rhythm really is a dancer

I know this may seem a little bit late considering the Olympics finished a good 2 weeks ago, but was everyone not completely captivated by the rhythmic gymnast’s leotards?! The glitter, the swirls, even the seemingly uncomfortable crotch areas looked glamorous! I always found the idea of gymnastics enthralling, and completely resent my father for not sending me off to ballet classes at the tender age of 4. However, the outfits this year really were the cherry on top of a fantastic performance by all the countries competing (if only they could teach me how to bend back like a branch, that would be fantastic...)

(images courtesy of yes...Google.)

TEACH ME YOUR WAYS OH FLEXIBLE ONES!!

fashion internships

image c/o couturing.com

For someone that’s just graduated from university, I find myself pretty lucky. I have a part time job that, although isn’t in my desired sector as of yet, provides me with a substantial income. I also live at home, which means that I don’t have to spend hundreds of pounds on bills and rent each month (plus I get to have two hour showers and lots of yummy Polish food cooked for me.....IAMNOTSPOILT). However, there comes a time when a graduate decides they’ve had enough of meaningless retail jobs and serving pervy men drinks at bars and starts to focus on their long term career goals. In an area such as fashion, internships are vital. High end fashion retailers or magazines won’t even glance at your CV unless you’ve worked your butt off serving coffee and answering the phone for at least three different companies. Yes, sadly that is what most fashion internships are. You are the bitch. Despite this, young girls all over London are scuttling around begging to be ‘bitches’, and being scrutinized for not ordering the correct latte (I said decaf SOYA latte with caramel flavouring!?!) The fact is, the world of fashion is glamorous indeed – the catwalks, the after parties and the outfits all seem alluring to the average teenager, but you have to work damn hard to get your foot in the door. From that, it seems that internships and work experience are the way to go in such a competitive industry *insert sad face*.

So, I’ve put together this little list of things that you should know when applying for internships so that you're aware of all the ups and downs :)

Know what to expect

Although it seems obvious, many interns aren’t involved in a lot of hands on stuff unless they really think you’re up to it. Most of your day will probably be spent sorting through papers and post, making coffee and performing general runner duties. Although there are occasions where you will get involved in a lot more ‘fashiony’ tasks, don’t walk in there expecting to be writing articles by day two. Remember, they’re doing you a favour, not the other way round.

Research!

You don’t want to start working at Elle expecting to be showered with free gifts and a lovely cheque at the end of the month for all your hard work. Unfortunately for us budding fashionistas, most internships are unpaid. However many companies may offer to cover travel and lunch expenses, which is pretty decent of them considering. Either way, swat up on the company and the job role so you don’t get unpleasantly surprised.

Give, Get Given

If you showed dedication and enthusiasm irrelevant of the task during your placement, the company may want to take you on for a full time position. Although this is very rare, it’s great to leave a lasting impression - when a potential employer contacts them for a reference, they will be more than pleased to recommend such a star intern as yourself (cue the hair flick). Complete all tasks with a smile (even if it is getting shouted at down the phone by an angry designer) and you will be granted with a shiny new set of industry contacts. Woop!

I know it all seems a bit negative, but remember, internships are supposed to be a fun way of experiencing what your potential job sector will feel like, so work hard but above all, enjoy it! No matter how many cover letters I write, I still get excited at the prospects because I know it’s what I am driven to do. Anyway, I hope this hasn’t completely put a damper on your mood! Maybe I’m just PMS’ing...(or been staring at the computer screen all day)...

wiw: festival fever

Hey guys! Seeing as festival season is in full swing I thought I'd do a quick post to show you what I wore to Lovebox! Hope you enjoy the outfit as much as I enjoyed getting it dirty (fell headfirst into the mud even before we were let in, hence the brown tinged socks..)

Excuse the squint, for the slight moment the sun actually came out that day, it managed to blind me. From looking at this outfit now, I realise that I am complete tramp! In other words, the most expensive item of clothing I'm wearing are my boots, which were a mere £20. The shorts are my current favourite item of clothing - a birthday present from my friends (I seem to have a complete obsession with America, so this was an easy and gorgeous choice for a gift). The top is originally from H&M, but as I never buy anything full price (ever), I ebayed it for about 2 quid. Socks and bag, Primark of course. Oh and the headband? £1 from Topshop. WINNER!

Hope everyone is having a lovely summer. I just got back from Cornwall and am incredibly miserable. :(

graduation blues

Hello, fellow bloggers, and sorry!! After 2 months of absence, I have finally returned from a world of tear-stained essays, bottomless cups of (decaf) coffee and loooong nights in the library banging my head against the table. Despite a bruised head, my fingers have returned feeling after typing continuously, and I have finally had a shower. Yes, I am officially a graduate.

Well, not officially, I haven't actually graduated yet. But on the 26th of July, I will be proud to announce that I have completed a Bachelors degree in English Literature. Bring on the trumpets!

Soooo...um..what next? Yes, that is the question many graduates are asking themselves every single day. Did your body really deserve all those cans of Red Bull, and if so, is your now apparent bone deficiency asking you whether it was worth it? It is clear that a degree can seem like a nice, shiny addition to the standard CV, and yet only a rather small percentage of graduates actually receive a job that is related to their degree. And so the trumpets die down....and I find myself scouring the job center website for sales assistant positions in Tesco. Did I really pay £3000 a year so I could stack shelves and deal with grumpy customers with body odor?

My current part time job is in Hollister. No, I'm not a model, no, I don't live on the beach and no, I can't get you discount. I actually work in the back, with all the awesome people. Yes, my friends. It is us who do all the hard work of pulling stock and running up and down the stairs; did you see that blur of mousy brown hair behind the tanned girl with the huge white teeth? That was me, checking if we have your blue dress in a size 0.0001. Although the job is flexible, easy, and the people are great, it isn't the picture I had in my head when I dreamed up my ideal job (think Zac Efron's personal shopper...or bed maker...or pant zipper). My ultimate career choice is actually steering towards the Fashion Journalism route (I know right?!). Like many fashion related career paths, it is one full of competition, fakery, and being treated like poo before you are recognized. Whilst most jobs consider a degree as the decision maker when hiring someone, fashion relies a lot more on personal experience within the industry, whether that be part time jobs, internships, or voluntary work. The sad thing is, not many companies will even consider anyone unless they have experience...but how are you meant to gain experience when no experience = no job? *insert angry face*

While ten or fifteen years ago a Bachelor's degree would get you a job in an instant, companies are now more drawn to the CV's with Masters/PhD degrees. That means more education, more money and more essays. Are people really ready to move into even higher education to gain a job in their desired sector? I was actually considering a Masters after graduating purely because I thought it would improve my chances of getting a fashion related job. I understand doctors and psychologists, who's PhD's are essential to their progress, but will a Master's in Fashion History and Culture really help me on my way to becoming a journalist, or will I end up ripping the remainder of my hair out due to excessive amounts of work and additional dissertations?

I don't know if I will ever know whether my degree was worth it, but for now, I am enjoying relaxing in the sun, drinking plenty of milkshakes (soya, of course), and generally loving life. I can finally read a book without having to analyze why the protagonist decided to take a shit. Yay for me.

Hope everyone is having an awesome summer! (It has literally just started raining. I resent you, London.)