Ninety nine problems.

I adore magazines, heck i studied them for my degree! But really, a magazine can be classed as a style guide, an information source, a form of art or even just a quick read for a train ride. Since starting my degree i've my self collecting all types of different magazines, general issues or special editions, overall building a mass collection. What an odd thing to collect you may think, but really an issue of one magazine can tell you entirely what exactly was happening that month of that year. I could pick up a copy of Elle in ten years time and tell you that Rosie Huntington Whitely was one of the major models of that moment and women were going crazy over the iconic Mulberry brand. Its a pinpointed timeframe of culture, fashion, beauty, trends all tidily illustrated in print glossy format. What's not to love? 

I have rather an extensive collection already, but my all time two favourite magazines i picked out and photographed below..

French Vogue - October 2010 

When i went to Paris for my 21st birthday i couldn't resist buying a copy of French Vogue of which was celebrating it's 90th birthday. This special edition issue is bloomin' big, it features hand-picked favourite articles from when it was first published as well as many specially designed birthday congratulations from different fashion designers and beauty houses. It's simply a piece of art, even despite the fact i cannot read a word! It also came with a special pull out oversized magazine that features all the best shots from various photoshoots from different decades, with a variety of supermodels and legendary photographers such as Mario Testino and Terry Richardson. I cannot wait to frame these large prints and hang them when i move out into my own home, they are too precious. This magazine will forever remind me of the fabulous time i had in Paris and reading it in the sunshine with my boy in the heart of Paris.

A Chanel Bon Anniversare! 

Famous photoshoots in collectors issues.

Vogue December 2009

This issue is very special to me, if your a long time reader of my blog you'll know why exactly. When i attended Vogue's Fashion Night Out in September 2009, i met many wonderful people in the fashion industry, one of them being Mario Testino, the most amazing fashion photographer in my eyes. He has snapped everyone and anyone of importance, and it was he who shot William and Kate's engagement photos. Mario was such a lovely man and spent a while talking about our career aspirations, making us promise 'when you become editors, you must book me!'

I was even more so delighted when our conversation ended up in print, in Vogue!

one word: crazy!

I spend an unforgivable amount of money on magazines each month, even hunting down the international editions in Selfridges. Now forget the walk in wardrobe, where is are my magazine bookshelves?

Just a quick note to say that Groupon are doing a fabulous offer in conjunction with Conde Nast, where by you can purchase a years subscription from the likes of Glamour, Vogue, Wired, GQ and Vanity Fair for £19.99 - bargain! 

You can snap up the offer on the Groupon website. I will most probably purchase a Vogue subscription as mine has finished, and i'm rather tempted by GQ too - i'm obsessed! Oh and i might purchase Wired for my dad's birthday...

DAZED AND CONFUSED!

A short post to inform you of an amazing events taking place at various Topshop's around the country this week. Dazed Digital, the online sister of magazine Dazed and Confused will be holding workshops discussing the transformation of fashion and style moving online. Although i strong believe that the fashion print glossy format will be around forever and a day, its delusional to ignore the rising presence of fashion taking over the internet - who needs to be invited to a Burberry show when you can watch it at home streamed live to your Macbook whilst wearing your pjs? heh. With hundreds and thousands of nobodies (everyday you and i's) writing blogs commenting on the latest trends and runway designs, the lines of fashion critique and comments are somewhat becoming blurred. But i think thats exciting right? 

Topshop says:

Join the Dazed Digital team as they be talk us through their role in representing fashion in the digital age. From generating the largest independent fashion week coverage four times a year, with rolling show reports from all fashion capitals, to keeping the Dazed DNA alive by supporting and highlighting new design and photography talent.

Get an insight into the world of online fashion publishing and get advice on how to make the most of your photographs online.

Liverpool - Wednesday 1st June, 6-7pm

London Oxford Circus - Thursday 2nd June, 6-7 pm

Dublin - Friday 3rd June, 6-7pm

Manchester Arndale - Thursday 9th June, 6-7pm

If you are looking to pursue a career within the fashion or publishing industry i strongly suggest you pop on down, or even if you intrigued by the advice for your blog. Publishing isn't just on paper anymore, whilst fashion survived solely on print before, online is a whole new world. I shall definitely be hotfooting it over straight from work, especially so as Dazed and Confused was founded by Jefferson Hack and Rankin whilst they were students at London College of Print - my ends, i've literally just studied for my magazine publishing degree. Topshop do some fabulous free fashion events, its definitely in my eyes worth a visit! 

Will you be popping along? 

I think i might do a separate ramble on print vs blogs, slightly bias of course! 

VISAGE

One my third year projects was to create a sample spread for brand, including a written feature.

I chose Topshop (how predictable) but as Topshop already have a seasonal style customer magazine called 214, i decided to create a magazine that focused solely on their cosmetic line, Visage.

Visage would be a seasonal magazine and tie-in with the new latest collection, it would be given away with online orders and available to pick up in selected stores. This issue of Visage focuses on Topshop's latest A/W collection Heavy Duty.

Hopefully, the pages will enlarge so you can read the copy!

After spending eight hours on InDesign,i can finally say i finished. Only copious cups of tea got me through screen capping all those film caps and transferring them on to a vintage film strip - all worth it i hope! 

Would you read Visage if it was available in-store? ;)

Stylist.

Tomorrow (Monday) i start my month internship at Stylist magazine, whilst im rather quite excited and nervous, i am unsure of how much time i will have to blog, as i am continuing to work my part time retail work too! No rest for the wicked aye! So i may be a tad MIA for August, but i can assure you i will try and post here and there (hopefully).

Work Experience at Loaded

This year is the year of interning, to date this is my (count's fingers) 4th work experience and it was by far the best. In September i'm progressing into my third final year of university, which is actually pretty scary yet very exciting, so this summer, after what seems like fifty thousand (no actual exaggeration) phone calls/ emails / letters later; i arrived at Loaded.

(here comes all the fancy magazine jargon)

Your first impressions of Loaded magazine maybe some what horrified, scantily clad girls and fast cars? No thanks. Think again, Loaded magazine was the cornerstone of the men's magazine, it featured the ever hip 90's lad - think blur and Brit pop. When the first issue of Loaded was published, by the brainchild genius James Brown, it didn't include many naked ladies, it catered for music, entertainment and a basically a downright good laugh. Roll on from 1994, the Loaded lad has moved on, bar the additional pages of (nearly) naked women, there are also pages dedicated to style, in-depth features and relationships. Not just straight up sex, but relationships and women. The Loaded lad aims for a stable relationship and wants to please his girlfriend, sure they will have a good nose at a half dressed 22 year old from Portsmouth, but the Loaded lad treats women with respect. In the office next to the large plastic penis and a rather dirty pirate flag, there hangs the Loaded Mission statement with final point being: We at Loaded respect women, and this is demonstrated throughout the whole editorial content.

I had no idea what to expect.

The Highlights of the Week

I turned up at the IPC towers on Monday morning feeling pretty nervous, i had already interned in the same building whilst at Hair so i knew my way around the large glass tower. And luckily, my friend Abby was interning at TV Times for the week too - just incase we needed emotional support in the ladies loos. After receiving my pass, i aimless wondered around NME, Nuts, Uncut offices (cringe) until i finally got there. The office is jumbled desks with atleast ten full time employees, ranging from the art desk, editorial and picture desk. My first impressions was how friendly the whole team were (all men may i add) they were all so down to earth and friendly. I was seated at my desk, which housed a half drunk bottle of cider and a book that had a knife comming out - i didn't ask.

Each morning there was a team meeting, which resulted in one guy ringing a bell, you know the ear-deafening church bells that they have for the playground in primary schools.. They would discuss what pages needed to be working on, what leads needed chasing up and various deadlines. After a couple of rude jokes later i was set to task by researching various features and jokes. I don't particularly want to go into detail about what content will be covered in the magazine, as this issue they were working on was the September issue, and who knows a sneaky journalist from FHM may read my post.. unlikely but still. Yet a regular feature was a jokes page, where i trawled the internet finding the most weirdest and funny jokes! Apparently i have quite a knack of finding rude jokes..

Another key job of mine throughout the week was researching various topics, whether that be facts and background for a feature, or random facts, trivia and background information needed for on celebrity interviews or even just searching for suitable feature stories. One story was based on a model from Bolivia who has recently become a politician, what a transformation aye! I was asked to research her, but trawling the net only provided me with the same old stuff. I asked the News editor what to do: 'have you tried calling her?'..'well, she lives in Bolivia'..'yes, so?' So after a major breakdown in panic and a very friendly chat with editor he gave me lots of tips on sussing out information and research - something i havent been able to put into practice at uni. Luckily, the research i already had was enough, so i was left to draft the copy needed (eee! - i'm excited to see where if it gets printed).

The Publisher (whose role is to deal with the business side of the magazine) asked me to create an advertising pitch for the magazine, which is odd because a) thats big responsibility to give to an intern whose been there three days which could potentially cost you an advertising contract (£££) and b) that's his job. So after the Editor, found out he promptly gave me a new task to work on a new feature. This will be along the lines of 'What women want, that men have,' and i was asked to come up with various ideas, this was so fun and it was even funnier to read the lad's list of what they want that women have - i can't wait to post it!

Overall my time at Loaded was the best experience i've had to date, even if it was only a week - to cut along story short:

- Two editors had long chats with me about where i want to go in life, what i should do after uni annd they both offered to be interviewed for my dissertation (RESULT).

- All the guys were so friendly and down to earth, i really felt like i fitted in and they were so approachable.

- I got to actually contribute to the magazine, where as i've only worked behind the scenes for other mags, i truly felt i was actively doing something - actually learning and improving my skills.

- And the best thing? They invited me back! And this time, they want to set up an interview, where i (yes me!) would get to interview some one - and i don't care if it's Lucy from Dorset and her double DD's!

Tomorrow, i will be delivering this little present - and some more chocolate goodness to the Loaded lads to say thank you for having me! Unfortunately i didn't know how to Fed Ex beer?

Thanks for reading, i hope you enjoyed this post and it wasn't too long, maybe i should do a post on a guide to Interning? I do have some more stories, but i'll save that for another post.

And a final point, i basically need to get a job at IPC when i finish uni basically because the canteen is like a restaurant and the women's magazines have monthly sales where they sell off beauty and hair bits for a £1! If thats not good enough reasons to work there, then i don't know! (I'll post what i managed to buy from the beauty sale in another post)

The London Mix

For my final year project, in small teams we had to create a sample magazine. Thus creating The London Mix - heres a little marketing blurb for you:

The London Mix offers a completely new edge to the publishing world, by using the newly successful free-sheet formula and with a new twist in its format, one side of the magazine literally for men and the other half literally for women. The London Mix is a fresh, innovative guide with high quality features and articles, for the London reader. The editorial team will present the latest news, up to date entertainment, top travel destinations around the world, the most stylish fashion and grooming pages, and the uttermost lowdown on London town. Distributed every Tuesday, The London Mix will be handed out free at over 50 places in central London, city airports and retail store Office, with around a quarter of million copies given away each week.

Working in a team of four, we each split roles accordingly. Myself and my friend Lois were joint editors, i took on the role of writing all mens editorial content whilst Lois wrote the female's side. Then my other friends Jen and Abby, took on the role of designing and production the magazine.

Have a nose!

Open publication - Free publishing - More free

Just a little note: The women's pages are suppose

to be upside down - that's part of it's genius design! The magazine isn't suppose to be glossy or premium. it's a free magazine

on newspaper material - like Shortlist and Stylist stuck together.

Im not going to lie - the reason behind the whole for both women and men design was because i do like to have a good nose of

men's magazines every-once in while - very crude and funny!

say what!

A few weeks ago i was emailed by a lovely lady called Emma, she works for a magazine produced for Graduate Fashion Week. Basically, GFW is young graduated designers one hot shot at being discovered and being fast-tracked to work at a fashion house. Between the 6-10th of June, the hottest young designers will showcase their best collections to critics and a number of head hunters scouting their next protege. With the likes of Stella Macartney and Julian MacDonald being 'found' here, with Giles Decon and Matthew Williamson dishing out awards, GFW is a important date for the fashion industry.

So, back to my exciting news. As part of GFW, there is an educational day set aside for budding fashion students interested in studying fashion at higher education. Emma's magazine Fashionista is a glossy giveaway for the students, giving them all the insider fashion tips and tricks they need to know about the industry - and i was asked to write a piece for the magazine! This is just a little bit -well MASSIVE- excitement for me! I have never had any work published before in print, this was an amazing opportunity presented to me so naturally i snapped it up! I wrote my article on blogging, and how this can really further your career in the fashion industry. Exciting!

Fashionista goes to print tomorrow, the the magazine can be viewed online too, so i'll definitely post a link so you can have a good read!

Another few girlies have also had their work printed- checking out their blogs is a must!:

- Sarah, my actual bff, at My Sentimental Heart

- Emma, a good blogging friend of mine, at Jersey and The Monkey

- Annabella, the very pretty lady, at A Girl Should Be Two Things, Classy and Fabulous.

champers on me! ;)

The Times Fashion DEPT.

Here's a little post about my time spent interning at The Times, although it did happen a fair few weeks ago - i have literally only just had a free afternoon today. So if you weren't aware already, i managed to secure a weeks placement at The Times Fashion Department - and although this was a one hell of an opportunity, i was scared silly the night before. You just don't have any idea what the office will be like, are they Devil Wears Prada or just laid back office Kelly Cultrone style (aka The City)? If so, will they be dressed to the nines, in this seasons clothes, should i wear my Sunday best or keep it cool? Will they send me out for Starbuck's soy latte with a touch of cinnamon and a dash of espresso, or will they be a really down to earth and friendly, and actually remember my name?

Truth was, the four ladies at the Times were lovely - in-fact they were the friendliest people i've ever worked for. In the office, its pretty small with section signed off for the fashion department. Behind their desks, there is the biggest bookshelf i have ever seen filled with the latest season lookbooks, from Topshop to Lavin. Then the fashion department leads off the Closet. The Closet. I want to live in it. It's filled with all kinds of wonders and treasures. I was situated in the Closet (i will give it a capital C because i think it deserves it) with my own little desk and telephone, surrounded by a sea of shoes, make up and clothes. Throughout the day there were various deliveries to the office, which most of the time were the latest skincare and make-up, swoon.

A few parcels - i never had the guts to look in that Chanel bag.

My little desk.

The Closet - here were handpicked items ready to be taken away for a shoot in India the following week.

So this is my outfit of the day for Monday. And that's how long the Outfit photos of the day lasted.

A gorgeous pair of D&G Coral heels i a had to return.

So these sneaky little photos were taken on my iphone on my lunch break.

What did i get up to?

The job of an intern varies from magazine to magazine and also depending on how long you stay with that company. At Hair i was given more variety of jobs than at the Times, but still i was only there a week, and to teach a new intern new tricks every week is long process for them. I've found that interning is a complicated thing, if you are shy this is no place for you. Intuitive and confidence will help you succeed, thinking on your feet but with your head will score you brownie points.

One particular day, all the ladies were off out of the office at a shoot. I had been slowly working my way through a rail of returns; the PR companies send in various items to be used on shoot or sample, then they have to be sent back. This may seem easy, but with large eight to ten parcels a day being delivered a day, all the invoices have to kept and filed away. These documents are highly important as they detail what exactly has been sent in and by who, as i may be returning a pair of Prada heels to Selfridges rather than Prada's Head Office. Whether these invoices are filed away properly is another matter, very long process.

So any way, whilst packing way a range of Paul Smith suits used for a Freddie Flintoff shoot the previous week, a woman called from a PR agency demanding a very expensive necklace back. Crunch time, i had no idea what she was talking about and she sounded angry, angry at me, on my first day. After searching for it myself and a lot of phone calls back and forth, i finally sorted it by myself. Phew. I spent most of my time returning items, doesn't sound that interesting, but i actually enjoy organising and feeling like im actively achieving something. My skills learnt in retail helped majorly, i can fold men's shirts and trousers like a pro!

Another key moment from the week, was a pair of expensive leggings that had be sent back from a PR company, who demanded that they be dry-cleaned or paid for. After i and the other ladies, all peered around it was clear to see why. Some one had heavily spoiled (ew!) the leggings, very expensive pair of leggings. The confusing point was that the leggings hadn't been used on a shoot for a model to ruin and the only four women in the office wouldn't of touched them, so who spoiled them? My guess answer: a cheeky lady at the PR company who had secretly worn them, spoiled them and shifted the blame on the Times. Shame they weren't Prada leggings..

This week was definitely challenging, trying to work out how to send a courier across London for three belts needed a shoot was hard enough, but it was worth it. This was a great opportunity, and i learnt allot about the process of fashion in a very sophisticated fashion department.

Thank you to the little lady who helped me when i got lost, you actually saved my life. Oh, and never go to Tower Hill, theres nothing there. Zilch. I hope this proved a not too boring post ;)

Hair goes!

So, for the past month or so i have been interning once a week at Hair magazine. I really enjoyed my time there, as well as learning so much about the industry, which i would have never of learnt from lecture. The team at Hair is fairly small, around 8 persons, with both the editorial and art team. Which is quite unusual as most magazine titles have double (or even triple) the amount working for them; however working with a smaller team really meant i got a better understanding of each of their roles within the title.

On my first day when i arrived, i was pretty, bloody nervous to be honest. IPC publishing company is situated in Southwark, in the biggest, sleekest glass building. Each floor housed titled such as LOOK, Marie Claire, Instyle, Wall Paper, Nuts, Woman & Home, so i was like woah! I did get lost a fair few times, i had quite a few sneak peaks in the fashion closets ;). Anyway, back at Hair i did basic admin tasks for the ladies, which consisted of keeping the closet in order - i have never seen so much shampoo and conditioner in my life. I was also constantly on the phone to a whole list of lovely PR companies ordering products, such as GHD, Bumble and Bumble and Aveda. I also picture researched, looking for images to place in the magazine, whether this be looking at the lasted paparazzi shots of any a-list celeb to runway photos, just as they were being clicked in fashion week - crazy stuff!

Another task was called vox boxes, which is practically means taking Street Style photos. This was tricky, nobody in Covent Garden or Oxford St wants to stop and listen, let alone have their photo taken. But luckily some of my lovely uni friends let me take their photo, and they are now published in the magazine :)

(Thanks Abby, Sophie and Hannah - i really do owe you a pint!)

I was also given some products to trial and test for the team! I was given two pairs of hair straighteners and lots and lots of hair spray! I decided not to post my reviews of the products until the magazine was published, to see how they came out in print. However, one of the straighteners i tried were awful but in the published review they were looked upon quite highly - food for thought there. Unfortunately, my time at Hair was cut short because the editor really needed some one to intern 4 days a week for three months. Which for me, is impossible considering uni schedule.

My time at Hair was a real insight, a real opportunity that gave me a new found confidence too. I have come to the decision that i most definitely want to pursue a career in beauty/cosmetic journalism.

Next in the pipeline: i promised myself this year i would intern like crazy, so after my time at Hair; i'm at The Times fashion department (eee!) for a week in May, lads mag Loaded in July and Stylist in August. So far this year, i feel like I'm really to go out there and hit industry, unfortunately i have a large drawback, that goes by the name of a dissertation ;) i guess i should graduate first!

Thanks for reading my little, rambling life update, i hope it wasn't too boring!

I will post my straightener reviews in the next week or so, totally changed my life..

SHE GOT STYLE

i have some fabulous news, and i thought i would share!

Within my degree, i have many guest lectures that are a variety of well known publishers, editors and designers that come into give an insight to the publishing world. Recently, to my delight, the darling Lisa Smosarski, editor of STYLIST magazine came in to class and had a chat. Lisa revealed the secrets behind launching a new magazine in the market, a magazine that stands apart from your Grazia's and Look's; as well as a publishing a magazine that soley only receives revenue from advertising because it's given away for free? Did you know, that however successful STYLIST is, fashion house Chanel will never advertise within the magazine because it's given away free? To be that fabulous aye!

So after the lecture, i had a quick chat with Lisa, to which she presented moi with her business card.. so to which leads me to my good news...

i have a placement at STYLIST for a whole month in August!

seriously, i cannot word how excited i truly am! i cannot wait to get stuck in, with the added promise of writing content for the September and October issues. If you haven't heard of STYLIST magazine, where have you been hiding? well chances are probably not in the city! Stylist magazine is a free, women's fashion weekly, handed out in cities such as London, Manchester ect ect.

Stylist, amazingly entered the women's magazine market with a fresh take on fashion and style, with a mix of news, top picks and fashion spreads. The design and style of the magazine is effortlessly chic and stylish. Choosing beautiful yet striking cover images, whether that a Mulberry bag or Angelina Jolie, it was sure to pull a great interest of the women of London, instead of the usual paparazzi shot of any B-List celeb. The magazine also offers well written features, boasting news, travel, events, fashion, beauty, art, film, food with interesting interviews. Seriously, could it get any better, a free magazine offering women everything they want/need to know, perfect.

Avatar vs Vogue

The Warrior Way by Vogue, modeled by Daria Werbowy, shot by David Sims.

March US 2010

Her tattered minis strapped with shoulder armor and breast plates, she's the alpha female of the battlefield.

'Princess Neytini could have worn this in the Hallelujah Mountains of of unearthly Pandora right?'

I went to see Avatar last night, it was beautiful to watch the lush forest and inhabitants, highly recommend.

Help mio?

Could i please ask you lovely ladies to moi a favour? As part of my degree i have to complete a high percentage of market research, which is very tedious and costs me a bloody fortune in printing costs. However, dramatic pause, i came across an internet site that i can post a survey and readers can simply fill in and it will produce me with a nice little set of results!

So, if you would kindly take a spare 5 minutes out of your day to fill in one of my wonderful surveys, i would be very grateful :) I promise it's strictly anonymous and its only clicking a few boxes.

Here are the links (i had to split it into three unfortunately):

Survey one: Click here to take survey

Survey two: Click here to take survey

Survey three:Click here to take survey

i did it my way.

a certain little lady, whilst struggling hard with her bastard of a finance report, got some very, very good news.. she will from now on being interning every Wednesday at Hair magazine and will be paid in hair goodies.. ;)

watch this space!

Oh to be a Super Model

Claudia Schiffer, Eva Herzigova and the lovely Helena Christensen

for i-D.

GLAMOUR NOVEMBER 2009

We all love a good freebie, spesh when its a free Nails Inc. nail varnish! Normally retailing at £10.50, you can get it free with this months new issue of Glamour for only £2!

I was sent Victoria, a lovely cherry red shade but i do plan to buy other copies to get the other colours!

(My camera battery died, so here are very bad quality iphone pictures! - not sure what other colours are available but will update asap! :))