Each quarterly issue will be a forensic exploration of a theme, this first one being food and the culture that surrounds it. Thankfully, there’s no mention of cupcakes, but, rather, what Jessica Ennis’ s favourite sandwich is. Writers include New York Times bestseller Sam Lipsyte and Jonathan Meades in his first piece of food writing in over a decade.

The Special Request is available to buy online here or in specialist outlets.
The exhibition runs until Monday 27th May at  MACH SCHAU Gallery, First Floor Unit 1.12. Kingly Court Off Carnaby Street, Carnaby, London, W1B 5PW.

As Ernest Hemingway said :  “I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”  Let’s face it, it’s pretty hard to get tone and nuance from a tweet.

And with our love for all things vintage, it seems that we do still hanker after simpler ways to engage, but with the modern convenience of technology. An old-style, retro ring on our mobile; American Typewriter font on our emails; or, even the other way round : smartphone style displays on a landline. VoIP systems ( allowing calls to be made over IP systems ) on Gigaset, for example, give all the benefits of a landline but using the latest innovations. Having a long conversation on the phone doesn’t need to involve wandering around the house to find the best signal.

Of course, old-fashioned snail mail may take longer but creating or receiving a card in the post is almost always better than an email. Honeytree Publishing do beautiful stationery that you can customise for all events.

Saying some things:  Thank you, Happy Birthday, or Sorry are so much better done the old fashioned way. Or simply picking up the phone and having a conversation rather than scrolling through your News Feed. You never know what you might hear.

This is a partnership post.

1. Spotify (Free to download with monthly subscription)
Spotify remains one of the classic music Apps, giving you a wealth of musical choice at your fingertips.Three million UK users now access up to 6.5 million tracks.

2. London Philharmonic Orchestra (Free)
Follow the LPO in what they’re doing and where they’re performing. Access recent performances in audio or video, podcasts and latest tour details. A great way to follow a world class orchestra.

3. William Shakespeare Collection (£1.49)
Bring the bard straight to your screen with 40 plays, 154 sonnets and six narrative poems all crammed into this creative and well-designed App.

4. Trendstop (Free, with paid for options )
A must for fashionistas with daily trend reports and fashion news, but also anyone who likes to keep abreast of what’s new, where to buy it  and who’s wearing what.

5. Empire Movie Guide (£2.99)
The must have movie magazine has brought it’s style and thoroughness to the world of Apps. More than 9,000 reviews, access to trailers and up to date details of the latest films. Reviews and comments can be easily shared through social media in this sharply designed and interactive App.

6. Love Art: National Gallery (£1.79)
A wonderful companion to a visit to the London gallery or as a stand-alone cultural experience, Love Art takes you through masterpieces by Da Vinci, Renoir and Rembrandt with up to 250 high resolution images as well as commentaries and features.

7. Pocket Hipster (Free)
A brilliantly creative way to access new music. Choose your hipster self and then hear new music from a library of over 1000 new Indie music. Fun, creative and beautifully designed. Laugh out loud and find fun new music.

8. Art Guide (Free)
Want to find a gallery to visit or arguing over the history of a famous work? Art Guide gets you what you need to know about art in a creative and fun way, with clear usability and smart design. Perfect for those finding their way in the art world.

9. iF Poems ( £2.99, 10% of each sale goes to Save the Children)
A beautiful and interactive anthology of  over 200, well -loved poems and featuring readings by Helena Bonham Carter and Bill Nighy

10. TED (free)
Ready to make those resolutions and live your dreams in 2013? TED brings inspirational talks to your phone or tablet. Gordon Brown, Steve Jobs, Al Gore and many more.

11. iTheatre (free)
One of the best listings Apps out there. If it’s on, you’ll know about it.

This is a sponsored post. For more information please see our Editorial Policy

Tomorrow night Matt Black, one half of Coldcut ( dubbed the Kraftwerk of the 21st century  by i-D )  and co-founder of the Ninja Tune record label tells his story how a visit to Japan inspired a computer programmer to help create one of the world’s leading independent electronic labels.

Accompanying the talk will be Matt’s first exhibition of his visual work:  electronic images exploring connections between sound and vision.

And if you can’t make it tomorrow night, there’s even an app, so you can download the story on-the-go.

Campfire, The Lighthouse, Canonbury Yard, 190 New North Road, N1 7BJ, 7pm, Thursday 15th November. If you’d like to go along RSVP to campfire@ditto.tv

As WGSN are world leaders in trend forecasting, we were keen to get the lowdown on what we’ll be wearing in the future.

“ When I first started I was into vintage,”  singer VV Brown told us, “ But we’re moving forward from that. I love Claire Barrow, who does illustrations on jackets, Rita Ora wears her. And Mary Benson, with holograms on jackets.”

Designers Basso and Brooke, who told us that they’re soon launching a top secret label encompassing homewear and lifestyle, were on the panel of judges and echoed her sentiment. “The emerging trends are prints, geometric and futuristic,” they agreed.

What do they look for when spotting emerging talent?
“Just go for what you like! When there’s no brand it’s sometimes easier, as there are no preconceptions.”

And Lauretta Roberts the founder  and director of the awards reckons that “ culture and the arts all affect fashion.”

THE WINNERS

The Catrice Womenswear Designer
Continuing to defy the critics – Victoria Beckham

Menswear Designer
The crowd’s favourite -Kim Jones for Louis Vuitton

Footwear and Accessories Designer
Wearing a marvellous hat – Charlotte Dellal for Charlotte Olympia

Emerging Designer
Another fabulous headpiece – Emma Yeo

The Lycra Future Designers
Shireeka Devlin

Womenswear Design Team
Had to be – Topshop

Menswear Design Team
Such  gentlemen – Hackett

Footwear and Accessories Design Team
The biggest cheer of the night – The Cambridge Satchel Company

The Trekstock Kidswear Design Team
French Chic – Macarons

Buying Team
Tres Bon!  – Merci

Sports/ Activewear Design Team
Olympic gold – Adidas

Intimates/ Swimwear Design Team
Forgiving cossies – Seafolly

Denim Design Team
Still iconic – Levi’s Commuter Series

Best Store
Good excuse for a holiday – El Palacio de Hierro, Mexico

Best E – Store ( Pure Play )
Presented by very dapper George Lamb – Mr Porter

Best New Store/ Refit
The New World – ALTER ( Shanghai )

The GFK Multichannel Retailer
Aurora Fashions

The WGSN Hall of Fame Award
Quite emotional – Rankin

Have your customers’ buying habits changed since the recession?
There has definitely been a change in consumers’ buying habits.  Shoppers look for value for money and that isn’t just about a lower price point, it’s about those simply amazing pieces, which make you feel incredible, or stand the test of time as part of your everyday wardrobe.   Every item that we buy as part of our edit must make the customer think wow, or that will fit perfectly into my wardrobe.

What’s the most popular item on my-wardrobe right now?
There are so many and it changes every day.  A continuous phenomenal seller is the Michael Kors gold chronograph watch, which has become quite a cult item.

Do you personally have the final say on which designers to feature on the site?
The buyers travel to the view the collections at the international showrooms and the catwalk shows to seek out new and exciting designers to add to the my-wardrobe.com designer mix.   We look for new and exciting names which offer our customer something different. I will always present new brands and collections, which I think are interesting to the buyers but I have complete trust in their judgement.

Do you see the site as your baby or a business?
Both.  As an entrepreneur your business is like another child and you give it 24/7 focus to help it grow and mature. You also realise that if your business is going to become strong and well-rounded, you need to ensure it gets external influence to help mould and shape its growth just like a child. That is why you bring in experts in their field and it’s why we appointed a new CEO ( former Harrods Direct director David Worby ) to drive the growth of the business both here in the UK and internationally allowing me to step back into my role as Founder.

How has the fashion industry changed since you started in 2007?
The internet has revolutionised the way people can access and consume fashion.  From fashion shows being streamed live, to click-to-buy from the catwalk, social media channels opening up conversations with designers and influencers to photography-led platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest influencing what we buy, it’s a new world which has in turn altered the consumer demand and expectations from retailers.

Who are your top three designers – and why?
Acne – I love masculine tailoring and Acne do this really well.  My favourite blazers are all by Acne.
Preen – every season the collection gets better and better with beautifully cut dresses that grasp every curve, to exquisitely cute coats, jackets and trousers.
10 Crosby Derek Lam – a new diffusion line for my-wardrobe.com by one of New York’s favourite designers Derek Lam. Simplistic separates with interesting novelty twists such as exaggerated peplums and bold prints make each piece a talking point.

You sold your house to start the site. What made you so certain that it would work? And would you do it again?
I always knew it would work and that utter belief in the opportunity that we had to create a global brand spurred me on.  I would do it all again tomorrow.

Where do you get your ideas and inspiration?
I’m inspired by so much and so many people around me. I’m in a privileged position to work with such passionate and inspiring people, while the evolving digital world continues to inspire me when it comes to innovation and developing the experience for our shopper.

What do you think of designer/ high street collaborations and would you ever work with a designer for an exclusive collection? Who would you like this to be?
High street collaborations have been a way to create cut through and standout in what is now a cluttered market place. We work with our designers on exclusive collaborations every season to present new and exclusive pieces and collections created especially for our customers.

What are the four most worn items in your wardrobe?
Joseph leather leggings, Acne blazer, Preen coat, Prada red shoes

Sarah Curran, Founder of my-wardrobe.com and a judge at this year’s WGSN Global Fashion Awards. the winners of  which will be announced at a ceremony hosted by Cat Deeley at The Savoy on 5th November

Now for the science bit:  cultural research, body language and studying human behaviour are Jean’s specialities, so she has plenty of evidence to back up her rules.

There are well-known flirting signals such as smiling and eye contact, but the book scratches the surface: one tell-tale sign that your object of desire is into you is if they blink twice. So, no more awkward emails or skulking in their general vicinity -  and if they don’t call ( or blink ) they clearly don’t understand science.

Bucking the recession, it’s actually one of the few areas that’s booming. So much so that Creative Industries Minister Ed Vaizey recently launched the festival, joining a panel of industry experts looking at how the government can showcase employment opportunities for creative young people in an industry that’s relatively unknown,  as well as provide tax breaks to the industry to keep the UK in line with its biggest competitor in visual effects – Canada.

Escape Studios have created the festival, and are the talent behind some of the biggest and most visually impressive films such as Avatar, the Dark Knight, and Inception. The studios also run an academy with courses long and short in all areas of visual effects  and 3D animation.

The industry has helped shape contemporary culture and our visual landscape, and now it looks as though it’ll soon come from behind-the-scenes to centre-stage.

The VFX Festival, 10th – 13th October, Escape Studios, Shepherds West, Rockley Road, London W14 0DA

Gothic Floral
Big, bold blooms and edgy, dark floral prints are a big look for autumn. Green eyes – which are anyway quite rare -  would be a perfect match ( contacts come in various shades from emerald to jade. ) Purple, raisin and plum eye-shadows, and even mascara, make the green pop, for a mysterious, sultry look.

Dior

Baroque
Brocade, applique, fancy pattern and gold edges and detailing cover skirts, dresses and jackets this season, and brown eyes could top off this historical aesthetic beautifully. Perhaps the most versatile eye colour, go for the smoky look with chestnut, gold and honey make- up shades to complement your outfit, or cooler shades around the eyes with a rosy blusher on the apple of the cheeks to enhance very dark brown eyes -  and not detract from your outfit.

Lanvin

Space Age
Metallics, shiny silvers and fierce sequins in tight leggings, spiky heels and Star Trek silhouettes would look future perfect with blue eyes. In shades from ice to azure work the look with greys to define the eye, and paler whites and silvers under the brow; or go all-out with black liquid liner for cat-eyes.  All you’ll need now is a laser-gun.

Enhancement
Finally, once you have contact lenses, you can also experiment with more subtle fashion changes. One thing to consider are Acuvue define contacts, which correct your vision but are also specifically designed to brighten and enhance your natural eyes. This way you can achieve a bright, dewy look with your lenses. It’s relatively subtle, but defining your eyes can be a great final touch on a stylish look.

This is a sponsored post. For more information see our editorial policy.

What are the main trends for glasses right now?
Acetate (plastic) frames are very much back in fashion and far more popular than any other style. We are moving away from metal and rimless and towards retro inspired designs, particularly from the 1950′s and 1960′s.

Do glasses follow fashion?
People tend to buy new glasses every two and a half years and usually wait until they can’t see properly. You don’t generally wear a different style of frame in winter compared to summer, more often something for work compared to evening. For this reason the eyewear industry hasn’t traditionally followed the fashion seasons -  except for sunglasses. There are distinct trends over time in eyewear around materials, shapes and styles.  Since around the 1990′s the big fashion houses have been producing glasses and sunglasses, their colours and patterns rather than styles usually tie in with their apparel collections.

Who are your top five glasses designers?

Hoffmann Natural Eyewear
The epitome of luxury eyewear, handmade and bespoke glasses made from natural buffalo horn. These are the Patek Philippe of eyewear, they look gorgeous are incredibly light weight and are glasses you will keep for ever.

Mykita
Some of the best designed glasses in the world. Entirely handmade in their factory in the centre of Berlin, focussing on design, technology and materials as well as style. Using only titanium for metal frames and their own material ‘Mylon’ for their plastic frames they have a distinctive minimalist style creating lightweight, beautiful frames which are also incredibly strong. Unlike most other frame producers their trademark hinge design does away with the traditional screw joints (which can come loose) meaning the frame is made of only 3 pieces (a front and two sides) which clip together. Ingenious.

Barton Perreira
After the sale of Oliver Peoples to Luxottica Billie Barton (President of Oliver Peoples) and Patty Perreira (their head designer) left to form their own eyewear brand Barton Perreira. Drawing on Patty’s talent for design and experience in the luxury eyewear industry they have developed a fantastic range of glasses and sunglasses with an unrelenting drive for style and quality.

Ørgreen
This unique brand is one of Denmark’s best -kept secrets. They produce one of the best metal brands available, with a strong focus on colour, with a style to suit everyone.

Cutler & Gross
This iconic brand established in the 1950s focus on retro styling and high fashion eyewear. Chunky acetate frames with a really distinctive style. Fantastic quality, designed in the UK, made in Italy and sold to a global market. I love their glasses -  especially their sunglasses range.


Many established fashion designers have already crossed over into eyewear, but has there been a rise in smaller, boutique brands?
Yes,  some smaller fashion labels also produce fantastic eyewear. These smaller designers more often partner with the boutique eyewear brands with a real focus on quality, design and style rather than just putting a logo on a frame. Some great examples are Marni and 3.1 Phillip Lim. Another exciting brand to watch is Italia Independent, founded by Lapo Elkann (of the Ferrari & Fiat families) who are producing velvet glasses and sunglasses.

In fact eyewear was once almost exclusively the domain of small independent designer/manufacturers such as  Linda Farrow, Oliver Goldsmith and Cutler and Gross  with a lot of production based in the UK itself. Unfortunately eyewear production has almost completely left the UK with all but a handful of luxury, boutique brands. Eyewear Concierge still produce one off, handmade bespoke pieces here in the UK, though.

How often should you change your glasses?
I usually ask people how many pairs of shoes and socks they own. Generally people don’t wear the same pair of shoes and socks every day for two plus years. But most people have one pair of glasses that they keep for at least a couple of years.
Over the last 10 years glasses have become much more of a fashion item and we regularly sell multiple pairs of glasses. Maybe statement frames for evening  and something a little more restrained for work. I am cursed with perfect vision but my wife (who wears glasses) buys a new pair at least every  six months or so.

What do you think are the glasses trends for the future?
I think we will see a wider move towards 1980′s style, large acetate frames, big and round as well as heavy angular shapes. Fan optics and Prism are good examples of relatively new brands that are leading the trend towards this.

Framed! Contemporary Eyewear in Fashion exhibition is currently on at the Fashion Space Gallery, London College of Fashion, 20 John Princes Street, W1G 0BJ  until 3rd November