THE MOVE TO LONDON : WITH A VIEW

The view 20 seconds away from my apartment!

As a lot of my friends, close friends and certainly family have known for a number of years that I have wanted to make the move to London for some time now. Mid last year it was getting to the stage where I was thoroughly unhappy with my surroundings at the time and I just kept planning the next step in my head but not doing anything about it. I've been told and realised that if you want something bad enough then obviously you can't just sit around doddling about it, just get on with it. Unfortunately I was doing exactly that, the move seemed impossible and it felt like I was just banging  my head against a wall time and time again. As everyone knew the main reason why I wanted to move to London was because of my career and to get on with it.

On New Year's Eve last year whilst in Shoreditch House, as midnight struck I had this sudden thought 'you know what 2014 is going to be the best year yet and I will make it to London.' Three weeks later I got a job as a make-up artist at the Topshop Flagship Store in Oxford Street in London, it seemed unreal. In fact, unbelievable. I hadn't got a place to live which meant I knew I had to commute for some time. I hadn't let anything get in my way beforehand so I certainly wasn't going to let this be the problem. Moving on, I commuted five days a week for seven weeks backwards and forth from Cambridge, finishing at 9.30 at night and not actually getting home until midnight, 9 hours later I would be on the train back to London going to work.

The next stress was finding a place to live (when someone says moving is one of the most stressful times in your life, they are exactly right) I hadn't ever been so stressed, from commuting and then being under pressure of having a time limit to move was slowly killing me. But I finaaaally got somewhere, I couldn't ask for a nicer landlord, apartment and location. I couldn't be happier, I'm in love with this place and I'm gonna work my ass off. If you want something bad enough, stop sitting around waiting for it to happen and go and get it. It just shows anything is possible.   

WISHLIST // APPROACHING 2014

Update //

After nearly two months of not blogging I've managed to squeeze in this post on my day off.

- My beauty shoot finally took place
- I turned 20 end of November, partaaay!
- Shoot in Hackney for designer Meagan Wellman
- Receiving gifts such as Chanel & Victoria's Secret
- My view from the studio in London
- My first publication landed in Olive Zine Magazine last month (page 98+)

W I N T E R | W I S H L I S T

London Fashion Week September 2013

London Fashion Week soon came around and soon disappeared! Over the past four days some of the collections which I managed to catch up on for SS14 are so overwhelming. I managed to catch a glimpse of some of the 'upcoming' models and faces of LFW for 2013, such as, Chey Carty, Rebecca Horn, Rosie Tapner (I've seen a lot more of this season) and Sanna Backstrom, to name a few. Topshop Unique SS14 I think won me over completely this season, it had some of the best models in the show and the clothes were so lovely. The beach babe, 'glamourous, tanned' look, with the crisp white shirt which, I couldn't take my eyes off. Jourdan Dunn strutting down the catwalk in a floor-length purple maxi dress, a lot of the collection focused on moody blue's, green and grey's, then switching to warm peach and crisp white. The make-up I have seen this season on MAC's instagram has completely wowed me! The use of BB and CC creams were very popular backstage, adding more attention to Spring/Summer's growing glitter trend. This season I noticed a lot the skin being fresh and dewy, eyebrows brushed back with gel, finishing with a burgundy lip. The make-up for Vivienne Westwood's Spring/Summer 2014 Red Label definitely made a statement with zombie-like make-up. 

I eventually managed to go to my first show at London Fashion Week on Monday, with one of my close friends Lyndsey. We had passes to see the KTZ SS14 show, which at first, didn't hit me how established KTZ actually is. His style in his collections aren't my sort of thing but it was definitely inspiring to witness. It was so out there, said to take his inspiration from a spiritual and cultural landscape. His collection for SS14 included headwraps, veils, geometric floral prints (which were amazing), oversized studs and statement jewellery. KTZ's use of patterning, layering and the fusion of urban contemporary caught my attention, in the right way for my first show-experience at London Fashion Week. The weather was so dull which I think put a strain on a lot of people's moods at Somerset House, but it didn't stop people go crazy with their style. I was rather star-struck at a lot of other people's style, it was like being in fashion heaven. It's the most inspiring place.

After the KTZ show had finished we took a wonder around the designer show rooms which again, was out of this world. There were a lot of jewellery, embellished handmade garments and accessories which I fell in love with.. especially when it comes down to me and jewellery. A specific necklace, made from a jewellery designer caught my eye, it was a detailed chunky piece embellished with gold and a peach colour, something which you would most likely see in a Dolce and Gabbana ad, and at £275 it definitely made me want it more. Stepping asisde.. my next focus is now on London Fashion Week in February next year!

Liebster Award

I've been nominated by the lovely Helen Hird for a Liebster award. It's such a nice feeling knowing what you blog is appreciated, read and now up for a nomination!

 

Questions from Helen HirdHow would you describe your blog in 3 words?
Inspirational (I hope), creative and complex.

What other blogger inspires you most?
Basing it around make-up I would probably have to say up-coming make-up artist Karla Powell.

Apart from blogging what do you like to do in your spare time?
See as many of my best friends as possible when neither of us are working! Never putting make-up down, practicing make-up on my friends and myself, organizing shoots, visiting London as much as I can, clothes shopping, and the occasional drink to relax!

What is your dream job?
Haha everyone should/will know this. To be a successful make-up artist in the fashion industry, to work behind all the fashion weeks, travel the world and to work with huge names such as Karl Lagerfeld, Mario Testino and Pat McGrath to name a few.

How long have you been blogging?
Since about February this year. I waited until I attended something very exciting (London Fashion Week) for it to be my first blog post.

What are your 3 favorite brands?
Top 3 has to be Chanel, MAC and Dolce & Gabbana.

Who is your hero?
I can't say I have a 'hero' as of yet. Maybe ask me in about 10 years.

Who is your favorite designer?
Karl Lagerfeld and Alexander McQueen!

What are you proud of?
Without blowing my own horn I would probably say myself. As I'm only 19 I think I've achieved quite a lot for how young I am and I don't think many 19 year-old's can say that. I'm certainly proud of myself and my career hasn't even begun yet!

What is your favorite item of clothing that you own?
Haha this has to easily be my leather trousers. I hardly took them off even through summer (crazy I know!) they're so comfy and anything goes with them.

Which celebrities inspire you with their style?
Most probably Karl Lagerfeld, as I only wear monochrome, I base my style around elegance and simplicty. Anything I piece together may seem really simple but it's all about what works together and, with that I look up to Karl.

On TREND, On TIME

SPRING-SUMMER 2013

AUTUMN-WINTER 2013/2014

I can't believe it's nearly that time of the year again.. London Fashion Week and it's only around the corner! Where has this year gone already. Each time London Fashion Week starts to appear everywhere such as Vogue, Elle, billboards and sponsorships, the preparation for the chaos and pressure, I get stupidly excited as well as every other mixed emotion. I'm sure it's a lot of make-up artist's / designer / photographer's dream to work back stage at London Fashion Week.. and it's certainly always been mine.

With Spring-Summer drawing to a close a lot of this years trends are falling through to Autumn-Winter 2013/2014.  A Rose Bouquet, the palest pinks to warm rosy glows. Head-to-toe in rose tones I definitely think this will be a statement colour for this year. Summer in shade, this season the palette is back to black and it's not going anytime soon! With it's complex pieces seen at Dolce & Gabbana, Stella McCartney, Versace's sheer lace panels and Roberto Cavalli's thigh-high split gowns. Precisely White is still my favorite trend and you certainly can't go wrong with a wardrobe white-out. It looks so simple yet so classy and feminine. This is the start of a blank canvas which can be seen at Valentino, Prada and Celine to name a few. Walk the Line stamped on zig-zags, stripes and chevrons which may seem a little daunting, if you add the right accessories - monochrome bangles, gold or candy stripes you can pull this off perfectly.

With Autumn/Winter not that far away, we start off with a few trends which have been and will still be a big hit on the catwalk. The Rise of the Oversize, has previously been fur, leather and trench coats and following into this year the beautiful pale pinks are on trend with nothing but oversized. Spotlight on the Skirt has been a big on-trend over the spring/summer this year and with it's knee-length, bold statement pieces you can't go wrong. To monochrome, floral, or just plain and simple skirts. Woman's Realm is definitely the silhouette this year, with it's elegant flare out skirts, breast-hugging bodices, clenched in waists and grown-up curves, it has womanly charms written all over it. 

Darkness

I've still kept it simple through this weather with monochrome which includes a light oversized jacket from ASOS, a crisp white vintage blouse added with a white & gold spike necklace by Topshop, leather trousers, heeled sandals and lastly the snakeskin backpack also by Topshop.

IMATS - LONDON 2013

Anglia Ruskin Fashion Show 2013