Running In Heels

This summer I returned to do work experience at Vogue House, and this year I felt much more prepared for what was going to be thrown at me. At the tender age of 16 I almost had a mental breakdown in the middle of Bond Street in the snow, trying to balance myself, 3 bags and 6 shoe boxes trying to find yet another hat shop in a pair of heels that were making my feet bleed. Yes it really was that bad. But by the end of it, I felt proud that I hadn’t ran crying all the way home, and strangely, I wanted to it all over again.

To me, Vogue House is a magical place made up of exciting people and rails and rails of all the clothes by all only best designers, old and new. My heart races each time I walk through those doors. An exceptionally large Vogue and Tatler front cover will be the first things you look at ither side of the receptions gold desk and a greeting of, “Good morning sweetie, make sure you have yourself a nice day” will probably be the first thing you hear from the happy chaps on the desk.

The building is made up of all different advertising departments and editorals for a variety of Conde Nasts publications such as World of interiors, House and Garden, Tatler, Vogue, Vainity Fair. Level 2 is in my opinion the most exciting floor, GQ and GQ style buzzing with a vartiety of people and music – wall sized GQ magazines plastered down the corridors.

Walking through the corridors of Vogue there is a much more intense atmosphere, the carpet is thick under my feet and 6ft beautiful, immaculately dressed women fly past me. Everywhere has that rich smell, a mixture of expensive perfumes.



I’ll never forget standing very awkwardly once in the lift with 2 of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. They had cheek bones that would make their face stay young forever and a mysterious Russian look about them. I was munching on my crisps, in almost slow motion in the silent lift, “anyone want a crisp?” the long silence made me hot and uncomfortable, “no thanks I’ve just had a salad, I don’t want to spoil it”. I quietly carried on crunching in slow motion.

This time I made my way up to Brides Editorial to work for the shopping editor, and boy did I work, but it was worth it to see the stunning, spectacular wedding dresses that sometimes took two people to lift. I loved listening about all the exciting locations they got to go to and the people they get to work with, Gok Wan being the most talked about during the week. A flurry of models and photographers coming and going, I couldn’t help but dream of the day I am no longer sitting on the work experience desk.

Players, bad boys, whatever you like to call them, us girls always fall for them. We know it’s going to end in heart ache and upset eventually so why do we set it up for ourselves?

"I can change him and his bad boy ways." This kind of thinking will just end in a “told you so” off your Mum, getting through a lot of tissues and the Notebook being played on repeat for about a week...you know this, and I know this...but ofcorse we will still probably fall at their feet in lust.

We are not the only ones to fall for the charm of a bad boy, look at what Kevin Federline did to poor Britney Spears, Kate Moss and Pete Dougherty, and most famously Amy Winehouse and her “Blakey”. It’s the risk you take for the chemistry. The thrill of dating a bad boy almost outweighs the tears and broken heart that is almost inevitable after. It starts so well, with them treating you like a princess and you resist because you know they are no good but eventually you fall for them. Then once they know they’ve got you, sorry girls, it’s the beginning of the end.



So why do we do it? Hands up who’s drooled over captain jack sparrow in pirates of the carrabiean? He doesn’t exactly treat women with respect, in one scene he gets a good slapping from a line of girls. However, he oozes carizma and charm, you could be a very ugly man but if you have a healthy dose of charm, well, the world is your oyster!

With blogs such as, Confessions of a bad boy, dedicated to the wonders of bad boys and internet fan groups where people post their stories about their bad boy experiences it doesn’t look like us girls are ever going to learn. Don’t get me wrong im not sexist, im sure there are plenty of “bad girls” out there. Maybe some of them grow out of it, maybe some just never get tired playing the game, but what I do know is, at the age of 19, even I’m growing tired of it, but hey, don’t hate the player hate the game!

In the words of the most famous British womanizer, Alfie, “What have I got? Really? I don't depend on nobody and nobody depends on me... My life's my own. But I don't have peace of mind. And if you don't have that, you've got nothing. ” In my opinion they will never truly be happy and content living their life like this so remember, they may have broken your heart but you will probably meet someone who can mend your heart. What do they have except notches on their bedpost?

HELLOOOOO

I have been soooo naughty and completly and utterly neglected my poor lonely blog.
This year I have a new found confidence in myself and have thrown myself into the world of fashion, and at the moment, I am loving it!

I started uni as a second year student (dan dan daaaa) and must say I am really looking forward to the course this year- although I have a feeling I won't be watching as much Jeremy Kyle and Loose Women- boooo.

My second year started off at where other than London Fashion Week. I have been a London Fashion Weekender for quite a few years but never floated around Fashion Week. The first day I went was a wonderfully exciting day and made me remember why I'm doing what I'm doing. It was a beautiful sunny day, Sarah and I arrived at the grand and spectacular Somerset House. The surroundings were perfect. We felt like celebritites walking in, as two different photographers started taking our photo, I couldn't help but imagine I was Kate Moss and I'm pretty sure Sarah was pretending she was Britney Spears.

I could have sat on that wall all day watching passers by. The place just oozed cool. I saw a lot of big shoulders, leather jackets, thigh high boots and studs. It wasn't just about what people were wearing it was the attitude they wore it with. I saw one very skinny man wearing a swimsuit- and im not talking trunks, I'm talking full on Mr Motivator swim suit, but ya know what? He pulled it off. I spotted another girl wearing a leotard over her ripped tights and someone else wearing plaitted hair as her neclace. You've gotta give it to em, can you imagine the looks they got on the underground? Good for them for having the confidence to be different, it makes the world a much more interesting place and it's the reason London is the Worlds capital for fashion.

Here are a few of the straight-ups we took at Somerset House and around London that week.

PIERRE GAROUDDI and Chole the cat

“You can find a lot about a person by the clothes they are wearing. Some people use labels as a shield. Shy person may not always dress-up as they do not want to shock. Extroverted people are willing to take a risk”. Pierre Garroudi, started out as a 24 hour tailor in his boutique in Soho, New York after getting Fs in drawing and sewing he never graduated. He comes from a very varied background, born in Tehran, studying in Paris, plus a year in the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Currently Pierre is working at his studio at London Bridge, he tells me “I am trying to find where I am in the fashion industry, I make everything myself, naturally if I had more tools, I can do something even more amazing”.

It’s a tough life for a designer and it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Pierre as he has faced many hurdles in his career but his positive out look on life seems to have got him to where he is today, “99.9% of designers never design again. Fashion is constantly advancing; your job is not to moan if something happens to you, your job is to learn so you can use it for your next step in life. Hurdles are good for you so you can learn”.

Pierre is a man of many skills also trying his hand at photography and painting but his heart lies with fashion, “you choose your tools, I chose clothes”. On the occasions I have met Pierre he always has a smile on his face and I am always made to feel welcome and comfortable in his company. He tells me, “life is short, enjoy every single day, if you’re in a positive mood naturally I see things in life you wouldn’t see if you were not. I get inspired by everything. Your job is to get inspired”.

In New York Pierre has worked with many big names including the Sex in the City girls and Naomi Campbell. He is currently working on his next collection following a very successful show during London Fashion Week. “I am not trying to shock people, I am no longer a young designer, there is fine line between show and fashion”.

Living the life of a successful designer I would expect him to be inundated with invites to parties and social events. His idea of a good night out is that, “first of all you have to be yourself in order to enjoy yourself you will be presenting someone you are not and that will backfire. Go with the flow, enjoy yourself”.

Lastly Pierre tells me his heartening philosophy for life, “Nobody is useless, everybody has something to offer, your job is to find that beauty and use it in your life”. I close my notebook and put down my pen and all of a sudden he starts to tell me about the cat that has been sitting next to me throughout our chat curiously staring at me. “Her name is Chloe, she lived all her life in fashion houses. If you could talk to her she would have an American accent”.

(Photograph by Ani Lam)

SuperSuper Shoot

As a part of my degree course we had to organise our own photoshoot.
I designed mine for Super Super magazine and got an insight as to
how hard but at the same time how fun doing your own photoshoot was!




















































Photography - Rachel Povey
Model - Katie Allen

The Season of Tricky Trends

HAREEM PANTS












They reminds me of the maxi dress- hard to pull off but when someone does it they do it good! If you do manage to find the perfect pair here are some tips to make them look catwalk material;
- tuck in your top to define your waist
- wear a tight top and tailored jacket on top
- if you do go for baggy on top make sure its cinched in with a belt
- HIGH HEELS

These ones are from asos.com












CROP TOPS
Girls, start slapping that fake tan on your tums, cos crop tops are back! But fear not, the way to wear them this season is with a high waisted skirt/trousers, or if your brave enough..the hareem pants! Lady GaGas done it and so has Cheryl Cole..so if they can..






River Island do a cute minnie mouse crop top or for a classic easy to wear crop top try this American Apparel basic.












COLOUR BLOCKING
Think loud and proud. You can do this trend in a number of ways using colours from the same family such as bright pinks with vivid fuchsias. Or you can mix it up using contrasting colours to really salute the colour blocking trend- go for deep purples with firey oranges..and to finish the look add a contrasting shoe or handbag.

THE JUMPSUIT
These can run the risk of looking frumpy but if worn with ultra high heels this risk is hugely reduced! This trend is versatile and can be dressed up or down with the right accessories. Topshop do the best range of jumpsuits on the highstreet in my opinion. Or try this Miss Selfridge cute halter neck jumpsuit.

NUDES
As seen in the SS/09 collections of Nina Ricci, Hermes, Derek Lam, Stelle McCartney, Donna Karen and many others, nudes are most definatly in. The key to working this trend is to wear a nude colour different to your own skin tone, i.e. if you have pale skin wear darker shade of nude. Layer up pieces of the same tone or wear a few different tones.





This American Apparel dress is sexy, fun and flirty and can be worn on a night out with a pair of bright heels or dressed down with a cardigan and pretty pumps.

WE NOW DO SIZE 16! :O

A topic most of us feel very strongly about – the media’s portrayal of how women should look. There has always been pressure from the media for women to be the slim, cellulite free, perfect woman. The truth is these catwalk models are that skinny because that is their life- their job is to be skinny. New incredible photos of Victoria Beckham have recently been released advertising the new women’s range of Emporio Armani underwear. She ran nine miles a day for six months to slim down for the sexy lingerie shoot. The 34-year-old former Spice Girl - who is frequently criticized for being too thin - reportedly embarked on a strict exercise regime in preparation- something busy mums and career women simply do not have the time or money for, so although Vic looks flawless, it is unrealistic.




I have never really given a great deal of thought about this topic as I am a natural size 8 and there are always a million size 8s when I go shopping so have never felt the frustration of not being able to find something in my size. However, I went shopping with a friend recently who is a beautifully perfect and happy size 16-18. We were shopping for something for her to wear and hit Topshop on Oxford Street. We saw so many lovely clothes that would have looked amazing on her but we did not find one item of clothing above size 14- even to find a 14 was rare. I thought it was a disgrace and it made me so angry that curvy women should be made to feel like this.


The average size for a woman in the UK is a size 14-16 yet high street shops order a greater amount of size 8-10s leaving larger healthy girls feeling as though they are abnormal thus feeling the pressure to lose weight. I work part time in a very well known high street shop and know from first hand that their clothes are not designed for girls over size 14. There is sometimes the odd size 16 and have signs everywhere saying, “We now do size 16!” Err hello?! They should be doing it anyway! The high street need to think of all body shapes giving everyone the chance to look fashionable and feel as fabulous as they are. As Gok Wan would say, girlfriend you are fierce just the way you are!

"Are You Screwing Me!?"

“There was an attempt to recapture a sense of working class solidarity and identity in the face of a tide of social change”. Bill Osgerby.


Forget the swinging, glamorous sixties it was more swinging for each other on the council estates of England. For the working class, thanks to “Lady” Margret Thatcher, life was tough and people became tough. Skinheads were looked upon as the modern day “chav”. Shorter hair also meant shorter tempers. The Ben Sherman shirt was the Burberry of the time. Levis jeans, small turn ups, doc martin boots, Ben Sherman shirt with braces was the uniform and the shirt you wore symbolised your status. This trend represented something only you and your mates knew about- you were part of a gang, you belonged.

Skinhead culture emerged in the early/mid 1960s as a result of two changes in British culture and society at the time. Firstly, the Mod scene which had begun to split into the middle class Mods who were able to carry on buying the latest Carnaby Street clothes and fashionable haircuts, whereas the working class Mods could not afford to - so they became creative. The "hard Mods" emerged with shaved hair, tight jeans, braces, and work boots - based on the typical style of British workingmen at the time. At the same time, there was an influx of Jamaican immigration to London bringing with them rude boy culture, reggae and ska. Many of them went to work in London’s docks and lived in the working class communities of London’s East End.


Skinhead attire lives on with Marc Jacobs incorporating braces into his S/S 07 collection. Raf Simons now collaborates with Fred Perry producing clothes inspiring a whole new generation. Neil Barrett’s S/S 07 collection combined elements from the city of London, with skinhead attitude. Fashion in London today anything goes, if you saw a “skinhead” it most probably wouldn’t conjure up the same feeling as it would have in the sixties, speaking stereotypically we have our very own modern day skinhead nowadays – the ‘hoodie’....well, at least their heads are warm.

BEST DRESSED OF 2008 (according to me!)

1. KATY PERRY -without a dout would go on my top spot. Her dress sense is what fashion is all about- creative, fun and daring.


























2. CHERYL COLE- Matthew Williamsons new best friend, XFactor for me this year became less about the singers and more about what Cheryl would be wearing that week. She consistantly looked effortlessly stunning with her princess smile and pulling off just about every trend going from leopard print to PVC and gorgeous LBDs...grrrr jealous?..me?...DEFINATLY!!

























3. SARAH JESSICA PARKER/CARRIE BRADSHAW ofcorse! No best dressed list is complete without our American friend. We waited patiently for the Sex in the City movie and we certainly wern't dissapointed with her giant scrunchie dress, sensational wedding dress every girl dreams of and who could forget the giant flower and Alexander McQueen dress on the red carpet..shes not one to do things by half!

























4. SARAH HARDING an usual choice maybe but everything she wears I love! I think her style is quirky and edgy and whenever shes pictured she always looks like shes having fun with it..my kind of girl!


















5. DAVID BECKHAM in those Emporio Armani pants..*drools* enough said.





















6. BETH DITTO its not about what you wear but how you wear it and she certainly prooves that. Beth has fun with what she wears and doesn't take herself too seriously. She wowed the crowds at the Brits in her snazzy Lycra jumpsuit.

























7. AGYNESS DEYN you knew it was coming, I tried to avoid being so predictable but she is just amazing! She brought punk fashion back into Vogue and her quirky style won me over.





















8. RACHEL ZOE stylist to the stars but also knows how to dress pretty damn good herself!

The Streets are your Catwalk

I have always been inspired by street style and for a while now I’ve been looking more into what people wear in on the streets of the major cities around the world. Call me a little bias but I have to say London street style is by far the most innovative, inspirational and colourful. The definition of fashion to the people of London tends to be individualism, shopping vintage to find something different that no one else has. They use a mish-mash of trends to create their own individual style. With the London College of Fashion based in Oxford Street, Vogue House on Hanover square and shops for all budgets from Prada to Primark, it is hardly surprising the world looks to London for fashion.