POST-GRADUATE LIFE

So thats it! My three short years at University are over!

I honestly cannot believe how fast it has gone. It seems like only yesterday I was packing up my car and waving off my parents ready for a jam-packed freshers week. It's incredibly sad to think that I am officially no longer a student. Whilst I am excited to see what the future holds I am also a little nervous to think that I am now venturing into the big wide world of ADULT LIFE....eek.

Current Update:
After finishing University at the end of May, I moved back home to Derby for a couple of weeks before venturing up to Manchester to start my next placement- a one month paid internship working for Carousel PR. Carousel specialise in consumer PR and they represent a hole host of fashion and lifestyle brands (including Selfridges, Bratz Dolls, Festival No.6 and CurrentBody.com). They are based in  the very swanky MediaCity, near Salford Quays. The building was very professional and located directly next to the ITV and BBC studios. Upon my commute to work I often saw crew members lining up audiences for TV shows (including Jeremy Kyle and a few shows for the CBeebies channel). It was such a fast-paced environment and got a real buzz working there.

Whilst completing my internship I undertook numerous tasks for a whole host of clients. The one thing I do admire about agency work is that you constantly have something to do and everyday is different. An example of some of my daily tasks I did include researching and contacting bloggers for press events, selling campaigns and stories to journalists for potential publicity, hosting competitions and sending prizes to winners, drafting social media posts via Hootsuite and mounting publicity to send to clients.

My favourite part of the job was being apply to apply my own knowledge of bloggers, social media and PR to the job. Working in the fashion, toy and festival sectors meant that I was constantly sourcing parenting, fashion, music and food bloggers. As someone who is obsessed with social media and blogging, I found this task incredibly fun, as I was able to recommend some of the recent blogs I have been reading.

After this internship I have definitely decided that pubic relations is the job role for me. As a tech-head who is obsessed with fashion, blogging and social media I definitely think I can thrive in this creative industry. I loved this placement and the brands they represented, and as a girl who is desperate to work in consumer and lifestyle PR, it was an incredible placement that definitely matched my brand personality.

So now my internship is over I am spending most of my days scouring the internet for more placements or full-time jobs. I have a few festivals lined up so I am taking a bit of a break and enjoying life before being an adult really begins. I am still desperate to work in PR but I am also definitely open to other options as well. If theres anybody out there reading this post that can recommend any good recruitment agencies or entry-level job roles then do let me know!

UPDATE- PAST YEAR, DISNEY & NEW ADVENTURES

It's definitely safe to say that I have certainly neglected my blog in the past year. Due to a very busy summer and third year university commitments, I have scarcely had time to think yet alone keep up to date with writing a blog...

So this post is just a quick update to let you know what I've been doing this past year and what I'm looking to doing in the year ahead.

SO...

Lets start with summer. Possibly the most amazing summer of my life. If you have read previous blog posts you will know that I took part in the 'Disney Cultural Exchange Program' for summer 2015, where I lived and worked at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The program lasted two months and ran from the start of June to the start of August. I worked around 45 hours a week for two months at the busiest time of year. My job role was attractions and I worked in EPCOT on the Journey into Imagination with Figment ride, Captain EO 3D show, and Character Spot (a place where you can meet Mickey, Minnie and Goofy). I rotated around all these different attractions every day, so no day as a cast member was the same. 

So lets cut to the basics.

Yes, it was fantastic. I could visit the theme parks whenever I had spare time. I made so many wonderful friends from all over the world and I got to work in the beautiful heat (very different to working in England). 

But this job was hard. 

And I mean HARD. 

It definitely isn't something for someone who lacks work ethic. The hours are tough, you are told to smile constantly and most of the time you are by yourself in compete control of your surroundings. The application process was incredibly competitive, and after working there I can definitely understand why. They look for candidates who are enthusiastic about Disney, have lots of previous work experience and people who physically look like a "cast member" (so no visible piercings, tattoos or crazy hair colours).   

However, despite the hard work, this job really was amazing. I have returned from Disney a much more maturer person, I met some incredible life-long friends and some memories which will last a lifetime. As a public relations student, this was an incredible experience for me because I got to see hands-on what it was like to work for one of the most reputable companies in the world. I'm so grateful that I was able to experience something like this so early on in my life, it was the opportunity of a lifetime and was definitely worth the money and thorough application process. 

If anyone has any questions about this program please leave a comment below or contact my via Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Tumblr!

After my magical two months at 'the happiest place on earth' I took a month to relax before starting my third and final year of university. Since September I've basically been working non-stop and trying to enjoy university life as much as possible before I venture into the world of work. I am currently writing my dissertation (my chosen topic is Disney, of course) and frantically searching for a job in public relations (ideally in somewhere other than my hometown). I'd really like to embark on my next adventure in a new place with new faces. My chosen destination is currently Manchester, I am in love with the vibe of the city and I would love to live and work somewhere that has a great atmosphere for young people. A fun, quirky agency is definitely preferable for someone like me, so if anyone reading this has anywhere they could recommend for work experience (or who'd hire a grad like me) please let me know!

I am definitely going to try and dedicate more time to this blog. Its a great way for future employers to see how invested I am in writing and fashion, and to see how much of a strong work ethic I have. 

So stay tuned for more blog posts soon.

LCM 2015: MY REVIEW

As the London Collections: Men draws to a close, I looked at the upcoming trends for men for 2015 that have particularly caught my eye.

As a fan of mens fashion and someone who takes mass inspiration for my style through menswear, I always look closely at the upcoming collections to see what may be appearing in my wardrobe this summer and winter.

It is argued that a lot of what gets displayed through Mens runway shows is hardly wearable or even slightly appealing to the average straight man. But nevertheless there will be a few things which I am sure high street designers will tweak to make it sellable to the average fussy fashioned men. But despite this, there is still a few things which I will be loving (and possibly wearing) next season, and I've made a note of a few of them here:

Xander Zhou 

Baggy pants, loose fitting tshirts and slider sandals were all the rage at Xander Zhou SS'15. Although this look may not be the most flattering on the average bulky male, I love these silk pants matched with the high collar long-line blazer. Definitely a trend I'll be following next season.

Topman

Definitely the most shocking look of the season was when Topman (WHO ARE A HIGH STREET STORE) opened their runway show with a Clueless inspired checkered pantsuit. They then continued to bring out more and more models wearing the craziest of garments (which included a seventies style flared jean matched with a cropped floral jacket, and a shearling coat which looked like it had come from David Bowie's wardrobe). I will be baffled if Topman ever release this collection to the mass public, they would certainly have to tone it down completely before bringing it into stores, otherwise expect to see a lot of it in the bargain bin...

Baartmens and Siegel

Possibly one of my favourite collections from LCM, purely because I could generally see a normal UK male wearing half of it. It features a hell of a lot of khaki and navy colours, and consisted of everything from a summer suit to shorts and tshirts. I would love to see men wearing this collection, and I am positive high street stores will be recreating a lot of these looks shown throughout it. I can't wait for their collection with River Island to drop, and I will definitely be hoping that normal men take to it just as well as the fashion forward ones do.

Burberry Prorsum

Every fabric, every style and every colour was basically shown at the Burberry Prorsum AW'15 collection. But there was one thing I noticed which I am hoping gets brought back soon and that is the duffle coat. This was shown with loose fitting t-shirts, cropped trousers and these dodgy flappy hats (which I'm sure will not catch on). Despite this it's about time the duffle coat was brought back for men and I am glad Burberry have done it. I guarantee that these will sell well and I am hoping that the mass high street will bring them to us too.

Moschino

Since Jeremy Scott took over Moschino they have starting featuring menswear within their womenswear collections. What I love about this is the collaboration and pairing between the looks combined with the male and female models. With Scott being as whacky as ever, the SS'15 collection featured a lot of $ signs and black and gold indented into the clothing. If you see yourself as a bit of a Kanye West wannabe and want to give these looks a try then be my guest, but I'm not too sure they'll be catching on to the mass market anytime soon. But congrats to Jeremy Scott for finally bringing the man to Moschino.

Overall it's been a whacky year for LCM 2015. As a PR student I've been astounded by the amount of press it's received over the past week. I really hope menswear collections continue to grow as fashion for men is just as important as fashion for women. I have loved watching this week and how much it is being talked about within the fashion world, let's hope we continue to see this!

BRAND YOURSELF THROUGH FASHION

As a Public Relations student, understanding branding is an industry must. Throughout my degree, it is imprinted into our minds that brand and reputation stand for everything within PR. If you damage your businesses reputation, it'll usually be because you went out of your branding guidelines. This will usually result in crisis management, and if you are an in-house PR, it'll probably be job threatening.

When we think about businesses, certain things usually spring mind. For example, whenever I think of Chanel I usually picture expensive, high-end glamour. I also think of the monochrome CC logo and the chic and tailored clothing they design. This is all because of their branding. To designers like Chanel, branding is everything, and everything they do within the business will be down to their image and reputation within the industry. And who will be behind all of this? The PR's of course.

But it's not just businesses who build themselves up based on their brand image. Celebrities are also classed as 'one big advertisement' because they brand themselves to follow through with an image that people will see. Lady Gaga for example, brands herself through her crazy clothes and whacky stage presence. This is how people view her and how they remember her. This is her brand.

And whether you like it or not, people in society will view and stereotype you. It happens to everyone. Usually people will judge others based on how they look, dress and act, people may disagree with this, but it's how our brains work.

But why should that be an issue? If you want to be a certain way whose to say you can't? If you want to look, dress and act a certain way then do! MAKE IT YOUR BRAND.
Personalising your brand can make you appealing and interesting to future employers. If you want to be known as a kooky girl with a strong personality and crazy dress sense THEN DO IT. It makes you so much more memorable then people with who don't have a powerful personal brand and image.

Being able to understand branding starts with being able to brand yourself. If you are able to come across a certain way and show you understand yourself then businesses will be more likely to employ you. And if they don't? Well then they are the wrong business for you and it's probably a good thing that you don't work for them.

And this brings us back to Public Relations Agencies. There are so many different agencies out there who all have different clients. All these agencies are looking for employers who will be able to fit in with their existing employees, who will understand their clients and be able to respect the reps and brands for each of them.

So if an agency isn't suited towards your look and taste, don't be disheartened...it's probably for the best...x

THE FASHION INDUSTRY VS. MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF

In late December, Twitter and blogs went into meltdown over the supposed news that the quirky and extravagant fashion house of Meadham Kirchhoff was shutting its doors due to lack of financial support. The news appeared in an interview where Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchhoff told Style.com that they are struggling to find sponsorship to help fund their catwalk shows for Fashion Week. As a huge fan of the brand, it pains me to hear news like this, and it is certainly making me question that if the fashion industry cannot support conceptual brands like Meadham Kirchhoff, is there even a point in art and creativity within the industry anymore?

Whilst the death of the designer duo brand is not imminent, the end definitely feels nigh. Despite a huge army of fans from all around the world, and a Topshop collaboration that sold out in minutes, the pair have always said that they struggle with the fast pace of the industry, and find it hard to keep up with drastic orders from department stores and boutiques. 

With the instagram and twitter-sphere booming, the demand for rapid fashion has increased tremendously. If its not hanging off the racks the second the last model walks down the runway, buyers just ain't interested. Waiting around for the next season of clothing to drop rarely happens anymore. The industry has quickened, and its leaving behind art, creativity, and conceptualism. Its leaving behind Meadham Kirchhoff.

I have been in love with the Meadham Kirchhoff creations for as long as I can remember. The duo have greatly inspired my admiration for nostalgia, ingenue, and kawaii fashion, and they have also opened my mind to dressing differently and not complying with what society tells you to wear. They were the inspirations behind my A Level Textiles pieces (for which I achieved an A), and they have given me the most perfect pieces of clothing which I will treasure forever (from my cherry print shirt, to my gold pentagon heels and my orange mongolian monster face knitwear). So if the designer duo were to shut down, I would indeed be greatly saddened, but the pieces they have given me are timelessly demiugic, so shall stay with me forever.

Long live MK! <3

DISNEY- WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE

I am exstatically happy while I write this post, possibly because I've just been accepted onto the Disney Cultural Exchange program for 2015, which basically means I am going to be living and working in Orlando this summer for two whole months! WOW.

The programme runs from the 2nd June - 7th August, and whilst I'm there I will be living in the Disney Dorms (accommodation built specifically for us students to live in whilst we work during summer), and working at one of the theme parks to earn my wage.

The program gives students from all around the world the chance to leave University behind for the summer, and come to Disney to culturally interact with one another through living and socialising. The program also gives us the opportunity to meet and network with some of the people behind the Disney brand, which is absolutely perfect given the degree I am doing.

Whilst I am there I will be working in operations, which means I will either be working on one of the many attractions Disney has to offer, or meet and greeting people that enter the parks, or working behind the ticket counter. I won't know my specific job role until I get there, but any one of these will give me the opportunity to interact with guests from all over the world, which will give me the chance to put my good PR social skills to use. Remember- its all about the clean cut Disney image and brand rep, and a public relations student of all people should know how important that is! ;)

I cannot wait to jet off to America for a fun-filled Summer at Disney, I am hoping this experience will help me grow as a person, and will continue to fuel my desire to achieve my primary goals of becoming a public relations professional. Hopefully I will develop life lessons and skills along the way that will be crucial to working in the industry. I am incredibly excited to begin this journey and I am so very grateful to have been accepted from the thousands of applicants that applied...

Orlando here I come!

STYLE YOURSELF RIGHT: A GUIDE TO DRESSING FOR UNI

Letting yourself go at University can be the easiest thing. If you're a party girl like me, you will more than likely spend the majority of your money on going out clothes, and not a lot on clothes to wear to lectures. This will mostly result in your turning up looking like got changed half asleep (which is actually true for most of the time).

But what I've learnt from my 1 and a half years at University is that you don't have to spend a lot of money or time on clothes to look fashionable. All it takes is buying a few investment pieces for the long-run, and knowing how to style them in order to make them look different on a daily basis.

I've found a few key items which I believe will be both stylish and practical, and will make for those long Uni days that you really can't be bothered to spend time on your outfit for...

1. A practical yet stylish jacket

If you're at a Northern University like me, you'll need a jacket from the start of Freshers Week until about the end of April. A good jacket can go very far though, and it'll become a statement piece within your wardrobe. The trick is to find something which is casual and not overly fussy. It should also be a neutral colour that'll pretty much go with everything you wear. I purchased a biker-style tweed jacket with a fluffy collar from Zara last September and I still wear it to the majority of my lectures a year on. Zara have beautiful high quality jackets for a very reasonable price. They are also cut well and look stylish with basically everything you wear. I've found one very similar to my AW'13 one that I believe would be perfect for University.

Mixed Wool Jacket- £59.99 Zara

2. A flattering jean

Jeans are a necessity for any University student that just really can't be bothered. But the key isn't a basic jean, it is a flattering one. Depending on your body shape you should always go with a style that comments your bust, waist and legs. This will definitely pay off in the long run as you will be able to style them with so many more things. For me, as my legs are the least flattering part of my body, skinny jeans just don't work for me. I best suit a high waisted 'MOM' jean as I have a long torso so the cinched waist compliments it (and also hides my legs a little more). However, if you have good legs, opting for a skinny or cropped jean will both compliment your figure. A dark wash or a black colour will be better for both winter and summer, as usually a bleach wash will only look better with pastel tones, so will be much harder to style in winter.

Black Mom Jeans- £40.00 Topshop

3. A sturdy black boot

Nothing will ever beat a good black boot. They go with EVERYTHING and they are so practical, meaning that you can wear them on even the coldest and iciest of days. If you're like me and want to have a more stylish boot, a chunky boot with a bit of a thick heel are always a good option. However, for practicality, a chelsea boot or a slim line ankle boot will look classically good. I purchased a chunky black pair from River Island a year ago and I still live in them, yes they have worn down quite a lot, but they were so good considering I only paid £40. Unfortunately my boot has been long out of stock for a while, but River Island have such a good selection and have brought a few out which are extremely similar to mine.

Black Chunky Sole Ankle Boots - £40 River Island

4. A slogan tee

If you are having one of those days when you feel like you just need to throw on a t-shirt and be done with it, nothing will be more effective than a quirky slogan one. Not only will it help promote your laid back attitude, but it will also look cute and will add a touch of style to your casual attire. I love nothing more than throwing on a plain white tee with a catchy slogan that reads 'DONUT TALK TO ME'. Its funny, cool and looks pretty chic with nice jeans and a jacket. 

House of Holland Slogan Tshirt- £20 ASOS

5. A bag that goes with EVERYTHING

Nothing is more frustrating then having to change your bag every 5 minutes because stuff doesn't fit or if it doesn't go with your outfit. This usually results in losing or forgetting things, or even being locked out of the library because you left your Student ID in your other bag (trust me, I've done that a few times...). I must admit, its not to everyones taste but I adore my Forever 21 black zip up backpack. Its cute, quirky, and fits everything in. It is my trusty University bag and I adore it. If you're not like me and would rather die then lug everything around on your back, I would definitely recommend a neutral leather (or leather look) handbag or shoulder bag. Something that you can carry with you everywhere is a necessity! (Just make sure it goes with your favourite jacket and shoe...)

Black Utility Backpack- £35.00 ASOS

So they are just a few examples of my University fashion necessities. If you're just into first year or haven't started University yet, then feel free to use this guide to find the correct way to dress (or forever be struggling in the morning before your 9ams)....You have been warned!