Writers un-block

It's been too long since I wrote for fun. And I know to some (perhaps most) people that will sound incredibly lame but I do, and have always, loved to write. Several times recently I've been asked how and when I decided I wanted to work in fashion, and to write. The truth is I honestly don't know.

From day one I would always carry fistfuls of crayons around and I was writing stories before I could walk, even to this day I'm still much better at the former. Then as I got older, I was fascinated by seeing my Dad always writing, granted where he debated the best router for building sheds, I pen the crucial debate of heels or flats. But we both love creating things with words, playing with as many adjectives as possible so each word leaps off the page… I'm already getting carried away.

But the point is that of late, with so many commitments to my internships and to work and to my impending final year hand ins, I've neglected writing about the things I love. So I'm going to go back to doing so, starting with a little recap from Summer.

While most of my friends disappeared back to Cheshire for a long break of sunning and catching up on the year we'd spent in various corners of the country, I decided to spend my four months working. The last time we spoke, my first month at Armani had flown by, and the following two only went faster. From monitoring the press coverage across mens collections and couture, to orchestrating the Armani looks for some of the biggest August and September issue shoots for Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, GQ and Esquire, my network became alight with new connections and as the end of June rolled around I was heartbroken to be leaving my beloved team at Armani. Will, the press co-ordinator and I remain incredibly good friends, having grown exceptionally close and Lara, who is now senior press officer for McQueen womenswear accessories, and I met for the fondest catch up last week over goji berry waters and superfood salads, the brain food that got us through a sleepless week of organising the PoP remix shoot!

From there, I left for Stylist, the weekly style paper handed out across major cities in the UK every Wednesday morning. Madness consumed the office from morning till night, and the fast paced weekly never slept as we finished putting together the bumper September issue and Christmas gift guide for the big December issue, whilst continuing to produce shoots and all the fashion content for all the other weeklies. We tended to work three weeks in advance and my role varied from assisting on shoots, to processing returns, to call in for red carpet events, to researching new products for 'The Style List'. The three weeks I spent there flew by in a blur and it was quickly time to move on. I was then introduced to Linh, the incredibly talented Junior Fashion Ed at Harper's Bazaar and was delighted to join the team there for a month. Again assisting the fashion team meant lots of call ins, credits for the November and December issues as well as researching for online pieces. The team was infectious and all so wonderfully talented, seeing each shoot come to life day by day reminded me why I wanted to do fashion in the first place.

Sporting the AW Saint Laurent's 

 December Shop Bazaar, Styled by Linh Ly and assisted by me

 My final placement took me to InStyle and I was instantly thrown into the deep end. Arriving on Tuesday Lulu, the senior fashion assistant and now a great friend of mine and I pulled solid 14 hour days in the run up to the December issue shoot with Jessie J from organising her ryder, to sorting the edit, which included 38 pairs of shoes into cases look by look and ensuring everything was in order in the fashion cupboard. The issue is now out to buy and it's so exciting seeing many of the shoots and stories I compiled and worked on with the team in the issue. Again it was many long days of liaising with PR's, securing samples for up to four shoots at a time, all on top of fashion week schedules and outfit call ins, credits and transcriptions. But the team once again were incredible, and I was delighted to be able to work with Robyn, the Shopping Editor and one of the most incredibly talented stylists I've ever worked with.

And with that, October rolled around and it was time to swap my intern boots for my London College of Fashion boots and head back for final year. A little exhausted but excited to be getting final year out of the way I said goodbye for now to the amazing teams I had met over the summer with promises of Aperol Spritz and Pizza pilgrims trips closing every email.  

I've been asked so much for this, so I'm promising the next post will be full of advice especially for those looking to do the same.

 I also promise it won't be seven months before the next post!

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Fashion Internships and Week One at Armani HQ

Fashion internships are one of those things that divide opinion almost right down the middle. Some say it's slave labour, exploiting passionate students without offering any stability or promise of a future. While others say it's an invaluable opportunity that gives you an insight into one of the worlds richest and most glamorous industries and allows you to begin paving your future. I simply see it as a right of passage.

But like with any new job, I was nervous to be starting my first day in a new office. It's always intimidating being the new girl, and with going to somewhere as infamous as, Armani I was expecting cold shoulders, even colder words and a constant demand for the coffee run. In fact I was sort of dreading it.

But I couldn't have been more wrong.

Everyone in the office is friendly, welcoming and most importantly really eager and passionate about the company. The PR department, which is where I will be calling home for the next three months, is in the main offices, next to VIP relations, marketing, HR, customer services and even the UK director. Everyone is eager to make a good impression and in turn make sure every area of the company is at its best.

I jumped straight into work, with a week shadowing Amy, the current PR intern who finished her term at the end of the week. She admits there's days been days she was ready to never return to the office again, but at the same time assured me it's been the best and most valuable three months of her life.

From packing and delivering invitations for the impending press day, to monitoring and sending samples to shoots across the world, to sitting in on VIP meetings with A listers, every moment of my first week was different, crazy and exciting.

And soon enough it was Friday. With a busy week of press day fun ahead, I was looking forward to a couple of days of recuperation before I begin one of the most important weeks in the Armani calendar alone.

Even in the first week, I have grown and learnt incredible amounts and am excited to see what is to come in the upcoming months. 

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Spring Sunshine and a little celebration

It's rare for me to find myself with an almost-clear weekend ahead. But with the promise of blissful sunshine and a schedule with only a handful of things to do on it, I was looking forward to some down time. I don't get to spend enough time in our gorgeous apartment, and we certainly don't get to spend enough time out on the balcony. So as the sun began to set, it was the perfect opportunity to catch the last of the rays with some of my favourite reading.

The next morning I woke to some incredibly exciting news. I had been accepted into the internship programme with the fashion department at The Independent and would be spending a few weeks there over the summer.

Ever since I can remember I've wanted to be a writer, I loved writing as a child and was forever scribbling in books. It was much more recently that I decided I wanted to work in fashion. There's a lot of stigma around the kind of person you have to be, or become, to work in fashion but through my experience the majority repel all of these stereotypes indefinitely. So to be gaining experience with The Independent is something both exciting and incredibly nerve-wracking. But it is also recognition of the last four years of studying, interning and working in the industry and a really exciting step… so it would have been rude not to have started the day with a cosmopolitan.

Pippa returned mid morning and eager to join in the celebrations. We lapped up the sun drinking, blogging and drinking some more. Since it's just been Pippa and I in the flat we've become like conjoined twins. When I first moved to London, Pippa was the first friend I made. Our rooms were next door to each other in the flat and every homesick tear, hungover breakfast and late night movie we shared together.

We spent two blissful days enjoying the sun with little obligation, only popping inside to get another bottle or recharge the Beyonce megamix, giggling hysterically at nothing at all and making lists of hilarious things we need to never forget. I won't however, be publishing those.

I've got a new dream dress. It was a steal I saw my favourite blogger thelondoner wearing on her birthday and I fell in love instantly. Torn between sophisticated black for evening wear, and impractical but bold white for summer days, I eventually went with white. The material is light but the boning in the sweetheart neckline provides structure and support where you need it. The off the shoulder sleeve adds to this too and the scuba skirt adds a girl-next-door innocence. It's the perfect dress for flirting with summer, and is available from the oh my love store, or via ASOS. 

Sadly our weekend of fun had to come to a close, and while I headed to work, Pippa chained herself to her computer as the smell of Monday began to waft into the air. "Dinner?" Pippa text me no more than twenty minutes after I had left the house. Of course I wasn't going to turn down that offer. 

I rushed home and we headed over to The Phene. While it's frequent spotlight on Made In Chelsea may tarnish this place with a brush dripping in snobbery, this couldn't be further from the reality. The Phene is homely and welcoming and the heated garden covered in fairy lights is the perfect setting for date night or a catch up with the girls. We started with our favourite grape juice, before quickly ordering. I chose a Sunday roast while Pippa opted for the Seabass. We arrived quite late on a Sunday and many dishes were unavailable. This was no problem to us, and the staff were so apologetic and accommodating, making my roast especially for me. 

Dinner arrived exactly how I like it and we were quick to tuck in. The menu is simple, but executed with delicious expertise. Too full for dessert, we quickly migrated to the garden to enjoy the last of our wine and sit among the beautiful setting. With a big interview ahead for the following day, Pippa and I returned home for an early night. 

The following day I had the biggest interview of my life, for an internship position at the esteemed Giorgio Armani. Petrified but prepared, I made my way to the sixth floor of the building and awaited my meeting. The offices are as sleek as the women who grace their floors and I was immediately intimidated. I've always thrived off my nerves but with this interview I was convinced I would crumble.  So when I heard the press co-ordinator saying they'd love me to start next monday as she extended her hand to shake mine, I couldn't quite believe it. While my passion has always been in journalism, I'm eager to gain some PR experience, and in a luxury fashion house nonetheless.

Monday is now 48 hours away and the nerves are beginning to kick in. There is so much conversation around fashion internships being paid or unpaid, but it is a right of passage anyone serious about a career in fashion has to go through and I promise to keep you updated as to what I'm doing.

I couldn't wait to share my news with my beloveds, and raced home to tell Pippa, who was almost as excited as I was. "LETS CELEBRATE" she said, boots already on. And where better than my favourite place on earth? Sushisamba is the natural choice.

We enjoyed a french martini overlooking the incredible London skyline and toasting to the coming weeks. It is so easy to take everything I have now for granted but I've come such a long way from the shy young girl dreaming of a career in fashion two years ago, to the occasionally outspoken and determined young professional about to begin one of the most competitive jobs in the industry.

It's difficult closing certain chapters of your life, and that's what all the girls and I appear to have done this week. But its time to begin a new one, and I can't wait.

The dream dress can be found here:http://www.ohmylovelondon.com/papa-dont-preach-cream-off-the-shoulder-skater-dress
All information on The Phene: http://www.thephene.com

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