Welcome to the Future

It's a bit of a running joke now. I appear, every couple of months, apologise for lack of posts and then repeat a few months later. I have now finished my course and am in that fun in between bit of not really student, not really graduate looking for a job. When I say fun, yes I do mean that kind of fun(!). 

It's funny, you get so caught up the degree and assignments etc you don't really consider what will happen after. I am now realising that I should have been thinking about what was going to happen after I graduate, when I was a mere fresher. Start em young is so true when it comes to getting that elusive graduate job. 

So far I've had one assessment centre interview which was very much like The Apprentice and I don't think I'd have been at all surprised if Lord Alan Sugar came in at some point to declare I was fired. With a few more interviews lined up, I have my fingers crossed. I can only hope. 

If that fails I could always start my own baking business, or maybe just bake for fun. Today I was looking up ways to use left over Dorset Cereals muesli, seeing as I don't drink milk and it seems a shame to waste good quality cereal. So if anyone has any ideas let me know. A bit of time baking will keep me busy and occupied. I really need some interesting ways to fill this weird bit of my life. Not quite one thing, not quite another. 

 

Fashionably Late and Balancing Acts

I know, I know...I swan in declaring that I shall return to regular blogger status and then disappear into the ether once again, returning once again promising that it shall change.

Life as a second year journalism student is harder than I thought. The pressure is really on this year to do well as the marks actually count and this is the year that could put us on that long desired route of top journalist. I'm not sure how the real world manages really and I have serious respect for every journalist out there from staff writer, freelancer to the fashion editor. One of my assignments this term is to come up with, pitch and write a 2000 word feature. Simple right? Well yeah, if you have the idea to begin with. This is where I seem to be struggling...ideas, yeah I have no end of them but not all are suited to this particular length of feature. So I have been racking my brains constantly, scouring the newspapers from the wonderful Guardian to the not so wonderful Daily Mail (did anyone see that awful story by Jan Moir on Stephen Gately's death?!) to inspire me. I think I have an idea so I guess watch this space...Hopefully I'll be able to build up my portfolio of printed work in the next year!

I have also found an absolutely amazing fashion book, by Caroline Evans called Fashion on the Edge. Its our set text for this year for one of the modules we study and yes it is academic but its so interesting, although a little morbid in places I thought. The book considers the dark side of contemporary fashion with its themes of death, alienation, destruction and what this tells us about society. It can be a little heavy in places but its highly readable, and definately recommend it, whether or not you are studying fashion. Its also got some amazing photos from the collections of Alexander McQueen, Viktor and Rolf and John Galliano amongst others.

Viktor & Rolf (S/S 1997)

Alexander McQueen (A/W 1995 "Highland Rape")

The book includes a lot on both the above collections, Alexander McQueen's collection is particularly interesting and there is some good analysis on it. Definately worth a read!

Success and Shopping

Thought I'd just share an article I've had printed on Fashion Capital A small step to bigger things I'm hoping :)

Anyway, I've been thinking about shoes for this wedding outfit and then this morning, a tempting little offer from Dorothy Perkins popped into my inbox, 20% off! I'd had my eye on a few pairs after looking the other day and I think considering I've been pretty well restrained I deserved a bit of shopping. So I ended up ordering these...

I figure that by having 2 options I can see which fits and looks best and then return the other pair ;-) If in doubt shop a little bit more...or is that just how I think?! I've got next day delivery so tomorrow I may well update you and show you my new purchases!

The Beginning

Every story has a beginning and this is mine. I've been studying fashion journalism since September 08 and shock horror, don't have a blog. That is, until now. So this is going to be my place for my comments on the fashion world, what I'm up to at uni and anything else that I happen to find vaguely interesting that I want to share with you, the reader. I do hope there are going to be readers of this blog...after all they are there to be read and to have a blog that no one reads is quite sad.

Anyway, about me...well I'm 21 and a student with a student budget unfortunately. Its making shopping for clothes incredibly difficult and aside from various fancy dress items, I haven't actually bought anything new since before Christmas. I didn't even hit the January sales this year which was just awful. I am resigned to window shopping and lusting after clothes I can't afford until I get a job to fund my habit once again. This credit crunch business is not making things any easier and is leaving me wondering how its going to be once I graduate. Anyway, thats a few years away...right now I just need to worry about the next time I'm going to be able to buy a new dress. One of my friends was rather clever and got all creative to make a new skirt from an old one by chopping off the end to make it shorter and then using scissors to distress it. Thing is I'm not sure if I have anything to renew...and even if I did I'm better off staying away. Writing about fashion is one thing but creating it is totally different! Might have to pull out the favours and 'mend and make do' instead....

I'll give the credit crunch this, for fashion it definately makes people more creative. Lets face it, most people can't stand not getting the odd new item now and then, so now its forcing them to get the sewing kit out and personalize. No longer do we have a street of sheep but complete individuality. Its rather exciting! As for high fashion, well looks like its gotten all sober and has finally acknoweledged what the rest of us have known for a good few months now. Even Vogue has brought back an old feature, 'More Dash than Cash' showing readers how they can recreate high fashion looks for cheaper. The April edition also included an article on money saving tips, in its own inimitable style of course...these tips aren't the sort you'd get in an Asda magazine! Still nice to see high fashion not putting its head in the sand...I guess it shows the credit crunch really affects everyone.