Fashion Communication

We have recently began the Fashion Communication course at University.

During this course, we are expected to create our own magazine. We have to direct our own photoshoots, take our own photographs, hire our own models, find our locations for the shoots... etc etc. Each groups magazine has to be inspired by Elle, I.D, POP or Dazed & Confused. Our group was assigned Dazed.

Myself and the rest of our group decided upon calling our magazine "TEETH" as research has shown that through the students studying the locals of Galashiels, we can't help but notice that the inhabitants here are either lacking teeth, or have none.

Here's a mock up of the front cover, shot by me! We're currently torn between these two, however I reckon we'll probably choose the second one.

Tint of colour

Black and white with coloured lips - with mock title

We've also decided to allow this copy of "TEETH" to be a music edition. This allowed us to brainstorm various ideas for band shoots and interviews. We have decided to compose an E-Interview with Tim London, interview a local band based in Galashiels and shoot some guys from our year for a fashion/music shoot. Next week, we I am photographing our surreal shirts at a local hotel within Galashiels - I'll post the photographs next week!

Here are some of the band photographs I shot yesterday. We asked guys in our year to come out with on location and the aim was to create a vibe as though they are in a band together, whilst being edgy simultaneously.



Today I also had my photo's taken as I modelling for another groups Surrealism Shirts photoshoot. These photo's are awesome - curteousy of Fiona Jones.



I like to lend a helping hand when I can...

xoxo

Vintage Bags For Sale

My neighbour is in her 70's and is now moving house.


She kindly decided to leave me with some vintage handbags from the late 1930's - 1970's. I think some might even be 1920's as they possibly belonged to my neighbours mother...


I'm selling the majority of them on Ebay. Obviously I'm keeping the luxury ones that seem to be worth quite a lot. My friend Rachel photographed me wearing one of the bags I kept - a vintage red sachel-style. Its so lovely, it has a lock and key to get in which has been problematic as the lock is so stiff which has lead to me being locked out of my own bag a few times... The photographs are going on Lookbook today so keep an eye out.


I seem to be growing more and more attached to the ones I didn't want originally so I'll be delighted if someone could find them a nice home.


They truly are vintage, they smell of loft and Chanel No 5 - the true smell of vintage.

1960's Suedine Jewelery Case

1970's Coin Purse - Phychidelic

1960's Reversable Duffle Bag

1970's Patent Green Bag

1960's Leather Clutch

1960's St Michael Makeup Bag

1980's Oriental Makeup Bag

1960's Peach Makeup Bag

1960's Red Leather Clutch

Marks And Spencer Burgundy Makeup Bag

1950's "Peaches & Cream" Weekend Bag

1970's Floral Shopper Tote

Let me know if you're interested.

xoxo

New Year, New Start, New Handbag.

First of all, Happy Belated New Year everyone!

That's me back in Galashiels Now. Its a bittersweet event that had to eventually come. Although I expected everyone to be thriving on the fact that were all back together again, its been quite the opposite. Everyone seems to be feeling fairly under the weather at the moment, myself included.

During the festive period, I got some lovely things in the Topshop Sale. Although I despise sales - all the raking through clothing racks with busy crowds of shoppers, my best friend Claire inspired me to check out the Topshop Sale. Aberdeen has two Topshops, the older one and a new one. The new one is far more grand and has a wider selection of clothing, which has therefore left the old one neglected and rather pathetic looking. Claire was determined that I'd find something in the older Topshop since no one shops there anymore, and luckily, she was right.

I got this backless maxi dress and another grey one.

Was £28, bought for £5 each.

Another maxi dress (Tee And Cake)

Did not have an original price, but purchased for £7

Its backless too (:

And a denim aviator jacket...

Was £48, bought for £20.

So, all and all, I was quite lucky.

With my 19th birthday coming up, I've decided to get another designer bag. Although I LOVE my Vivienne Westwood, I want something a little more durable, and something I'm not as sentimental over.

I recently had a discussion over the Christmas holidays with a work friend and she told me that her sister bought her a Juicy Couture bag as a gift. We then talked about how we classify Juicy Couture in a way that's very similar to Paul's Boutique bags. Both of these designers unfortunately, suffer from women abusing these designer brands. Paul's Boutique, was once seen in my eyes as quite a fashionable, young, quirky and funky brand. Now, their bags and clothing range are associated with young early teenagers looking not so fresh and young women who look like wannabe "WAGS". Very similar story for Juicy Couture, looks lovely on the right person, but see one chav wearing a pair of Juicy Couture velour sweat pants and BAM. My appreciation for the label is ruined.

Both designers tend to be quite OTT in their colour schemes in their clothing range and handbags. I myself, would not wear a neon pink Paul's Boutique bag, but as contradicting as it sounds, throw me a cute Barbie edition one, and it takes me back to my youth. I can ignore the fact its ridden with what seems to be a crushed zebra, as long as Barbie's adorable plastic face stares up at me as I reach in to get my Blackberry.

Likewise with Juicy Couture. You wont see me in a velour baby pink bowling bag, but I'd gladly wear a quilted leather and far more understated one.

I've seen a few people at University rocking a Paul's Boutique bag. They're affordable but look expensive (if you're wearing the right one). This is exactly how I feel towards Juicy Couture.

Yes, I could blow my boyfriends bank account and buy a teeny tiny Alexander McQueen bag, but would I wear it? No. I wouldn't wear it in the chance that it was,

1. Stolen
2. Got dirty
3. Someone decided to deface it
4. Or I foolishly leave it somewhere

My work friend then went on to explain how she too feels that Juicy Couture bags can look somewhat cheap on the wrong person. However she then went into detail how ornate and beautiful the bag was, thus, planting the idea in my mind, "Hmmm, Juicy Couture bags can't be that bad..? Plus, I do need a bag that I could use everyday for all my Uni books..?"

Since I've also recently moved rooms, I was redecorating the wall with cut outs from Vogue, i.D and Dazed. I cut out an Ad campaign from Vogue that I always stopped it look at - a Juicy Couture ad.

The exact cut out I have on my wall

I've always loved this ad. I think it tells a real fantasy story - as do all the Juicy Couture campaigns. It's the kind of photograph I find something new in every time I look at it. PLUS, note how understated the bags are in this photo? They're gorgeous.

Until very recently, I'd flick through Vogue, see this ad and think "Wow that photograph is amazing, shame the label is crap". However, through word of mouth and Vogue constantly reusing this image, I've been brainwashed.

xoxo

Fantastic Mr Fox

It's no secret that I am fascinated by foxes.

I'm not entirely sure why, but I have always loved them. I always wished that I would stumble across one in the flesh one day. This hasn't happened until very recently when myself and my boyfriend were on the bus back to Galashiels from Edinburgh and one ran out directly in front of the wheels. (Thankfully, it was ok).

I'm really not a big fan of canine creatures whatsoever, I understand this must be a contradiction as I suppose foxes must come under some sort of canine related category. However, I feel that foxes are almost feline like in appearance and personality. I love foxes eyes and how they are renowned for being sly and cunning. I also think I'm attracted to them as my cat Timmy looks quite fox-like (:

The other day, I watched Fantastic Mr Fox, a film adaptation of Roal Dahl's book. The movie was weird yet wonderful and was nothing that I had expected. I loved how the computerised characters moved so strangely and the graphics almost seemed dated - the characters moved in a very disjointed manor that I can only compare to "The Clangers" cartoon. It may sound like I am slandering the film but I absolutely loved it. It was quite creepy and I wouldn't have thought it would appeal to young children as it seemed quite mature. It was fabulous, anyone who likes foxes will love it.

Try and tell me that isn't terrifying?

xoxo



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