapest deal! A logo for £20 is NOT going to fully meet your needs, or be bespoke in any way. Look at examples of their work first; give them your deadline before they start and make sure there are no hidden costs!


If you can't afford to pay someone professional, it IS totally possible for you to use simple imagery effectively. If you fancy dabbling in the world of Photoshop but have always been too scared...don't be! There are some great tutorials on the net and you only need to know the basics to create a perfectly good graphic. Just keep it simple, avoid tacky comedy fonts and text effects (these take practice to get right), follow the 'Crop' TOP TIP and you will be good to go!

There is a Graphic Designer in all of us...just remember, less is more!

Charli-Anne - x -

So now you know what it is, you know how to make it look A+MAZING; the last thing you want to do, is put all your hard work to waste, by placing it in the wrong professional arena...


Share and Share a(nd) LIKE...


Don't just assume that by sticking to one site, you are automatically reaching the biggest and best audience. The Rise of YouTube is doing absolute wonders for Musicians, but the big sites have made it possible for you to integrate your accounts, to match a growing demand. That does not mean you should saturate the net with your content; because you then run the risk of annoying cross-audiences into ignoring you and all your hard work. Don't forget, there is such a thing as a 'trickle effect'! Once your work is out there, your audience will help you share it and Word of Other Mouths have a much greater effect than your own!

deerohdeer.co.uk

Control your distribution by putting it out in the Top 5 sites, but then look for the targeted websites that specialise in what you do. For Kawaii and Vintage-inspired fashion label Deer Oh Deer Ltd., Charli-Anne and I often target Vintage Fashion bloggers and the Japanese Kawaii market.

reverbnation.com/Lekhem

Lastly; there's no better Social Media base than your own website. Often, musicians don't have the means or ability to get their own together right away. Prior to the launch of LekLane last October; Lekhem and I used his ReverbNation account to it's fullest capacity as, for an indie artist-based website, it covered absolutely every aspect that we needed to present, while we began building his foundation and encouraged the customisation that Charli-Anne spoke of earlier.

Follow Jelli Ltd. on Twitter

And there you have it for this week! Huge thanks to super-talented Expert, our very own Charli-Anne; I don't know about you, but I've got some updates to make! For more of her a+mazing creations, connect with her works and services through the Jelli Ltd. Social Media Catalogue!

Twitter / Facebook / Jelli Ltd. Website

We hope you enjoyed this week's lesson - feedback, as always, is appreciated via the comment box below!


See you soon!
ES ;)

Please Donate to The Olivia Downie Appeal

I came across a tweet by Lianne Robertson of the Surviving Actors Ltd. this morning, spreading the awareness of a cause that truly deserves all of our attention.

Olivia Downie is a very brave little 7-year-old, diagnosed with Neuroblastoma.

What is Neuroblastoma?

Currently stranded in Mexico, where the family flew in a last-ditch attempt at lifesaving treatment; Olivia's condition has now deteriorated and The Downies need to be flown privately back to the UK with medical staff and assistance, if Olivia is to get home to see the rest of her family one final time.  

  

The Downies could desperately do with YOUR help, which you can provide via Olivia's Just Giving Charity Page.

You can also donate £1-10 by texting OLIV95 to 70070.

Much Love to you for taking the time out to read this.
ES - x -

#FindOutFriday - Summer School Series - Lesson 3: What IS A 'Cypher'?

'What IS a Cypher?'

The great thing about working with a hugely talented roster, is that the learning process goes both ways.

In Lekhem's case, I have benefited from learning some musical 'technicalities' that I likely would never normally have come across otherwise. You could count on one hand how many times I've watched BET since the channel launched in the UK and prior to last January, I had never even heard of half the music websites that I now drop in on regularly.

So when the furore dropped last Summer over the two biggest US and UK cyphers of the year and every Social Media vehicle set alight with 'Who Did It Better' feedback; I called on my trusted HipHopology Professor to drop the knowledge...

"Basically, a 'Cypher' is a group of people expressing themselves in Hip Hop form.


Normally, a circle is formed and everyone takes their turn 'on the mic'; delivering lyrics already prepared or 'freestyling' over a beat, a capella or over someone beatboxing."

(Lekhem)

Right then. Simple enough...


But with the release of 'Mantis Claw'; R2S' viral cypher for Grime Daily last week, I found myself explaining the concept to others - now that's what I consider graduation!

With all the questions, it seemed that the next Summer School lesson topic set itself! Not quite qualified to teach a class on the subject, I asked my other favourite Rap Impresario - R2S' far too talented co-founder Krome, to take the lead:

"A cypher is hip hop in one of it's rawest forms, performed by more than one individual, normally live. A cypher brings different styles together to perform their trade (rap). Although many feel it is too competitive, the aim is to enjoy the music and learn new skills / techniques while holding your own with possibly better or worse MCs than yourself.

A cypher is not a group battle to see who is the hardest, nor an opportunity to make others look silly; although MCs that shine in a cypher are usually remembered and gain the most respect.

Cyphers, like the ones that R2S do in the studio, on the block, etc. are ways that we can grow lyrically, together and individually. We see it mainly as lyrical practice and to gain an idea of where we stand amongst each other in a non- competitive way.

This is not always the case when being in a cypher with other MCs. This can be more competitive as MCs usually focus on their best 'bars' and are trying to outshine each other to rep themselves, or their crew.

I, personally prefer the art of Freestyling in a cypher.

'Freestyle' meaning no written lyrics and everything is on the spot, off the top of your head. This usually relieves tension and it becomes more fun as no-one is under pressure to 'spit' really great lyrics, but to relax and let everything flow. This way, no spectator can judge you for your writing ability but only on your confidence and desire to take your skill to the next level.

A cypher sounds great if the MCs involved all compliment each other lyrically, instead of a gangster rapper in the middle of a conscious rap cypher, for example."

(Krome)

So there you have it you now have the definition from two experts in the field! Although I think Krome only finds freestyling easier and less tense, because he's one of the most talented the rap scene has seen in the artform, for quite some time!


Since they're here in theoretical form, it's only fitting we add a practical demonstration...

'Mantis Claw'
featuring:


Krome, Culprit Cash, Seta Trend, TaYshan and Trix City:

So there you have it - for this week's lesson you learned the definition of a cypher and exactly how it should be done! Don't forget your suggestions for topics are more than welcome, in addition to your feedback on this week's feature via the usual box below...

For more from Krome, connect with him via his Social Media catalogue:

Twitter / Facebook / Soundcloud

As you may remember from their April review; Krome teamed up with Lekhem for my favourite mixtape of 2012:

Download the 'KROnciles Of IntelLEK'

For more on R2S as a whole, read the introduction following their first collaborative release, 'The Rebelution - Part 1':

Download 'The Rebelution - Part 1'

Enjoy the immense talent this group has to offer as they prepare to bring you their next instalment, 'The Rebelution - Part 2'; Trust Me: you won't want to miss the 'Underground Gems' they have to offer...

ReverbNation / YouTube

See you next time!

ES ;o)

#FindOutFriday - Summer School Specials, Lesson 2: What IS an Artist Manager?

What IS an Artist Manager?

The subject of this week's class is another one that's close to home. For any function that I attend, there is one question that I will be asked at least 6-7 times a night:

"Do you manage Artists, then?"

Technically, the answer is No. Not in the Music Management sense, anyway! I do look after music artists. I manage their day-to-day Operations; do their admin, book their shows, promote their releases and generally tell you everything that they're up to...but in actual fact, the more accurate description of what I do, would be a Brand Developer.

So what's the difference? Well, a BA (Hons), mainly! If you go by the quick description of Urban Development A&R and Music Manager, Ashley McDermott in December's 'How To Steal My Job' feature; then you will find that several of our job criteria overlap. It's necessary to have close, one-to-one relationships with the Artists I look after, so that I can properly understand them and what they are trying to say through their work. Unlike your typical Manager though, with every project, I help to realise a concept, put that concept into play and channel it to the appropriate markets.

'RESET BUTTON' Drassick DIGITAL'S warm-up EP
in preparation for his 'RiseNGrind' mixtape (January 2012)

When Drassick joined the ESP family we agreed his image needed a fresh slate ahead of his next project. As the whole of the UK ramped into overdrive in preparation for the analogue to digital TV switchover; we put a digital clock out to the public and two weeks prior to his 'RiseNGrind' mixtape release, we pushed his own DIGITAL 'RESET BUTTON'...

Another area of Management overlap, would be finding the best way to draw a public response. I like to approach from the internal and external angles; so from an outsider's perspective my opinion always comes from that of a Consumer. When it comes to each artist I work with - music and fashion, the first question I ask myself is, "What would they need to do to grab my attention?"

I personally love a backstory. I'm more likely to be interested in what you serve on a platter, if I know what went into the recipe. When I began working with Lekhem; although he had an infectious body of work in the public domain, there was no real information about him anywhere. How many people in today's music market have the unusual make up of three different nationalities, in addition to so many different areas of talent? One of the first things we did was to create a visual portal, so the masses could put a face and personality to the unique accent. 

By the release of 'The Raise EP', we had developed enough of a following through his Social Media catalogue, for the launch of a 'Central Hub' to make an impact. With his second musical project came the interactive blogsite, 'LekLane'. Like the man himself, the site features several pages that showcase his many areas of talent, including some big ones that his audience were surprised to learn of...

My projects are all designed to bring attention and get people talking. So while an Artist Manager's goal is to get their 'Act' signed to a record label; my goal (in addition), is to develop instantly recognisable brand names that appeal to the public.

Fancy discussing a topic? Leave your suggestions for the next class in the box below!

For more on the musical projects by Drassick and Lekhem, get involved with both via their respective sites and Social Media:

Drassick:

Drassick DIGITAL (website) / Twitter / Drassick News

Lekhem:

LekLane / Twitter / Lekhem News

See you next class!

ES ;o)

Want to join the ESP Ltd. Family?

Hope your week is going well thus far, all!

I've had a lot of enquiries regarding the Internship positions you will have seen me tweeting about recently; much more than expected, or I would have blogged about it to begin with! Rather than my keep replying to everyone via email, here's a quick rundown on what ESP Ltd. is essentially about, what I'm looking for and what I'm offering:

I run a very busy start up Brand Development company that mixes long-term rostered artists (music, fashion and graphic design) with short-term and freelance contracts.

I'm looking for someone RELIABLE (I cannot stress that enough) to look after the administrative back end of the business. That will involve all manner of tasks from daily promotional social media networking, to web research, to liaising with internal and external service providers, providing personal administrative support to me and occasionally the ESP roster; updating the ESP web and blogsites, diary and travel management and more.

Once the successful candidate has completed three consecutive,  capable months on the job, the opportunity to become a paid member of staff will become available. The rate will be determined based upon the hours available for work and individual factors to be agreed at the time. 

In addition, once the candidate has demonstrated that they are capable of completing the assigned tasks to the standard required, additional freedom and opportunities will become available according to personal strengths. Whilst opportunities to develop in specific, preferred areas will also become available at that time, I will always endeavour to include areas of interest in assignments where possible.

Although I will be providing support and training, as most of ESP Ltd.'s endeavours take place online, you MUST be computer literate, with good writing skills and a suitable grasp of spelling and grammar.

I am extremely flexible, however I have experienced problems with staff consistency, so Interns would need to demonstrate a strong work ethic, initiative, dedication and most importantly, RELIABILITY.

Although I am happy to consider and accept more than one person for Intern trials, only ONE post will be offered at the end of the 3-month probation - nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition!

Ideally, the postholder should be London-based.

If you think this is something you would be interested in, please provide your CV and covering letter, detailing why you feel you have the skills necessary to perform the tasks laid out above and your work availability, by 5PM, Wednesday 20th June.

All candidates will receive a response within 24 hours of the closing date.

Please submit your applications to contact@espromotions.co.uk (enquiries should be submitted to the same address).


Looking forward to hearing from you!
ES

#FindOutFriday - Summer School Specials!

So for the 21st #FindOutFriday of 2012, I wanted to do something different.

I love, Love, LOVE talking to new people, delving further into their talents and learning about what it took to create the works they share with me. Research and investigation. When it's about things you actually want to learn about, the enjoyment is a no-brainer, right? That is where my vile, once upon a time Maths Teacher, Mr Everett had it oh so WRONG (clearly I'm not mistaken; we won't talk about my final grade - just know that it supports my theory and he was a really BAD teacher).

With this blog, I'm Blessed to have a vehicle for learning at my disposal. I even have a feature dedicated to accruing knowledge if we apply that #FindOut part with a fresh perspective. Add being a Lady to that and any of my Sistren will tell you that changing my mind is my genetic prerogative. What I saw was an outfit I get to dress up differently, because it's a Garment with Give...

So when a recurrent question popped up a few days ago whilst still debating this fresh angle, like a questionable outfit with an unexplainable appeal, my stubbornness came up with a different style of dress. This #FindOutFriday I'm introducing 'Summer School Specials'. There's only one question and I'll be answering for everyone who wonders! We're starting with Fashion and going back to that earlier mentioned question? Well you can blame it on the boots...

Eyes on the Prize...they WILL be Mine!

Planning the next day's outfit a few nights ago, I plotted on these babies when they mysteriously showed up at my disposal after disappearing for a spell. I have been in love with these boots throughout my life's duration and presented many a compelling argument as to why they should change ownership. My Mother swears blind I get my good shoe taste from her and these are one of the very rare cases where I'll concede.

After the 'HarleQueens' piece with Charli-Anne only a few hours before I wondered; do they constitute 'Vintage' or, cute as they are, are they just Old? If the latter, then does that mean that 'Vintage' is just a fancy synonym for items that have seen better days? One of my favourite mottos came to mind and since one can never argue with Julie Andrews, Class - let's start at the very beginning:

 - What Is Vintage?

So if you want to know the first thing about Fashion, where else are you going to go, but to the AllStars, right? Wrong. Well, I did cyber strut over to Vogue.com for their definition, but only by way of my own personal Fashion Fairy...She's about 5ft sans skyscraper heels, a brunette, has a lot of tattoo art and a design flair that the V Army just aren't ready for. Of course I asked Charli-Anne!

"To me, a vintage item is an object of beauty or style, with a significance of more than 20 (years). It could be something with a memory attached to it, or it could be something that is crafted particularly well."

The 'Halcyon' Earrings, so named for Charli-Anne's Grandmother (AW11)

And as for how those beloved designs fit the bill?

"With Deer Oh Deer Ltd., the aim is for our pieces to be vintage from the get-go, never just old! We're inspired by true vintage style."

The 'VIVID' Collection (SS11)

When it came time to consult the wider circle, the Atelier-Mayer definition said it best to my untrained ear:

' Strictly speaking, vintage fashion is clothing and accessories that are at least 25 years old. However, as vintage fashion is now coveted the world over, it can be as little as two season's ago.

An item described as 'vintage' should speak of the era in which it was produced, of a certain quality, standard, fashion, design and aesthetic. Vintage is a term applicable to a wider variety of objects, including items that may or may not be antique.'

Although I was also taken with the breakdown from an Australian Vogue forum:

"Vintage in the way that we mean it, has a 'look' of other eras...Something with a bit of Charm and Individuality" 

Well since these side-plaits charm the disco glitter off of me and they  pre-date my birth by a number of years that we shall only refer to as 'X'; I can safely say that these (soon to be mine) classics are most definitely, Vintage.

If there's anything that you lovely people would like to study in the #FindOutFriday Summer School Series, leave your suggestions in the comment box and you never know what you may see in the next lesson plan...

As always, Interact with us - we like it!

Twitter: Charli-Anne / Deer Oh Deer Ltd. / The Herd Family

Facebook: Deer Oh Deer Ltd.

Twitter: @ESintheP / @ES_Promotions

Facebook: EricaSharlette Promotions Ltd.

And if you enjoyed this week's class, don't forget there's that little competition ongoing...something about Blog Awards, Next and Cosmopolitan Magazine...? Feedback from my fellow students in either category that you think applies would be greatly appreciated!

See you soon!

ES ;o)

Is What You Read Voteworthy?

Welcome One and All,

I have a few questions for you...

Are you a #FindOutFriday Fan? Do you like the #ESPspotlight Specials? Are you a Regular Reader of #TheSauce? If you answered YES to any of these questions, then would you mind letting Cosmo Magazine know?

Click Me ;o)

I'm nominated in the 'Next Newcomer Blog' (via the Next website) and 'The Social Savvy' (Cosmo website) award categories. If you enjoy what you read here, I would be hugely grateful if you would take the time to click the links above and vote for Yours Truly.

With Thanks and Much Love in advance.

EricaSharlette ;o)

Queens of Diamonds...

It all started with tassels...

Deer Oh Deer Ltd. fashionista Charli-Anne and I met up at Old Spitalfields Market last Friday, ready to set up our 'Curiosity Shop'. Unfortunately, Fashion succumbed to the vintage record fair that bagged all of the stalls and so, along with our gorgeous male label face Bobby Houston; we had a personal showing of the A+MAZING additions to the forthcoming Carnivale SS12 collection - just for lil young me! As usual I wanted the lot, but it was on seeing those tassels that this natural-born Diva fell in love. More about those in a moment...Stay with me people.

So fast forward to that evening's 5:30 News bulletin, when this Eighth Wonder of the World bewitched me...

'The Flowers of the Fields of France' - yes, that IS it's spectacular name - was designed by Norman Hartnell for one very posh affair. Made from Duchess satin, the works feature 'jewel-like Napoleonic Bees', crossed wheat sheaves and daisies that took Maureen Markham 1029 hours to embroider, spread over 3 weeks in 1957.

As usual, when I see breathtaking design feats, I sent Char a 'turn over NOW!' SOS via the 'doeline' (what I call our personal version of the batphone) and returned to the coverage in awe. As I watched the museum curator talk through it's history, two of her words - "precious stones" - kept niggling at me...

The bulletin introducing me to this historical piece of art gave it's wearer a new level of respect in my eyes by weaving new designs into her life's tapestry; completely fresh to my untrained eyes. All too soon the coverage ended, but the mental imagery stayed with me. 

Still thinking of those flowers and fields, a cursory twitter-check followed, where I caught Char and I's beloved Mariah Carey, tweeting a tribute to Marilyn Monroe on what would have been her 86th birthday. The Spitalfields showing from that morning came back to me and before you could say 'Pearls and Thread' - inspiration struck...

Women who Love, Women who Lead, Women who Inspire - in early celebration of what the evolving 'Carnivale' SS12 collection is shaping up to become, meet 10 Deer Oh Deer HarleQueens and the pre-launch EXCLUSIVES we're ONLY releasing to coincide with this joint piece from Charli-Anne and I - you lucky things, you! So without further ado, meet some of the Queens we bow down to. Queen. Fashion. Style. Who else are we going to kick this off with, but...

...Coco Chanel

This lady is a long-time inspiration of ours. Raised in a French orphanage, Gabrielle Coco Bonheur Chanel didn't just epitomise class and style. from Audrey Hepburn and the 'Little Black Dress' to a simple string of  10 pearls - she sketched the blueprint on how to take simple, statement fashion pieces and make them timeless. As the amazing visionary herself once said:

"Fashion Fades. Only Style remains the same."

The 'Coco Pearls' include a blue doe motif

All Deer Oh Deer Ltd. pieces are handmade. This exclusive design by Lottey, the beautiful female face of our label and Charli-Anne's Design Partner, features a single rope of small, glass pearls with two sky blue accent crystals and the signature Deer Oh Deer doe.

In honour of Coco's chic simplicity,  Charli-Anne and I selected:

The Coco Pearls...

If we're going to herald classic shapes though, then we have to handle the curve in the road where full-bodied meets HOT:

Dita Von Teese...

As a vintage label, for Charli-Anne and I, the buxom Burlesque beauty that is Dita Von Teese puts the 20's in 12! Also a Model, Costumier, Author and Actress; in a time where overt, oversexed imagery is the way of the norm, we love Dita aka Heather Renee Stewart for keeping 'The Art of the Tease' alive, by taking raw sex appeal and making it classically beautiful, with modern, striking femininity.

The 'Tassel Teeses'
also available in red and gold

She may end up in less than most but the way in which she goes about it, is what separates Dita Von Teese from the pack. Her message of 'less is more' is implied and it's that minimalism that translates into the piece Charli-Anne was adamant she most represents. In her own words, when I told her that these were my new favourite design; "they're SO simple!" And that's Dita to a Teese! So in her honour, we introduce:

The 'Tassel Tesses'...

Since we were talking burlesque, I had to throw in an original that set the bar high...and then danced on it!

...Josephine Baker

I have been enchanted by Josephine Baker, ever since I sneakily watched the story of her life at far too young an age. Freda Josephine McDonald, who would have been 106 2 days ago, was an inspiration for so many reasons beyond her career. An overlooked, American chorus girl, Josephine added an element of Sass and Comedy to her risqué performances that far eluded the norm of the times. Keeping the surname of one of her 5 husbands; her race meant it would take most of her 50-year career to gain the respect and recognition she deserved on her own soil. It took a move to France and the donning first of a feather skirt, then  one with 16 bananas on a string, to cement her rightful place amongst the history makers.

The 'ZouZou' necklace
features blue and grey agate precious stones

Taken from the name of one of her most famous movies, the 'ZouZou' necklace is another Lottey creation, which features blue and grey agate precious stones. History describes agate, so named for the River Achates in Sicily, as the stone of warriors in ancient times. As a decorated Officer of World War II, there's no question that this piece was unconsciously made with our HarleQueen in mind.

...The ZouZou Necklace

From Governmental Awards to Academic:

Kate Winslet...

She's talented, she's funny, she's curvy, she's REAL. Kate Winslet is the girl-next-door Icon that we can all aspire to. Our stunning 'English Rose' was the youngest actor ever to accrue FIVE Academy Award nominations by her 31st year; sealing her sixth nomination with a Best Actress win for The Reader in 2008. That's right. Not that one about the boat at ALL - Go Figure!

For the lady who's craft sets sail on every kind of emotional tide, this large moonstone is the perfect match. The gem's qualities are said to enhance passion, intuition, promote inspiration and offer protection on land and sea...unlike that other big bauble; which is probably why our Kate lobbed it to the bottom of the ocean...Introducing:

'The Reader Ring'

And just like the stormy weather that overtook our Bank Holiday weekend, make way for...

...Grace Jones

Before there was GaGa, there was Grace. There will never be another contender for the 'Shock and Awe' crown because no matter how much you try, if you Pull Up to her Bumper, she'll  most likely knock you on yours - and we don't just mean metaphorically; ask former beau Dolph Lundgren...Did you catch Her Royal Awesomeness at yesterday's Jubilee concert?

The 'Vamp' Necklace is also available in Grey

Born Grace Mendoza, this 64-year-old (yes you read correctly), Jamaican-native, is the original triple threat. One of the earliest  model / singer / actress pioneers, Andy Warhol called her his 'muse' and her androgynous look was credited for breathing fresh life into the portfolios of every reputable designer from Yves Saint Laurent to (Karl) Lagerfeld. Like Josephine Baker before her, it was the Parisian lights that exalted her to her eventual plateau, after many a mischief-filled night at Studio 54 with best friend Jerry Hall, where she met stylist John-Paul Goude (no, not Gaultier!). Together, this chalk'n'cheese pair took each other's careers to their highest respective heights, until they parted ways in the mid-80s. In honour of the incomparable Grace Jones and her 1986 film role, we go against the grain...Introducing:

...The Vamp Necklace

We love a character in The Herd Family; so from real-life to one shaded in all the right places...

...Betty Boop

This my friends is another prime example of why I love this label! Is there a little girl alive who didn't love a bit of Betty? From the cartoon to the Beatmasters' produced, 90's Pop hit - she's an Iconic part of the little madam in all of us! The only question Charli-Anne and I had on this one was debating whether she, or Jessica Rabbit should take the crown (you'll see why Betty won shortly)!

Modelled on the body of the Legendary Mae West - yet another reason to love her - Betty first appeared as a dog character drawn by Grim Natwick, as girlfriend to 'Bimbo' another of his character creations. Making her cinematic debut in the Paramount production, 'Dizzy Dishes' in 1930; it would be another two years before she debuted the wind-blown stance that Marilyn Monroe would make iconic over 30 years later.

Another of our favourite trailblazers; one Betty Boop comic strip, 'Boilesque' was banned in Philadelphia for being 'too risqué' in 1933. We think she's the perfect blend of 'Subtle' and 'Sauce' however; and that's why she gets this hand-crotched tribute.

'The LoveLace Necklace'

So by now you will have gathered, that Deer Oh Deer is all about deviating from the norm. The only convention we practice is the non-kind! That's why when Charli-Anne said, "we HAVE to include someone Transgender"; my only response was "well how can we have a list of Queens, without a 'Queen'?" All hail:

...RuPaul

From one-time car salesman for the Family biz to successful, world-renowned, multi-millionairess in her own right; RuPaul Andre Charles has a back story that should be a TV movie - if it isn't one already! The baby brother to twin girls, RuPaul used the experiences as a sexually curious, occasionally homeless, drug-addicted, drama-school dropout, to fuel her drive to succeed.

From the stage, to recording studios to TV, Film and modelling; RuPaul's flag is checkered with more talents than gears and it's this collective fleet that served M.A.C. Cosmetics so well as their first 'Face' for six consecutive years. 'Ru's Reign' saw the company raise $22 million dollars for their AIDS fund. For that inspiring feat and her never-ending courage to stand strong in adverse winds, we had to go for the piece that features the calming and protective amethyst,  gemstone of sincerity. Introducing:

'The MAC Mamas'

From a Dance Music Mama to 'DemBabies' Mum; you just had to know Mrs. Cannon was going to make an appearance somewhere!

Mariah Carey...

Being the privileged pair that we are; Char and I happen to know a fair bit about The Diva of Divas. You might be fooled into thinking that Mrs. 'Asher-cut Engagement Ring' doesn't appreciate the simpler things in life. That's where you'd be mistaken. Her painfully difficult upbringing and less 'sensational' personal experiences mean, that strip away the 'pomp and circumstance' and bottom-line, you will learn that this Long-Island native fits every single quality of the stone we matched her in her typical spectacular fashion. 

The Tigerseye gemstone is said to unlock creativity, promote confidence in our own abilities, self-belief, self-worth, encourage accomplishment, wealth, success and arouse strength in the face of difficulties and life's challenges. Not to mention it's beyond sexy...!

See? We told you it's her perfect fit! And here's a bit of trivia: one of the first Deer Oh Deer jewellery lines was inspired by Mariah's song 'Candy Bling'!

Have a read of Charli-Anne's #FindOutFriday when you're done here, for more about that!

With Mariah's music in mind, we go back to the lyric:

"You look at me and see the girl,

who lives inside the Golden World"

(Looking In, DayDream, 1996)

To Mariah Carey, we dedicate:

The 'Golden World' Necklace

Almost matching our next HarleQueen's global influence; what better segue than by one of her biggest fans, to lead us to...

...Marilyn Monroe

Norma Jean Mortenson Baker was the LA County-brunette born in 1926, who changed the world as almost every woman today knows it. Shipped from familial pillar to public orphanage post until an arranged marriage at the age of 16; 'Marilyn Monroe', as we know her, was not born until 10 years later in the studios of 20th Century Fox - long after her husband had shipped out with the Merchant Marines to the Pacific.

Those Fox studio Gentlemen Preferred Blondes and the Bombshell kept many an audience entranced with roles in 'Some Like It Hot', 'How To Marry A Millionaire' and career-defining performances in 'Bus Stop' and 'The Misfits'. Sadly, three husbands and a few notorious love affairs later, it wasn't until the year of her death that she found the home she always seemed to be searching for; one this Independent Woman bought herself in Brentwood, California. 

Diamonds may be a Girl's Best Friend, but Pearls and Crystals are her Soul Mates! Lottey's design is a playful mix of glass pearls with pink, lilac and smoky-grey quartz-coloured crystals, topped with our signature doe cameo. In honour of the flirty, fun and carefree girl that we all know and love Marilyn to have been and that mesmerising role with the Prince, we dedicate:

The 'Showgirl' Set...

There obviously cannot be any question whatsoever as to who we crowned Queen of Diamonds in our HarleQueen Court:

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island

Now we don't know about anyone else, but both Charli-Anne and I can only hope to still have a legacy that lasts 60 YEARS! Irrespective of Politics and perceived wrongs to the everyday folk the bottom line is, this is a devoted Wife and Mother who has dedicated six decades to her often difficult office. She has survived through world experiences some of us have only read about in history books and if the video footage is anything to go by, a Woman who Loves to Laugh.

Her schedule puts most of ours combined to shame and we never hear her complain - a Stiff Upper Lip is the British way, after all!

Another Lottey original; this glass pearl and rose quartz piece is said to ease heartache and relieve loneliness - well-known plagues of those with no option but to live their lives in the public eye. When its gentle and soothing energies are combined with the serenity, tranquillity and wisdom of pearls, it doesn't take much to see why this beautifully elegant bracelet matches Her Majesty so well. In honour of our gracious Monarch, we dedicate:

The 'Eminence' Bracelet

Some honourable mentions we were forced to cut, or else we would never have ended: The Late, GREAT Donna Summer, Dame Judi Dench, Helena Bonham-Carter and of course, our MUMS! Jessica Rabbit narrowly lost to Betty Boop, only because she is actually one of Mariah Carey's alter ego's; a moniker she adopted after fans continually likened the two - bet you didn't know that one, did you?

Who are your HarleQueens? Whether you agree with ours or have a suggestion or few of your own, let us know who they are and why, in the comment box below...You never know what we may do with your suggestions in the near future! 

The 'Coco Pearls' have already sold out, but you can pick up the remaining pieces and some other special treats from the unreleased 'Carnivale' SS12 collection above THIS FASHION FRIDAY, at Old Spitalfields Market from 10-6PM!

See you soon for the next intimate look at some standout talents.

Enjoy the rest of your Bank Holiday!

ES and Charli-Anne ;o)

-- xx --