#ForwardBirmingham

There’s a big bright shiny building that is about to be opened in BIrmingham and it is all happening next week. Grand Central, the city’s newly vamped New Street train Station, shopping mecca and much-anticipated John Lewis offering is about to step up Birmingham’s retail offer several notches.

Book store Foyles, lifestyle brands The White Company and Cath Kidston, fashion brands Hobbs, Joules and Birmingham’s own Steel & Jelly will be joined by beauty brands Kiehls, Jo Malone and Neals Yard Remedies among many others to open up brand new stores.

To celebrate the launch John Lewis has commissioned local filmmakers Blue Monday to produce a film dedicated to their new home.

Featuring a variety of individuals who live and work in Birmingham, the film follows “Birmingham’s stars of the future – medics, musicians, artists, and entrepreneurs – as they go about their daily activities, capturing their passion and pride in the city that they call home”.

Shot over a period of 10 weeks, the extensive creative process saw filmmakers Blue Monday capture eight hours of footage, involving 20 interviewees in 29 locations across three countries. The footage then underwent a 50-hour editing process and was combined with additional elements, including the soundtrack by Birmingham musician, Alex Ohm.

Murad Skincare launches in Debenhams, Bullring

LA skincare brand Murad is launching into Debenhams, Bullring mid July and offering their signature facial treatments. Developed by world renowned dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad, the range of science-based skincare products for healthy, beautiful skin, is accompanied by the experience of a skin health assessment inspired by the consultations the Doctor gives his patients.

Inspired by research confirming that a whole person approach offers the ultimate path to restoring health and beauty from the cellular level up, Murad products are clinically-proven to rapidly resolve common skin concerns like blemishes, redness, wrinkles and sun damage. There is also a specific facial available for men.

The new counter launches on the 15th July and we can’t wait to give it a try!

Style Birmingham LIVE AW13

Style Birmingham LIVE AW13 returns for its sixth year on Saturday 28 September with hosts, Birmingham born model and presenter Emma Willis and X Factor’s Rylan Clark. Tickets are now on sale for the day of fashion, beauty and shopping, which this year is centred around a stunning catwalk show at Town Hall. 

Area Culture Guide – Dec/Jan

Here is the December/January combined edition of Area Culture Guide for your viewing pleasure.

Be sure to pick one up – they are HOT off the presses and we know how fast they move.

This issue is light enough on the Xmas theme but we do have some cracking competitions for you to enter if the thought of spending your hard earned cash on others is too much for you to deal with.

Win tickets for Style Birmingham Live!

Win a pair of front row tickets to The Show at Bullring!

Think dramatic and theatrical. Expect high fashion and daring hair and make-up. Prepare for a luxurious journey like no other. Now you’re ready for The Show.

From 24th – 26th September Bullring is hosting The Show, a spectacular fashion stage show, as part of Style Birmingham Live. It’ll be your chance to watch on as the pages of Bullring’s magazine, Browse: Bullring, are brought to life on the runway. Devastatingly luxurious trends will be showcased by lavish retailers including Reiss, COS and the UK’s very first, soon to be opened, Forever 21, whilst extravagant make-up and high impact hair will be created by The Body Shop and Regis at Debenhams.

Created In Birmingham Shop

If you are looking for a little creativity, a place to browse through the talents of the home-grown or to purchase yourself a little something nice then blog Created in Birmingham‘s new store is going to be the place for you.  Having been given a decent sized unit inside the mighty Bullring the space will become part art market, part gallery and part event space making it, not just a shop but, also a place to hang out and collate all local talent together.