LFW, Shopping Haul, Interview Nerves

 London Fashion Week
Guys and Gals, keep your peepers open for my future blog posts on LFW. I've been here, there and everywhere about London this weekend and I'm super knackered (but not too tired to hit the shops...cheeky). So I'll be writing up my LFW tit bits when I have stopped having the time of my life in the big smoke and have time to sit down and think it all out. Heres a quick sneaky peek:

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Interview

In other news, I have an interview Wednesday morning for an internship in the PR department at Benetton! And its an actual proper atleast 3 month position rather than just work experience! And.... It.... Is.... PAID. These are gold dust in the fashion world, with most companies treating you like lackies rather than nurturing you as a prospective employee and bother to value your time with a wage. I am super ecstatic about the fact that it is PAID. AAAAH. Not only because it will make me seem like an actual employee, but it means I will be able to afford the £450 monthly cost of commuting from Brighton. My stretched (to say the least) overdraft will certainly breathe a sigh of relief.

There would be nothing I want more than to intern in the PR department at Benetton, because I am sooooo eager to use my degree and skills I've developed from my previous internships. Ultimately, it'll be a real foothold on the career ladder and a step towards achieving my dream of working in the industry, rather than just another period of fruitless slaving with no real reward or recognition other than another bullet point on ones CV.

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Shopping

So today I was a very bad girl. The aforementioned shopping trip resulted in some most enjoyable purchases and fun times. Also visited Republic today, sad times as it finally breathed its last and fell into administration last week. Pretty sure the Brighton store is going to close even if the chain is saved, as all of the stock is being flogged big time. Thanks to Drapers I knew it was only a matter of time but its still sad to see another British company crack under the strain. Might do a little blog post on it, as it is such a massive issue, for those wanting to make it in the industry, aswell as hardcore shoppers who have to watch their hunting ground shrink by the day.
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Anyways I digress.
Back to the enjoyable purchases:

Attitude Stone Stud Boot, £48, Miss Selfridge.
(Btw for some reason my iPhone is playing me up, hence the sideways photos. Sorry for the spin out. Damn you technology.)
I live and die in my trust white converse trainers, so to finally find some boots that fit and are on trend is a total blessing and shock. Now I can be fashionable and super comfy, its win win! They look fab with skinny jeans (my other wardrobe staple) and since theyre beige and a nice short length they will look wicked with a summer dress a la festival Kate Moss when the sun decides to grace us with its presence once more. The gold detailing, with the teeny tiny smattering of studs and spikes is so me, and adds a touch of glamour and interest. This style of dune boote were a massive hit last summer with the fash pack, so heres hoping for another glorious reign of some comfy fashionable shoes. Amen to that.
All sizes are still in stock you'll be happy to here. Both instore and online. Go Go Go!

 Bowler, £7.99. Nail Varnish £2.99
Also in my shopping back of happiness was this cute bowler hate and gold flake nail varnish both from H&M. I love love loveeeee the bowler. Whilst I certainly do not have a face for sunglasses I do have a face that suits hats. Why not make the most out of this small blessing by purchasing trendy headwear I asked myself, and thus brought myself a bowler. Abit quirky, abit Brighton, I have a feeling the bowler is gonna be big next season as a cooler alternative to other hats like the fedora and Indiana Jones style hat. The nail varnish is a big hit in the Maskell household. Especially lovely over beige and pastel shades, it really pops and has a nice combo of small and big flakes to give abit of interest. Lovellyyyyy.
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All in all, quite a budget trip (thanks to expired student discount, gift cards and staff discount) and its good to know I'll for sure get cost per wear too. Good times all round one may say.
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As I said earlier, keep your eyes and ears peeled and ready for my posts on LFW coming soon!
x

A sneak peek at my Bedside Table

Kinda like 'whats in my handbag' but with a lamp involved. Thought I would share the acutely stereotypical feminine statement that is my bedside table. I was sitting in bed last night when happened to look over and was crushed by the epiphany of just how much of a massive cliche I am. Every possible girly item is crammed onto that small surface- shiny jewellery, pretty flowers, generic Eiffel tower, shiny shiny lamp, reflective tiny boxes to keep pointless rubbish in, big fake flowers, fashion mag and of course my lifeblood, my crutch, my love.... a tin of Vaseline. Take a look see:

This explosion of girlyness is compounded by my sickeningly baby pink wallpaper which also has metallic gold patterns inscribed upon it. Just to make it that more cute. As much as I want to spit on this veritable cornucopia of cute pinkness and denounce it as both frivolous and a complete caricature of what a woman's room should be like, well I can't. Because its me. And I happen to like the colour pink, shiny things and pretty aesthetics because they make me happy and content. Like a bedazzled soft cashmere lined womb (with pretty jewellery included as standard). So there. Take that the patriarchy.

For those who also want it to look like a unicorn vomited all over their bedroom:

 the lamp was like a fiver from Dunelm Mill, The boxes are vintage cigar cases from ebay and Vivienne Westwood, the jewellery stand is from Urban Outfitters, The fake flowers were a quid each from Tiger, The coaster I stole from a swanky London bar, Necklace from New Look limited collection and the creepy eye was from Kos. The country, not the extortionately priced retail sister of H&M.

Just a note, Drapers is a super informative and interesting weekly look at fashion from an industry perspective. Essential reading for anyone wishing to get their foot in the door (eventually god willing) of this illusive and notoriously tricky sector. 

They're got some great reduced subscription offers on at the moment so take advantage!

£40 quarterly (12 issues)

£175 per year (50 issues)

£75 per year (50 issues) special student rate

Click here to subscribe and for more info.

I'm tempted to do 'whats in my handbag' but things would certainly not look as chic as my bedside table. Alas, the dirty little secret that I casually sling over my shoulder daily is not filled with rainbows and smiles, but dozens of receipts for sausage rolls, tampons, 5ps, milky way buttons, about 10 old lipglosses and what can only be described as a collected general detritus lining the bottom. I have a horrible feeling it is a combination of left over chocolate from Easter, mixed with spilt vodka, festering orange juice, candle wax and cat hair. Might steer WELL clear of that one then...

'Shit Fashion Girls Say'

Whenever I feel slightly morose about my life or perpetual lack of funds to buy shoes, there are certain things I turn to. Cats-doing-cute-things videos on youtube, scented candles, internet shopping, biscuits, Jared Leto, musicals, pampering baths and BLAH BLAH BLAH etc etc etc. The following video is one of those things that never fails to be hilarious time after time. Enjoy:

 The BN1's best bits:

'We're doing like American beauty on a yacht, but tribal... and with a fishtail braid!' >0.16<

'It looked like Forever 21 had vomited all over her' >0.26<

 'OhOhOhh she is totally the Miranda... She is SUCH a Samantha' >0.36<

(The following exchange could literally be a play by play script of many of my conversations) 

'Do I like okay?'

'So amaze'

'You look so chic right now'

'Chic'

'So Chic'

'I know right'

'Mega chic'

'It is like super chic'

>0.43<

'Totes Wang' >0.51<

'She was wearing... Uggs.' >0.59<

'I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!' >1.18<

'Oh my god I'm totally tweeting that' >1.33<

'Hashtag totes amaze' >1.37<

Isn't is just HILARE?! This is truly utter unbridled brilliance in youtube form- racking up more than 1.3 mil viewers, this video is a true viral classic up there with numa numa and angry looking rodent thing. It is so very funny because it manages to capture the zeitgeist and is a timely replica of those working in the industry. The fact that I can clearly see myself in so many of P'trique's witticisms and find it utterly hilarious shows how cleverly written and informed this video is. I think the people that find it the funniest are people who understand and relate to the character; people who simply disregard fashion as a ridiculous preoccupation will just nod chummily, safe in the knowledge that this just affirms their suspicions. In my, admittedly biased, opinion these people are completely missing the point at this self-conscious prod at our own psyche and 'weakness' for a good pair of heels. Its not supposed to be a critique, but a good humoured mocking of how very silly we can look when discussing the completely foul nature of the devils shoe- the ugg boot. Lets all just watch and giggle; safe in the knowledge that its nice and healthy to laugh at ones self.

# TOTES AMAZE GIRLS