Throwback - LFW

I thought I'd do a throwback post about my time during September's London Fashion Week as I realised I hadn't blogged about it and share my experience at Somerset House and working backstage at a show and how to get work experience during fashion week. 

I hope you enjoy my stories and pictures I can't wait for February when I can do it all over again do any of you go to London Fashion Week? Let me know in the comments what your fashion week experience has been.

Dress - Zara

Knitted Vest - Zara

Hat - Topshop

Bag - Urban Outfitters

Boots - Zara

Socks - Topshop

Sunglasses - River Island

Fay (Centre) Wore:

Knitted Dress - H&M

Bag - New Look

Doc Martins

Cobi (Right) Wore:

Top - Asos

Trousers - Asos

I found that September's fashion week was a calmer atmosphere than the buzz and excitement in February maybe it was the remains of a laid-back summer attitude although the crowd at Somerset House were still impeccably dressed. 

My friend and housemate Fay pictured before is a Music Journalism student and me and my fellow fashion friends convinced her to try out fashion week and see what she thought of 'our world' and she said 'It's like a celebration of personal style.. different to what I thought it would be'. I always enjoy fashion week, the atmosphere that it brings, the new collections to feast my eyes on and to be surrounded by people who all have the same love of fashion is always inspirational.

I worked backstage as a dresser for Ashish for their Spring/Summer 2015 show which was a really exciting experience to be involved in the madness behind the walls of the catwalk and cameras even getting to meet the designer himself and chatting to the staff. Pictured above is the two looks that I dressed for the show I was lucky to have a lovely model to work with and the atmosphere backstage was really upbeat with it being the last day of fashion week everyone was enjoying the last day.

How did I get the experience?

I simply went on the London Fashion Week website and looked at all the shows that were scheduled and clicked on several designers and emailed the contact details given or went on the designers website and found a contact email on there to email my CV and cover letter to. Ashish was the only company to respond positively as I didn't have any direct contact details so I could only use general query contacts but if I hadn't of tried that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere, with determination and several emails you can get anywhere!

When I first arrived we met the team and head designer then while the team set up the rails us dressers where free to watch the Fashion East show that was on which was so great as I love the designers at Fashion East they always have such innovative designs. Unfortunately due to unsteady scaffolding a builder fell from the ceiling backstage and an ambulance was called to help the man it was an awful sight to see but the show kept going on and the man was took to hospital. Quickly the Ashish rails replaced Fashion East's as soon as their show finished and I set the shoes and accessories with my looks as the models were in hair and make up (think tinsel clip-ins and glittery eyes) then the show was in motion and it was over far too quickly. I didn't even consider it work as I was having too much fun being involved in it all and I definitely hope to work next Fashion Week I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in fashion as you get to see the clothes before the audience.

If you have any more questions about my LFW experience ask me in the comments I'm happy to answer!

Welcome to the Coven

Faux Fur Jacket - Zara

Hat - Topshop

Dress - H&M

Boots - Zara

Bag - Urban Outfitters

It's my favourite day of the year Halloween and today I've went for an American Horror Story Coven themed outfit which is a subtle nod to the Salem witches with a black fedora, long loose dress which swings off the body and pointed leather boots. I threw on my faux fur jacket to keep the chills away and grabbed my leather doctors bag to go, for my make up I kept it simple and just added some dark grey shadow to the inner lips to give that 'dead' look. Today consists of running around grabbing last minute decorations, drinks to put in the witches brew, a pumpkin spiced latte and creating my make up look for tonights dusk til dawn party in Greenwich with London's creatures of the night.

What are you up to this Halloween?

Let me know in the comments!

Collective Fall Clothing Haul

I thought I'd share with you the purchases I've made for Fall these include some bargains that I've snagged from the sales and of course they're mainly all black as soon as the the wind drops and Autumn arrives I tend to cover myself in layers of black. 

Grey Marl Jersey Drape Tunic - Zara

£12.99 in the sale

I saw this while rooting through the infamous Zara sale and love the drape on the front of it as it creates a really unusual silhouette and is a great layering piece worn with tights and ankle boots or leggings and trainers, completely justified.

Lightning Bolt Jumper - Zara

£6.99 in the sale

I knew this was a 'me' purchase as soon as I saw it I love anything that has a slight cartoon/humour take on fashion and these lightning bolts are so cute I know I'll be wearing this all through Halloween season and such a bargain too!

Mesh Dress - Ashish For Topshop

£35 in the sale

I thought this would be a good layering piece and to wear for a night out in London over a black slip and tights and a leather jacket and ankle boots I like the cheeky cross embellishment design on it which adds a youthful tongue and cheek effort to it. I might as well wear this when I'm 19 and can get away with it before my youth vanishes away.

Black Jamie Ripped Jeans - Topshop

£42

A staple in every winter wardrobe I needed some new black jeans and decided to revert back to the Jamie jeans after hating the Joni and Leigh ones and I love the ripped knees on these I have them in white also. Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with Topshop jeans like me?

Fluffy Black Crop Jumper - Topshop

£7 in the sale

I spotted this bargain amongst the remains of the Topshop sale and even though I had this jumper in pastel blue last August I spilt an orange drink down the front so I figured a repurchase in black would be a valuable idea even though it's a couple sizes bigger, more warmth.

Black Cami - Topshop

£6 in the sale

I don't have any basic tops which you would think would be the staple of any wardrobe so I figured I need to invest in simple tops that can be transitioned into any outfit and I have wore this cami constantly since I bought it.

Black Mesh Detail Cami - Oasis

£7 in the sale

This is a really soft thick jersey that has a front seam which makes it fit better and satin bindings on the straps and neckline which make a basic that bit better.

Bird Print Oversized Tee - Topshop

£8 in the sale

I am a sucker for oversized tee's to lounge around in and I love the print on this it almost looks like an intricate tattoo design and looks great with the previous skinny ripped jeans.

Grey Pinstriped Trousers - Topshop

£10 in the sale

I had my eye on these trousers when I saw them in the sale but every Topshop store I went to they never had my size but finally I found them and I love wearing them with a black cami and patent leather flats they are the comfiest trousers ever the fabric is a wool and really soft against the skin.

Black Suede Shorts - Kate Moss for Topshop

£35 in the sale

I loved all the Kate Moss collection and when I saw these runner shorts in the sale I thought they'd look great with trainers, leather ankle boots and a big winter coat and tights on, a really good summer piece that can be worked into winter.

Duster Coat - Asos

£25 in the sale

I have not stopped wearing this jacket since the weather started to get colder it goes with everything (since most of what I wear is black) and can be dressed up with heels or worn casually with jeans and as it's slim fitting it can be worn under a winter coat in the colder months.

What have you bought for Fall?

Let me know in the comments!

Birmingham Haul

This is the first of three hauls that I've got to go up (I know I should be ashamed) but I see this as getting all my Fall clothes that I needed to go back to uni with I mean I couldn't exactly be wandering around in little summer dressers and sandals anyways I should probably stop with the excuses and get on with the haul...

if you've saw my last post you'll know I went to Birmingham to visit my friend Bekki and I done a little shopping while I was there I picked up some clothing, make up and things for my house.

First thing I picked up was this mug from Urban Oufitters for £9 which I thought would be great for my new house in September and of course this sums up how I'd like to be, take with a pinch of salt.

I found this cocktail shaker in Asda which I thought would be really handy for when I decide to be spontaneous and try to make cocktails this even has the measurements for different cocktails and a measuring shot glass it was only £2.

I'd been wanting to try a heavier coverage foundation and as I had broke out in lots of spots and we were going out on the night so I went to the MAC store and asked one of the make up artists to help see what shade I needed to get. We found that NC20 was the the best colour to match to my body and he explained that while NC10 would match my face colour it would be too pale against my body and he said that if I blended this on my face and down my neck it matched perfectly and gave some colour to my face. This is the MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation which is a medium to high coverage depending on how much you apply I've found I don't need to apply powder with this as it gives a natural look already. I've wore it twice since then and found it hides my spots really well and gives a healthy glow to my face I'd only use this foundation for nights out or days when I have lots of blemishes I want to cover.

I also picked out another pan for my palette I chose 'Print' which is a smoky grey and is soft and easily blended I needed to have a grey eye shadow as I gave my sister my Benefit Smokey Eyes Palette which had the grey I used for smokey eyes but I wasn't using anything else in the palette. I've been really enjoying experimenting with different grey smokey eyes I feel like it's such a classic look and you can add pinks to make it soft and feminine, or dark greens and browns for a sultry earthy look. I'll do a tutorial soon on my go-to smokey eye look as everyone asks me how to do a classic smokey eye and this is one make up trick that everyone should know.

 When we were just finished shopping I spotted the Chanel counter in the corner of my eye and found that I had some money left over to get a little treat so I almost ran over to sneakily purchase the Le Volume De Chanel mascara (£25) as I used this mascara last summer and loved it. This is my favourite mascara I have ever used and trust me I have tried a lot this gives you false lashes within two minutes and can create a subtle flirty wink with a stroke of the wand or dramatic show-stopping lashes I also love this packaging, sleek and monochrome.

Zara Fur Coat - £69.99

I had my eye on this jacket since I tried it on a few weeks ago and decided that it would be the perfect transitional coat to go to Fall with and it is so soft it's like having a hug and as I don't have a pet to give me furry cuddles this will have to do. (Don't worry guys it's faux fur in case you were about to throw paint at your screens)

River Island Printed Trousers - £40 

I saw this trousers in River Island and absolutely loved the fabric it has this diamond print indented on it with this monochrome floral print over it I am normally never pick out anything floral but I love the more gothic approach with these and can't wait to wear them. I'm also in that rubbish in-between sizes stage where size 10 is a bit too big but the 8 is a bit too small hopefully I'll lose some weight so I can be a bit more of a proportionate size as from the waist up I'm an 8.

Topshop Knotted Jersey Dress - £32

I saw this maxi dress and I have a similar one like this from Topshop but body con and racerback style and I've been wearing it quite a lot recently so I decided to get this one as the jersey is really good quality and I love how the knot feature hides my hips and most of my stomach. This is a great piece that never really goes out of style and can be worn for lazy days about the house or dressed up and for daytime it's always handy to have jersey pieces like this in as they work into so many different outfits.

I picked this up in Primark for £8 to go with my trousers I bought but I'm not sure if I'll end up using it I'm just not a bag person at all I'll usually just have one bag that I use for everything and keep that until it's falling apart and forced to buy a new one. 

Have you bought anything for Fall recently?

Steph