Life as a Fashion Intern

After having an interview for a paid internship the other day (which sadly I did not get) and speaking to 6 other girls at the assessment day, I've realised that all fashion interns have experienced the same soul-crushing treatment over and over. We chatted about this whilst eyeing up our competition and secretly thinking 'oh god please let it be me getting my first proper paid job.'

So here are just a few of the situations fashion interns are faced with every day ...

1. Trying to look like the latest Vuitton, Acne and Chloe cookbooks when you are skint trying to style out last years Primark.

2. Having to eat last nights dinner left-overs for your packed lunch whilst surrounded by Pret, Itsu and Benugo.

3.Having to look your employed friends in the eye when they ask 'do you enjoy interning?'and silently nod and smile because they just won't understand. 

4.Going to multiple interviews and being told that you are overqualified by some and under qualified by others! Will the vicious cycle ever end...

5. Finding yourself drooling over the samples that get thrown around the office like thrift-store garments.

6. Having to style out the comfiest flats you own as your bound to be sent out on a 40 minute wild goose chase around London.

7. Knowing you could go and apply for any regular office job but don't because you're so desperate for your dream job that you'll live with mum and dad until your 30.

8. Having to pretend that you haven't just seen Kate Moss enter the building, it's no big deal, and you haven't just texted your entire contact list to record the incident. 

9.Remembering when you thought that interning would be glamorous but have now come to terms with the reality that sometimes you even have to take the boss's dog out to do a number two (this one might have just been me)

10. Thinking it's the end of the day, oh no you silly intern you've just been given 4 more tasks to do before tomorrow morning, hurry along you little unpaid being...

Real Techniques Vs Pinterest

For around a year I would have sworn by my homemade makeup brush remedy (courtesy of Pinterest) to clean my brushes, whilst also keeping their texture and shape. This Christmas I was gifted the Real Techniques Brush Cleanser, and instantly had myself thinking 'Well this is nice but I've got my home remedy that is cheap and effective.' I spoke too soon. My usual remedy of water, shampoo, olive oil, and hand soap (don't knock it till you try it!) takes a good 5-10 minutes to soak and clean your brushes, and having tries other cleansers decided this was the best and cheapest solution to wash my brushes monthly.

 When I eventually tried my new product I found the whole process 5x faster and easier than ever before! Although I am ashamed to say I didn't follow the instructions word-for-word, instead I half-filled an old glass with water and then put 4 drops of the solution in. Upon putting my brushes in the solution I could see the product work instantly, only taking 1-2 minutes to work its magic! I will never be going back to my old remedy(unless i'm too broke to afford the Real Techniques product)and can honestly say that this is the best brush cleanser I have ever used. I can't wait to buy their Cleansing Brush Palette and use both products together! 

K.

Super Smoothies

Now i'm not one for smoothie diets and food replacement meals, but I can't deny that I love a good cup of blended goodness to start off my day! It's one of the easiest ways to make sure you're getting at least five fruit and veg in your diet. As I love smoothies so much I thought i'd share my simple format for juicing along with my current favourite combo. You simply chose one or two ingredients from each section to create your own healthy snack...

Base: Milk, soy milk, almond milk,coconut milk, coconut water, water, ice

Second Base: Orange juice, tropical juice, apple juice, pineapple juice

Thickeners: Banana, greek yoghurt, natural yoghurt(flavoured if you wish)

Main fruit: Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, grapes etc.

energy-kick: Spinach, Kale, raisins, goji berries, chia seeds, mara powder

Sweetner: Honey, cocoa powder, nut butter(peanut,cashew,almond), coconut flakes, cinnamon, chai latte powder

My Current favourite: Banana, raspberries, natural yoghurt, honey and pineapple juice

K. 

Christmas Party Inspo

We are now well into December and if like me you are stressing about presents, money and Christmas festivities, there may be one thing you have overlooked... Christmas party gear! Too much worrying about getting your budget to stretch to Aunt Liv's Yankee Candle, but you haven't even thought of what to wear to the Christmas Work do, or the Boxing Day family get-together? 

Here's a few of my top picks from my go-to brands... 

Scrappy Chainmail Bodycon Dress from Topshop (£45)

ASOS Metallic Leather Skirt With Oversized Pockets (£70)

Karmen Burgundy Suede Heeled Shoes from Urban Outfitters (£75)

Oasis Faux Fur Clutch Bag (£16)

Velvet Bralet and Skirt from Topshop (£102)

ASOS Midi Skirt with Asymmetric Wrap(£45)

Dune Sadie Double Pouch Set in Nude (£20)

ASOS SAY YOU WILL Pointed Heels (£40)

Thanks for reading!

K.

K's Christmas WishList

Apologies for our short break in blog posting, it's been a busy few months! But we're back and will be posting weekly on our top picks, favourite items, products, tips and so much more.

It's almost that time of year again and I can just about hear those sleigh bells in the distance. So here's a few products I think everyone deserves on their wish list this holiday season...

 1. Diptyque Advent Calendar, £250

Inside are a selection of 25 mini candles, fragrances and body oils,  to keep you going for this holiday season!

2. Navy Fluffy Disk Keyring from Topshop, £6.50

This has to be one of this season's must have accessories, whether it's a keyring or on the end of a shoe, everybody loves a pom pom!

3. Water and Glitter iPhone 6 Case from Urban Outfitters, £20. 

Tis the season to be Sparkly! 

                                             

4. NAILSINC Snowglobe(£15) and Winter Lights (15). Just because we can't get enough of the glitter.

5. Dual-Intensity Blush - Vengeful from Nars Cosmetics, £25.50. The perfect way to give you skin a healthy glow for festivities. 

6. Last but not least, Benefits So Tintillating Makeup set, with Benetint Cheek and Lip Stain and Benebalm Lip Balm. An alternative to the previous selection if you prefer liquids to powders.

K.

AW15: Trends to Nail

Hope you have all enjoyed a well-deserved Summer break, I know I have! Unfortunately it's back to reality for now, but what better way to hit back than nailing this coming's A/W trends? Here's my pick of this season's major components ...

 Turtle Necks

Victoria Beckham, Topshop, J.W.Anderson

Faux Fur 

Gucci, Burberry, Topshop 

Flares

Adam Lippes, Topshop, Etro

Autumnal Browns 

Etro, Fendi, BCBG Max Azria

Chunky Knits

Victoria Beckham, Topshop, DKNY

Winter Florals 

                                                       Burberry, Erdem, Gucci

All the best

K.

Dry Shampoo Best Picks!

Festival season is well and truly upon us, and for those of you braving the mud pools and mosh pits here's my top three dry shampoos to get your hair through the weekend....

1. Tony&Guy Texture Dry Shampoo

Last but not least Tony&Guy's Matte Texture Dry Shampoo. This product can be used not only as a quick fix in the morning, but also as a beauty product even when you hair is already grease free. Due to the matte texture element of the product this can be used as a daily treatment when you hair is looking flat and dull. Simply spray on to give you hair that bouncy texture, perfect for a festival chic look!

2. Batiste Dry Shampoo with a hint of colour for light and blonde hair

This Dry shampoo is great for Blondes! This specific product is specifically for blonde hair, and has a hint of colour to reduce the white powdery substance often left after use. I highly recommend this product! For more information visit my previous post Batiste Dry Shampoo Review. I also recommend the Batiste Coconut and Exotic Tropical Dry Shampoo for a quick fix with a great smell. 

3. Percy and Reed's No-fuss Fabulous Dry Shampoo

This product is perfect for all hair-types! As a liquid based dry shampoo- rather than powder based- this treatment leaves hair feeling refreshed instantly without visible white remnants being left on you hair. Also perfect for adding texture to your hair, spray into your roots and run through with your hands to create a wild and free look perfect for that festival vibe. 

For those of you off to festivals I hope this post has helped you choose your go-to hair product!

K.

Summer Fitspiration

Yes ladies it's that time again... the beach body scare. If you started your Summer-body gym routine in January then you have absolutely nothing to worry about, but if you, alike myself, lost track of the dates and have now realised your holiday is only a few weeks away, don't fear! Here's a few tips to help yourself feel more comfortable slipping into that bikini... 

1. The Motivation

If you've got the motivation to get into your gym gear and start some exercise, you are already half way there. I can't count the amount of times i've cancelled a gym session due to sheer laziness. I find that sometimes just by buying myself a new item of fitness wear I am more keen to get myself to the gym, this has been as little as a new sports bra from Gap fit.

2. Goals

We need to be realistic with our goals, but this doesn't mean you can make excuses for not having enough time! Up your workout sessions by one or two extra a week, and if this isn't possible you could still do a 30 min workout in your living room. There are plenty of ab, leg and chest workout tips and tricks on Pinterest that you can do in the comfort of your own home. 

3. Fitness partner

This is also a form of motivation. I go to the gym with either one of my girl pals or my boyfriend, although I have been made aware many people wouldn't set foot in a gym along with their other half. I find that having two people I can train with helps enormously. This is because you are not merely letting yourself down if you don't go, but also the other person. When training with a friend you can do routine exercises that involve two people and if you miss one of these sessions then that other person has been left to train on their own. 

4. Fad Diets

I personally am very against numerous fad diets such as teatoxing, juicing and all these so called 'cleansing' courses. These are not a healthy way to loose weight and can cause serious harm to your body. Juicing is a great way to get multiple vitamins in one go, but should be done in addition to a healthy diet, not on it's own. instead of teatoxing try drinking more water, attempt to drink around two litres a day, this will make sure you keep hydrated and that you aren't feeling hungry due to dehydration. If you want to try any fad diets I recommend doing A LOT of research beforehand. 

5. Enjoy it!

Try and find a form of exercise you enjoy. Research shows that if you enjoy your exercise you are far more likely to benefit from it as you put more effort into the routine. Whilst at the gym I enjoy doing circuits but when these start to feel repetitive or boring I like to go to Body-Combat classes, Yoga or go for a run. I believe variety is key for an enjoyable fitness routine.  


K.

Savage Beauty

So although the long-time awaited exhibition of Alexander McQueen's Savage Beauty is now over two months old, due to high demand I have only recently been able to get my hands on a ticket. Last weekend I rushed myself down to the V&A to see exactly what the fuss was all about...

What stood out?

Each room held it's own atmospheric tone. Every room clashed with the previous and the next, sending a shiver down your spine as you were overwhelmed by the pure artistic emotion. This overpowering impact was created by both McQueen's designs and the décor of each section. 

What did I Learn?

As a lover of the late and great man himself, I thought I knew about most of his lines and the the inspiration behind them. But I did not. I learnt about designs that were even created before I was born, where McQueen trained- Gieves & Hawkes- and that this was a continuous underlying influence throughout his work.

What made it unique from any other fashion exhibition?

The use of multi-media throughout the rooms. There were screens showing the looks on the catwalk, 3D images of his work, and videos to accompanied them. In addition to this, the sound effects and décor of each room complimented the theme produced. 

Would you go again? 

I think this is an exhibition that I could visit again and again, and always find something new. McQueen's work is extraordinary and unique. 


K.

Indy Work Experience

After my first week interning for the fashion desk at The Independent I thought I'd share how my experience has been so far ...

1- Before beginning my experience I was asked to sign a contract of consent which allowed me to refuse any tasks, and also said there may be times where I may not have any jobs to do. 

2- My first day was wonderful! The team which I was working with were very welcoming and eased me into my tasks as I was using a number of programmes which were new to me. 

3- Although I was not paid for this experience it has been worth the forty minute daily commutes into London!

4- I previously considered myself to have a reasonable amount of knowledge about the fashion industry, but have learnt a number of new things through article research and working alongside the team.

5- I have held real responsibility in tasks such as contacting brands PRs for specific duties such as requesting samples, as well as creating schedules for press release dates. 

6- I also assisted a menswear shoot in which I helped with a number of tasks. 

My first week has been great and I hope my second is just as good!

Thanks for reading!

K.

London Fashion Week AW15

So another fashion week has passed and we got to see some amazing talent flaunted on the catwalk, both models and designs. So to celebrate yet another very successful fashion week in London here are a few snaps of my favourite shows and trends...

Burberry

Undoubtedly my favourite show of the week! With a range of beautiful autumnal colours and the distinct use of tassels and suede, what's not to love? 

House of Holland

Not only did they showcase their usual fun, bright and out-there style pieces, but they choose to do it in a unique way using a Travelator!  

Anya Hindmarch 

Anya Hindmarch is always able to take something simple such as cereal and turn it into a fashion trend, and this time the theme its traffic! She showcased her handbags alongside a debut collection of clothing. 

So those were my top 3 pics of February's London Fashion Week!

K.