London Fashion Interns

Hi Everyone! I've been taking a mini break from Stray for the past couple of months, getting to grips with my new job, enjoying summer, but most importantly I've been working on a brand new project called London Fashion Interns. 

LFI is a community to come and share your internship experience with others or read about other peoples experiences in fashion internships. The day to day tasks, the ins and outs, in order to let others discover what being a fashion intern is all about. There are thousands of fashion companies and hundreds of different job titles within each one. Interning is a right of passage in most companies, therefore knowing what each one entails, how to get by and get the best from yours is a great way to get where you want to be with ease. LFI can also act as a support system for struggling interns. It’s a very competitive industry to be in, especially being paid next to nothing. Reading about other interns, knowing you’re not the only one struggling, how each person is coping and the option to contact each other is a great way to make it a bit better for everyone.

The idea for LFI came about in a rather simple way. Before starting my internship at Vivienne Westwood I wanted to do a bit of research to see what doing an internship there or in PR would be like, having never done an internship before. After browsing for a good hour on the web I found nothing, and LFI was born. 

A community website where people can share their internship experience with each other.  For those wanting to learn about the fashion industry, for those who’ve never done an internship before and for those who may want to branch out into different fields but don’t know much about it, this is the place for you.

We've already had a few contributors including fashion bloggers, Katie Meadway from http://www.aimabovelimits.co.uk/ and Essy Park from http://www.noirfairy.com on their experiences as fashion Interns. If you would like to read about them, head over to http://www.londonfashioninterns.co.uk. 

We are also looking for more contributors to talk about their internship in fashion. You don't have to be a blogger, or even live in London, but if you've done a fashion internship, we would love to hear about your experience! It's so simple to apply, simply head to the 'Get Featured' on the site, fill in the form and send it back to us via the email: londonfashioninterns@live.com and you'll be on the site for all to see within a few days! All we ask is that you share your post on your social channels to help us spread the word. 

We're very excited about this project and we hope to speak to some of you soon!

https://twitter.com/ldnfashinterns

New Flat

Apologies for my recent absence, but with moving into a flat comes the joys of landlords, bills and no internet for three weeks. Thankfully we are getting Talk talk in next week so I can get back into posting! In the mean time, I thought I would show you a few snaps of my new pad, which I'm sharing with a girl I went to Uni with. I am very house proud with this one, its in a great location (right near camden and only 20 mins to work) and its really coming together with our little homey touches! These photos were taken just after we moved in, so its a little more lived in now, but you get the gist! 

I will be back to posting about fashion-y things next week!

Vivienne Westwood Internship

You have probably guessed, I've got some rather big news! 

I decided a while back to take the plunge and move to London. 

With the pursuit of getting a job in the fashion industry in mind, I started applying for internships and such, but after a failed interview at Motel Rocks I wasn't having much luck. 

Pretty much the same day, my dad rang me saying "how fast can you get to London to work for Vivienne Westwood?" 

After a bit of explanation, it turns out my Uncle knows someone who's daughter is Viv's right hand woman, well for Press anyway (Laura McCuaig). As reluctant as I was to accept help from others and to make it on my own, this was one contact I just couldn't turn down! 

She put me in contact with Jess Moloney, who also works in the Press Office, and after a few exchanged emails and a phone interview, I was offered the three month internship! 

From what I could gather I will be dealing with samples, helping to organise press days and keeping the showroom neat and tidy. 

I start this wednesday and I am so excited! 

You may have seen what's been said in the news about her supposed exploitation of interns. Well I say, if you want something bad enough, you have to be willing to work for free for it. In such a saturated and competitive market such as fashion, what do you expect! 

And not only that but work hard whilst working for free. 

I am baffled by anyone who goes into a job and does it half arsed. You're there to work, to make an impression, so why not (for want of a better phrase) put 110% into it? It doesn't matter if you're getting 1 mil a minute or tuppence a day! And that also means being more than happy to make the tea, run half way across London for a sample and of course, the photocopying. 

You will only be rewarded for your efforts surely? Instead of being known for your laziness and unapproachable attitude. 

I started out picking up dog poo as a volunteer for the Animal Shelter, just so I could play with dogs. So I am very willing (if not privileged!) to work for an iconic British Designer just so I can get a proper job in fashion! 

I will be working here, at the Press Office on Conduit Street. I will be blogging about my experience there and the things I get up to, and I really hope its a great experience. I have all the faith that it will be! 

Finally, here are some of my favourite Looks from the S/S 14 collection in Paris.

Interview blues

This post is going to be half rant, half 'name and shame', all about Monsoon. 

I thought I would put this out there because I found the way I was treated by this company was degrading and frankly disgusting, especially as a struggling grad looking for work, like many others. 

So, at the moment I'm applying for jobs in London for my big move there in September. I have a degree in International Fashion Marketing and so applied for the Merchandising Admin Assistant role for Monsoon on the off chance, knowing that I have studied merchandising roles (so I know what they involve) and have experience in admin. 

I was surprised and excited when I received an email for the Monsoon careers office asking me when I'd be available for a telephone interview. After booking the time slot, re arranging my work shifts around this and then spending hours preparing standard interview answers to what I thought would be an interview, I did not expect to be treated the way I was. 

After answering the call from my 'interviewer' she immediately asked me why I even wanted the merchandising role as I have a marketing degree. I replied because I'm interested in the field, have studied it as a module, and want to work for a large company. She told me that I would find the role boring, questioned what I knew about it (and when I answered told me I was wrong) and with a very patronising tone suggested that I try for marketing positions in future as I 'clearly' do not have a passion or an understanding of merchandising. 

Before I even put the phone down I was in tears. Not only because I'd been made to feel small, insignificant and had all my confidence battered out of me in one swift phone call but mainly because I was in shock. 

After being told I was to have an 'interview' for the position, I did not get asked one interview question but instead was basically asked why I had even bothered to apply for the role. 

Maybe it was fair of her to ask why I thought I was qualified, maybe she didn't think I had a genuine passion for the role, but then if so, WHY ASK ME FOR AN INTERVIEW?! This is the thing that really bugged me. Why even ask me for an interview when you don't think I'm qualified or passionate! 

The whole thing really upset me, and I have written a strongly worded email about it to them. However I highly doubt that this made a spot of difference to how they are treating candidates who have shown a genuine interest in the company. The whole situation has surprised and baffled me to my very core. 

But like all other graduates struggling to find a good job, that is worthy of the constant rejection and your time, I have to keep my head up and keep trying. But I can tell you all now, I will never step foot into Monsoon again. 

Do you think I was treated unfairly? Please leave comments below!

Man of Steel Premiere

Last week was all about Superman. 

The Hollywood and London Premieres were massive and luckily, the man of the hour Henry Cavill being from Jersey, we got our very own special Premiere. 

For anyone who has been to Jersey, you'll know that nothing happens here, ever. For those of you who haven't, it's the type of place where you'll find a gripping story about a potato on the front page of the evening news, so this was a big deal. 

Russell Crowe, Amy Adams and of course Henry came along to the local cinema, where the red carpet was laid and crowds of fans lined the rails to get autographs and pictures with the stars. 

It was a fun event and we got to meet Russell Crowe! Here are some pictures from the evening...

 

I was bored last Friday so did these nails, of which the only person that noticed was a small boy at the premiere. 

Amy Adams was such a beauty, but she has the weirdest signature I've ever seen. 

Cavill loving the attention. 

And the ridiculous smiles from meeting Russ, despite what people say, he was lovely! 

The film has already made millions and is a big hit in the box office, and guaranteed it will be on in our local news for years! Despite this, I did feel a pang of pride knowing a big star was from our tiny island, and I'm excited to watch the film.  

BINTM Insta-Model Competition!

As we all know, Britain and Ireland Next Top Model starts back up again very soon with season 9, and to celebrate this, Sky Living have made an insta-model competition in which 3 challenges will be set, you enter any or all and see if you win! This can be done on Instagram or Twitter and the winner of one challenge will win a Tresemme goodie bag, howeverrrr if you are the overall winner, decided by the public, you and a friend will be pampered in a weekend stay in London!

The first challenge is POUT, a chance for all the duck face selfies to be in full whack. 

This challenge is Dannii's and lasts from today at 12pm until next Monday June 3rd, all you have to do is hash tag #BINTM and #pout in your picture, so get pouting girls! 

This is taken from the Sky Living website: 

"Entrants will be judged on the extent to which photos they have submitted demonstrate they have responded to the challenge with enthusiasm, creativity and imagination. The image should feel fun, playful and have good composition. "

I found this quite interesting, it kind of adds to the challenge! 

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely going to give it a go! May even post my entry on here, but don't hold your breath!

I can't wait to see the first entries and if you want to take a look at the comp, here is the link: 

http://skyliving.sky.com/britain-and-irelands-next-top-model/bintm-insta-model-competition

In the mean time, here are some famous pouts to get you all inspired, good luck girls (and guys!)

The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt

The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt has been on since February, with over 200 crafted eggs from designers, artists, architects and jewellers placed around London. From uber arty to frivolously funny, here are just a few of my favourites from this years entries. Visit the website for a look at more inspirational eggs. Bidding ends tomorrow! 

All images taken from http://www.thebigegghunt.co.uk/

Egg & Soldiers

Mulberry 

Teflon

Mary Katrantzou 

Stud 

Hannah Martin 

Egg Lantine 

Yuka Aruga

Tree of Life

Isharya for Wolf and Badger

Egg Letter Box

Benjamin Shine

 Panda The BlackRock Asian Egg
Jessica Graham

The Egg Projection

Bellerby Globemakers 

Jill Berelowitz

 Anima Mundi - 'Awakening the soul of the world'

Jason Bruges Studio

Chicken

Where's Wally? 

Martin Handford

MOONBOW

BULL

When I Grow Up

Anna Masters