A Fond Farewell to 2011

As we all get ready to say farewell to 2011, there is one question on everyones mind "what do I want from 2012?" Whether you are making a New Years Resolution to lose weight, take up a hobbie or embark upon a new career, the end of 2011 is always focused on what you wish you could've changed this year and filled with questions of what you really want from next year. In a recent article I read from Jameela Jamil, she pointed out that perhaps we should all start focusing on NOW, the present and I have to admit, its a pretty nice idea. Recently, I've been puzzling over where I want to head in my career, what do I want to of achieved by this time next year etc etc etc! After all this thinking, where am I at? Still in the same place but with a bit of a headache. Sure, there are some ambitions I would like to fulfil in the near future including really getting my foot in the door in a fashion company, taking up photography since I love fashion imagery and working on photoshoots so much and return to New York (my all-time favourite place) and it is all very exciting to think about, but why wait for 2012? Instead of planning for the New Year, I'm making changes now. I've started practising a bit of photography and learning tips and tricks over the last week, New York is in the planning process and will be booked within the next week and well, as for the career, I accepted a new venture a few days ago and will be ceasing all opportunities that come my way. I'm living for now and enjoying every minute of it. Cheers!

Bright Eyes

Recently I've been on the hunt for an eye-cream to get rid of those dark blue circles and to simply moisturise my eyes since they always go a little dry and irritable as the winter weather takes its toll. Nightmare. So, I was over the moon when I came across this brand new eye cream from Benefit- 'It's Potent'. I have to admit, I am a HUGE Benefit fan anyway, not only do I think their products look great in quirky, cool packaging with witty names but the products are genuinely really good! From Erase Paste to Sugarbomb Blusher, I have them all and will continue to be a true loyal benefit consumer as long as they keep releasing fab products.

'It's Potent' is part of a fantastic new skin-care range, 'B-right.' From face-wash to hydrating mist, the range consists of all sorts of lovely products, all in more quirky packaging that comes across almost old-school like authentic lotions and potions bottles. To break myself into the collection I thought i'd begin with the eye-cream since I'm in dire need of it and the penny strings are a bit tight at this time of the year. So is it any good? Yes. I really could not recommend it enough. It's creamy and nourishing with a slight tingling feeling as soon as you apply making your eyes feel awake and rejuvenated. A must-have product especially after all the festive partying and late nights over the last few weeks!

The Onesie

The winter months have set in and all I want to do is kick back in front of the roaring fire, tune in to some cheesy chick-flicks and dig in to some warm home-made brownies (yum yum!) all whilst sporting my brand new 'Onesie.' Yep, thats right, I said Onesie. Now before you judge, I must make it clear that I am not normally one for partaking in some crazy trend that everyones talking about, I'm one of those that would rather do something a little different. For instance, during the New York 2007 school trip all the girls flocked to the shoe stores to grab a pair of cheaper-priced Uggs as they were all the rage, whilst I went on the hunt for some sturdy leather black riding boots to last me the winter months. Or there's the time at University in 2010 when everyone seemed to be rocking a funky leather brown back-pack to lectures, whilst I stuck with my trusty black studded River Island bag (courtesy of Ebay). Obviously I adore fashion so I am forever following trends but I'm talking about those kind of trends that spiral out of control, feature on the news and grace the walls of Facebook, all because people find them, well, a little silly! So when the Onesie trend caught on, I thought nope this one is definitely not for me. Not a cat in hells chance you will catch me wearing one of them! But during an early Christmas with my family, due to them celebrating the season in a sunnier climate, I was more than surprised when I teared open another one of my presents like a 5 year old child to find a little package with 'Snowflake Onesie' printed across the front. Oh no. Not the dreaded Onesie. After my mum explained that she thought it was really funny and couldn't help buying it just to see me in it- that's what you get for being the joker of the family, I whipped upstairs and came down sporting the blue snowflake-printed giant baby grow ready to be the centre of all jokes. I was well aware that all I needed was a dummy in one hand and my milk bottle in the other, but as a giant baby I opted for a bottle of champagne and a handful of Thorntons chocolates.Thats the way I roll. Anyway, within 10 minutes of wearing it, I have to admit it was ridiculously snug, which is great for me since I'm one of those people that can never get warm and I was surprisingly growing rather fond of it. Two weeks down the line and I must have worn it at least 8 times. I simply cannot help it. Its comfy and cosy, perfect for chilling out in, the only issue I must point out is that it is prone to giving slight sharp electric shocks, either when taking it off or when the dog rubs past me. Nevertheless, it is clear that I am a converted Onesie fan. Who would have thought it? This is the first time I have succumbed to such a trend and I have to say...I kinda like it!

Clothes Show Live 2011

For the last 8 years me and my mum have hit the Clothes Show Live at the NEC Birmingham every December. It's a fantastic day out for all fashion-followers who want to have a fabulous girls trip and grab a bargain. From clothing stalls to beauty, there is a little something for everyone. My favourites are the Benefit stall where they offer free gifts with your purchases, Tigi where they offer multi-buy promotions and the designer stalls where there are some great quirky finds for affordable prices. Above is a few of my great clothing purchases from the day, all of which I am very proud of! Once we had literally shopped until we dropped all morning, we headed to the fashion theatre where the show took place. Each year, the show has a different theme and this year was the year of The Department Store. It certainly lived up to my expectations with glamorous dancing mannequins, stunning male underwear models (wink wink!) and an added touch of celeb appearances- Kimberley Wyatt came out with a big bang singing her new song and looking fantastic during the middle of the show. What-a-day. See you next year Clothes Show!

Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2012 Campaign

Who couldn't resist this super cute new campaign for 2012 by Louis Vuitton. The candy-floss pink mixed with sweet pastel tones create a pretty little picture. With ice-cream sundaes, cut out patterned dresses (a big trend for s/s 2012) and iconic LV printed bags, what more could a girl want?

Tis The Season

November is nearly at an end, which can only mean one thing...well yes it means my birthday is over BUT, its now time to get festive as Christmas is on its way. Hoorah! Tis the season to be jolly (with a few baileys), the season when it is acceptable to still eat chocolate for breakfast (yes I still have an advent calendar and i'm not ashamed) and the season when you're allowed to shop until you drop every weekend (no matter how painful it may be to your purse strings). However, for all the fashion followers out there tis most definitely the season to add a little bit of razzle dazzle to your wardrobe. As soon as December 1st hits, sequins, sparkle and eccentric beading hit the high-street seducing you and enticing you to wear them come rain or shine and who can't resist. Certainly not me. I'm the equivalent of a magpie when it comes to sparkly, shiny things so I couldn't of been more thrilled when my lovely boyfriend handed me a little surprise in the shape of a shoe box... and here they are! These little gems covered in metallic glitter are from Dune and are THE perfect accessory to carry me through the season. I'm going to let these shoes do the talking by teaming them with a classic LBD for a festive party or a pair of fitted skinnies for a night down the pub.
And they say diamonds are a way to a girls heart...thanks boyfriend! MWAH x.

Oasis Finds

So here they are.. my two favourite finds from the Oasis website. The first one is an Oasis jumper, £35. I needed a new knit for the winter months that was stylish, sophisticated and classy for work. The material is super-soft and the fit is great. Admittedly, this is a sophisticated top that definitely looks a lot pricier than it actually is. Bonus!

The second find is a heart print pussy-bow blouse by Max C, £28. I'm a little in love with these sweet shirts at the moment and this one has an added touch of sweetness with black hearts and gold buttons. Once again, the added detail also makes this top look a little more expensive so I'm extremely pleased with both purchases. With a 25% discount at the checkout the overall cost was extremely affordable, great news for my bank account! Ker-ching. The service was efficient and speedy, arriving with 5 working days and best of all, the products were fabulous finds that will be worn again and again over the next few months. Thanks Oasis.

Welcome Back Oasis

Over the last few months, I've been searching for new places on the high-street to shop. I've always been a faithful shopper with Topshop, Zara, Warehouse and many more and although I still adore these stores, I've been on the hunt for a store offering something a little new, diverse and exciting. During a little browse on the internet for some new bits and bobs to jazz up my wardrobe I came across Oasis and was VERY pleasantly surprised. The brand appears to have had a magical make-over and a very glamorous one at that. Head to the website (http://www.oasis-stores.com) and you will now find a fresh site with great fashion imagery and a fabulous selection of products. But its not just online that there has been a transformation. The stores have been undergoing a little something special over the last few months too and technology is now at the heart of the store experience with Ipads available for transactions and for consumers to browse the site and look books. For me, as a fashion consumer, I think this is a very exciting direction the high-street is heading in and it's great to see Oasis at the fore-front of this. The new flagship store in London's West End has been re-designed and will act as a showcase for the brand so its all systems go with Oasis and there new look. I'm about to crack out the card and purchase a few things from their website to see how great their products and new service really is. Watch this space.

Baking-Chic

Since receiving my favourite new book, The Great British Bake Off, I've not only been in the kitchen testing my true baking skills but it's also got me thinking about how and why baking has become such a cool trend within the fashion industry over the last few years. In particular, cupcakes have set off a sweet, flirty and fanciful trend across the UK. I myself now have a giant cupcake money jar, a brand new cupcake apron and a pair of pink cupcake socks. The trend has taken off this year with Katy Perry adorning a cupcake bra in her music video, National Cupcake storming peoples twitter feeds back in September and young entrepreneurs are grabbing their piping bag creating innovative cupcake designs (cupcake lollipops, cupcake Push Pop etc). It is now considered cool to be donning an apron. From Magnolia Bakery in New York to Hummingbird Bakery in London, the baking world has never been so popular. So grab a cupcake, sit back and enjoy every mouthful. It's not everyday you can use the fashion world as an excuse to indulge a few extra calories.

Sweet Toothe

Chocolate brownies, lemon meringue pie, banana and pecan loaf. These are just a few of my baking specialities I whip up on a sunday afternoon in the kitchen. Ooh la la! Now lets be honest, i'm no Delia Smith but I love a spot of baking every now and again. I find it relaxing, fun and extremely satisfying when I tuck into a warm, gooey cookie straight out of the oven. You really can't beat it. Thanks to my boyfriends brother and his wife, my baking skills really are about to take off and the house will be crammed with all sorts of delicious goodies, which I'm sure my boyfriend and my waistline will thank me for. I've just received the brand new Great British Bake Off book. I tuned into the show every week and couldn't help but be inspired by the craftsmanship behind Battenberg and Brandy Snaps so was over moon to receive the book and give it all a go myself. Plus, there was a pretty pink cupcake printed apron in the give bag too as the family all know I'm a messy cook and a slightly messy eater at that. So with my whisk at the ready, it's time to bake.

Puppy Love

I couldn't resist popping this up on the blog for you all to see! Although, I'm not a great believer in dressing your pets up in funky, fashionable little numbers, I thought this genuine Barbour doggy coat for £28 from Amazon was fabulous. In the iconic khaki green shade and quilted material, the coat simply fastens around the neck and under the tummy. Comfortable, cosy and great for keeping your dog dry when out on walks. Plus lets face it, she does look pretty damn classy.

Welcome To The Real World

In my previous post I did say watch this space...In July I bagged myself a great job at Kiddicare.com joining their marketing team. Although there is a hefty 3 hour commute ahead of me each day, the position itself is very exciting indeed. So far I have been
creating a Brand Bible to create a nurturing, trusting and knowledgable personality to the brand, alongside developing campaign ideas for back to school, half term, autumn and organising copy/photos for press.

This week I organised the 'Step into autumn' campaign, set in a beautiful rural location. I styled the children, set up the props and prepared for a great day alongside the photographer getting some great snaps and here are a few to share with you. Adorable images that can't help but make you go a little warm and fuzzy inside.

Walk This Way Photoshoot & Promotional Video

As well as the photoshoot I organised for inside the Walk This Way Guide as you can see from my previous post, I also set up another photoshoot alongside a promotional video to actually promote the guide itself. The big idea behind it was to simply reflect the quirky, fashionable and fun nature of the product. So, I got 3 of my fashion-loving friends to model and dressed each one of them in a hand-made t-shirt made by me and my mummy-dearest out of vintage fabric from Spinsters Emporium, Nottingham. Each t-shirt had a witty phrase about independent stores and props were used alongside these to really bring each statement to life and add a touch of wit to the whole campaign. The entire day was spent dressing up and messing around in front of the camera and the results were fantastic. Thanks to all of those who helped me...I owe you one big time. Loves x

Snap Snap

Just a quick sneak peak into my photoshoot for 'Walk This Way.' The concept was around a welcome party, celebrating the start of University, but to fit in with the quirky nature of the guide it was more 'tea party meets welcome party' with lots of sweet pretty dresses from independent Nottingham boutiques. Ooh la la!

Graduation 2011

After 3 years of being submerged into the wonderful world of Fashion Marketing and Branding, the big day had finally arrived- hello Graduation! With a 2:1 BA Hons Degree in the bag and a cap and gown, it was time to take to the stage, collect my certificate and say a fond farewell to my university life and hello to the real world of work. Yikes.

The degree show was also a great way to show off everything I had achieved over the last few years so there was well deserved big beam on my face. My final year project was pride of place, 'Walk This Way', an quirky shopping guide promoting independent boutiques around Nottingham to first year students at NTU, which received an amazing First grade for my final year. This project combined all my talents, summing up everything that I love to do in one little booklet- Writing fashion features, art directing photoshoots, creating style pages and then ultimately developing creative ways to market the whole thing. Now to put these talents to good use in my first full time job...watch this space!