All The Leaves Are Gone... And The Sky Is Grey.

Last night I had a wonderful night out with my best friend Claire and met one of her friends Rachel. It was a quiet one, but fine nonetheless. I came home at a very reasonable hour, but didn't get to sleep until 4AM as I was watching "It's Complicated" - you can find this on Sky In Demand, if you really want to see it. (It stars Meryl Streep and was quite charming if you ask me)


Because I went to bed too late, I forced myself to sleep in as late as possible today. I think I got up round about 1ish. I wanted to sleep in so that I'd be reasonably awake tonight for James coming round to spend the New Year with me. I'm really grateful he's staying in Aberdeen with me as usually he goes to Glasgow to visit relatives. I'm also grateful as now that he's coming round, this means that I have nothing to for New Year except eat takeaway and watch some nice films. Were ordering takeaway from the best Indian restaurant in Aberdeen (in my opinion) Shabaaz. YUMMY.


Once I woke up, the sun soon began to set around 3PM. This provided perfect natural lighting outside and the tree's soon became alight with beautiful red and gold tones. I fear of sounding pretentious, but really, I was inspired by the way the sun was silhouetting the trees. I decided to take some photographs from the inside of my house of what I could see outside.

xoxo

The OIsen Twins

I previously had a blog on Tumblr and created a post about how iconic I think the Olsen Twins are - particularly Mary Kate. I think they're style icons.



I think Mary Kate's style is a bit more risque than Ashley's. I feel that Ashley's style, although she has clearly blossomed into a fashionista since her teenage years, is a bit too safe for me personally. Although, Mary Kate is often slandered for her more vampy/gothic style. I suppose Ashley's look is slightly more commercial and therefore more likely to appeal to a wider audience, but I do admire Mary Kate's ambitious fashion sense. I loved her bleach blond hair teamed with large black roots equipped with darkly lined kohl eyes and bright red lips.

xoxo

I Dont Ask For Much This Christmas, Just A Camera.

I didn't ask for much this Christmas.

I asked for a DSLR camera - a Nikon D3100 to be exact. Yeah yeah, it's pricey. But it's worth it. The camera will last me the next four years which is crucial being a Fashion Communication student. Something tells me it will come into great use in the very near future. Yes, I do have a digital camera, but it doesn't work properly anymore. It constantly turns itself off and freezes. Its a nightmare.

Fortunately, I got my camera :) its wonderful. I love being able to take photographs to a semi-professional standard now. I can't wait to to start buying more lenses in the future to accessorise it.

Other than my beautiful Nikon, there is further evidence to suggest that I am the "Nice List" this year.

My boyfriend got me a Vivienne Westwood bag - the same one I wrote a previous blog about, and a pair of the Lady GaGa Heartbeats headphones. What possessed him to purchase the headphones is beyond me, as I always slandered those who paid ridiculous money for headphones considering I've always purchased the "Gummy" ones that are £4.99. Indeed, I have to replace them once every 2/3 months, but who really spends more than that on a pair of headphones at a time? James Charleton, that's who. Slowly but surely however, I warmed to the idea of having these headphones. Once I tried them on and listened to music from my I-Pod, you really can notice the difference. All of the Beats headphones, from Diddy beats (lol), Dre Beats, Justin Bieber Beats (major lol) are bass enhanced. It creates the sort of ambiance you'd expect in a nightclub with the bass line being so heavy. The headphones look badass also. This is another incentive to buy them as they look so quirky - particularly the much sought after red Lady GaGa ones. (I originally had the black pair from James, but swapped for the red ones, just to look that little bit cooler).

Other than Christmas, I've not been up to much. I've primarily been seeing my boyfriend to catch up on lost time from me living in Gala. I've also been slaving away at good old New Look in the Aberdeen Bon Accord Centre. It's safe to say, I hate my life when I'm there. There's something about that place that brings out the worst in me, like a dark alter ego waiting to rear its head. Thankfully, I've left once more, in order to sit at home and do nothing instead of earning money there. I do not regret this at all.

Tomorrow, I'm getting my hair done. Words cannot quite describe how much I've been gagging for this day. Several people, including a random customer, told me I was the double of Katie Waissel. This disgusted me greatly. On the other hand, a male work friend told me I look like Gwen Stefani. Although this was a good shout, I was pessimistic. I can't wait to get my Aggyness Deyn hair back!

Here's some various photographs I took on my baby Nikon (: enjoy.

Nina

Timmy

My Nieces

James Eye



 xoxo

America's Next "TOP" Model, True Or False?

Allure magazine criticized the show in its October 2006 issue, saying that ANTM "hasn't exactly produced any actual supermodels."

- Criticism sourced from Wikipedia, America's Next Top Model.

I have been a devoted and loyal fan to "America's Next Top Model" since its debut in early 2000. As a young girl, I was truly facinated with not only the Fashion industry itself, but the rules and regulations surrounding the up and coming model. Through watching the show for a number of years, I had learned the foundations of the Fashion Industry in regards to modelling. ANTM then inspired me in my early teen's to seek further knowledge of the Fashion World outwith my basic modelling knowledge. Although this may seem bizarre and somewhat chiche, some might say that ANTM inspired my interest in Fashion in the first place.

It is through my watching of ANTM, that my boyfriend is able to gain a somewhat general understanding of the Fashion Industry, without it becoming too complex. For example, James might say, "Diane von Furstenberg, you like her latest collection don't you?" or, "She's not quirky enough, she's not editorial", etc...

Through watching the show, I have gained appreciation for a number of contestants. It is evident as the seasons progress, I have developed my favourites from the early contestants such as Brittany who were "funny", to Anya who is "Couture, bankable, who I would look for if I were a casting director".

Toccara Jones, Season 3

Amanda Swafford, Season 3

Britanny Brower, Season 4.

Kim Stolz, Season 5.

Anya Kop, Season 10

Alison Harvard And Celia Ammerman, Season 12

Raina Hein, Season 14

Kayla Ferell, Season 15

Although these girls are my personal favourites, I have to admit that I have no idea where the contestants from ANTM go next after being eliminated. Even the winners seem to become just mere faces in the crowd of the Fashion World once they have had their moment of glory on the cover of "Seventeen Magazine".

This is why I believe Cycle 15 of ANTM has raised it's game. Forget "Seventeen Magazine" and Wilhelmina Modelling Management. Instead, the winner now receives the notorious Covergirl Cosmetics contract, a place in the renowned modelling agency IMG Models, and a cover of Vogue Italia. These prizes are a dream come true to any up and coming model, and even through only watching a couple of episodes from this latest season, it is clear that Tyra Banks is being meticulously particular about who wins.

Don't get me wrong, I am not ashamed to admit I am a major fan of ANTM, however I do find it somewhat comical that as the years have progressed, the "prizes" and the quality of the winners careers has gone noticeably downhill.

I hope that after season 15, ANTM's reputation gains more respect and is taken more seriously by the fashion industry, as it is clear that they obviously don't think that the winners of this show are worth batting an eyelash over, or all of the winners would be millionaires. I don't expect the show to produce supermodels to the degree of Naomi or Linda Evangelista, but the title "AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL" implies that the model who wins will surely become world renowned?

Although, apparently contestants that did not win have done relatively well for themselves, such as Fatima Siad.



Even as a dedicated fan of the series, it is clear that even I am sceptical of the career paths of the ANTM girls, so what must the critics think?

xoxo

P.S. I still adore Tyra Banks no matter what. I would hate to seem hypocritical as she is one of my favourite past models and one of my icons. This does not excuse me from writing this blog however as I am merely criticising the producers of the show due to the declining quality of prizes for the winning contestant the past couple of years. I am in no way, criticising the host, Tyra Banks... Love you Ty!

"Ma Maison de Rêve" - My Dream House.

This idea of mine, is quite literally, my dream house.

I have no idea why that, at least once a month, I dream of living in the same apartment in Paris. It's a reoccurring dream I've had for about a year now. I wake up in my french boudoir, get ready for "work" (this is implied through my ensemble, as I am always wearing a sharp tailored and very expensive looking suit - although I never find out where I actually work) and then I visit the same open plan cafe to retrieve my morning crepe or croissant (it just depends how I feel on the day in regards to what one). I then casually sit on a flight of steps leading up to the town centre, and eat my breakfast blissfully. End of dream.

James and I recently began discussing my dream and wondering if it was possible in the future. I am a firm believer in "karma" and "destiny" as I am quite a wishful thinker, so I'd like to believe that this dream symbolizes something, even just a trip to Paris on my own in the future would fulfil my urge to answer why I keep having this strange dream. I always imagine myself living in the top floor of the apartment, with a large balcony that provides a gorgeous panoramic view.

Outside of French apartment.

Lovely colours.

My idea of "my bedroom". I love the tiling on the floor - tiled floors in bedrooms also suggest to me that the room is European, (and it has a balcony!).

I imagine my house having long corridors.

Ideas for different living rooms.

Art Deco tiles.

What the outside of my Dream House may look like.

This view would be perfect.

The Cafe in my dreams, kind of.

There is a certain something - a je ne sais quoi, about Paris that is so romantic. It oozes sex appeal and smells expensive. It's really bizarre that although I've never actually been there, it feels so familiar to me. Ideally, I'd love to work there if I am fortunate enough to receive some sort of placement or even a permanent job there. Working in the Fashion Industry is a job that is guaranteed to take you places, as I can't see myself getting a successful or aspirational job in Aberdeen doing a job that is Fashion related. Therefore, I think that since, as a Fashion student, I am pretty much destined to move away for my career, it would make perfect sense to travel outwith Britain to somewhere such as Paris.

Paris is responsible for giving birth to many credited designers such as Coco Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Hubert de Givenchy, Hermès, Nina Ricci and probably my most favourite French designer, Jean-Paul Gaultier.

My dream is not only to live in Paris one day in the not-so-distant future, but to also hopefully work for one of these designers. This would be a dream come true.

I am well aware my house will most certainly not look like any of the pictures I have sourced from Google, as I am not a multi-millionaire yet. However, I will continue to dream as fortunately for me, a dream has no restrictions.

xoxo

Home Sweet Home Followed By Sharing Unnecessary Thoughts And Feelings...

After the three and a half hour drive (not including the part when I realised half an hour into the journey that I had to drive back to Galashiels to collect my Laptop as I left it in the common room) I finally arrived home.

Myself, my parents and Fiona took the journey back to Aberdeen, and in the car I got to thinking how close I have become with the self proclaimed "Gala Girls". I already miss all the bloc A ladies, Fiona, Mairi, and of course, Rachel and Rhoda. Although I am ecstatic to be home, Galashiels has been my home since September, and its a strange experience being back in Aberdeen after not being here since my last visit nearly two months ago. It also feels strange knowing that I have nothing to aspire to during the Christmas break, as all my work was handed in to the best of my ability. There was rumours of a "Christmas Project" I believe, however I am pesimistic.

It's a lovely feeling being home again. I severely dislike blogs or uneccesary cheesy posts about lovers and relationships as I believe that love should speak for itself unless you can't help but share it with the world. For this, I am sorry, as I am about to contradict myself indignantly.

Last night my boyfriend and I stayed up all night (till 6 in the morning) talking about how long we've been together and how much we really mean to one another. It made me feel grateful for the appreciation I do receive from home, as its too easy to become entwined in my own little world whilst living in Galashiels. I am so glad to be home and have someone to share my secrets, disbelief's, sadness and randomly spewed thoughts with. And to put it bluntly, I've really missed cuddles and knowing James is just down the road if I ever need just that... He's so inspiring and we have shaped one another to who we have become today. We've been together for three years this January and I like how he is sharing my experiences through my moving out to University with me. xxx

 Me and James over the years (in chronological order)

Tomorrow, I am going out with one of my best friends - Claire. We are going for coffee in the renowned Aberdonian coffee shop, Kilau. Kilau is swave, cool and full of amateur artwork, all and all, it is the type of place any fashion student would adore and it is here that you will more than likely find me, or my friends whilst being in Aberdeen. I'm then going for a spot of Christmas shopping as James has his eye on a pair of Kurt Geiger's.

Right now, I feel really grateful to have the friends I've got in Galashiels, but I also feel overwhelmed to be home once more surrounded by the people who inspired me to move to Galashiels in the first place. These people are who I hold close to my heart no matter how far away I may be.

xoxo

P.S. Thanks to my conversation with Mairi MacLeod, I can't wait to have a bath, as we could never bring ourselves to have one in Galashiels. I think a visit to Lush may be in order tomorrow...

Sweet Dreams.

Fashion Drawings

Here are some of the fashion drawings I've done to be submitted tomorrow.
I still have a lot to learn in regards to fashion drawing, but I enjoy it.

Galliano Makeup

My Surrealism Skirt With Galliano Makeup Combination.

Front And Back On Mannequin.

Working Drawing For Submission.

Silhouettes

I have managed to delay marketing revision for about two hours by adding unnecessary fashion drawings to my folder, but it was so worth it.

Now, back to the books.

xoxo

A Year Of Tears And Whiskers

I thought I'd upload some of my Advanced Higher Art work from my last year at my Academy. My theme was "CATS - The Musical" and I decided to design costume for a contemporary version of the musical. I designed a collar, a waistcoat, a buckle to attach at the back of the waistcoat and I also experimented with creating contemporary and theatrical makeup.

My boyfriend James, my best friend Naomi and my classmate Adam were kind enough to model for me. I have no photographs of my sheets, just the presentation photographs I took for each outcome.

My boyfriend wearing the collar.

Adam wearing the waistcoat.

Buckle.

James with "traditional" stage makeup.

Naomi with contemporary stage make up.

I have always been in love with cats, so choosing "CATS - The Musical" as my theme, kept me motivated for the year, although I shed my fair share of tears throughout.

xoxo