Thank you ASOS!!

After a rather hectic incident involving running around with no pants on and a few days of waiting, I have finally received my Access All ASOS package!

It almost arrived on Friday, but having just woke up in a t-shirt and undies I had to frantically run around trying to find some pants to slip in to. I finally managed to find some hidden under the mounds of clothes on my floordrobe, put them on (backwards) and ran downstairs only to find one of those pesky red notes telling me I had to wait until Monday to pick it up. But I got it in the end!!

(please excuse the grainy picture that has been blown up from my phone)

I thought that the hand written note was really sweet and it showed that the ASOS team actually took notice of what was on everyone's applications. I'm currently testing out the nail polish - I love the colour but it's taking ageeees to dry and although I'm not really a jewellery person, I think this 'LOVE' necklace will be the perfect start to my collection! 

I can't wait for all the invitations to start rolling in. So far we'd had three, two of which I've shown an interest in, but I don't know if I'll get picked. Fingers crossed!!

xxx

I'm an ASOS Insider!!!

A short while ago (I've been rather busy recently so I've completely lost track of time) I applied online at ASOS to join their Access All ASOS team. Obviously I never thought I'd actually become one and I totally forgot about it, but then yesterday I received an email to tell me that I'd been successful!

For those of you that don't know, Access All ASOS is the opportunity for a selection of their most loyal fans to gain access to the latest news and information from ASOS. This includes their new collections, chances to visit ASOS HQ and supposedly the odd freebie or discounts. Sounds appealing, right?

I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this and I really hope I get the opportunity to take part in some of the stuff they have on offer. It's only just kicked off, but I hope to let you know if I get to participate in any of these amazing events. Applications for 2013 have now closed, but they'll be taking on more applications next year so keep your eyes peeled!

Step Up New Look

New Look has slipped under my radar for quite some time now, but after browsing around on their website and nipping in to store a few weeks ago, my system is blinking and telling me that this is going to become my new go-to shop for affordable but on trend pieces!

Many of my shopping hours have been spent frustrated over how expensive the likes of Topshop and Urban Outfitters are, but never satisfied with the replicas that the likes of Primark offer. Enter New Look. I'm a fan of the prices, the quality and the clothes! Should I feel bad that I've always underestimated this brand? Well, here's how I'm making up for it. I've pulled together a tonne of style surprises from their website, which I wouldn't be surprised to find in the more expensive, edgy high street shops.  

1. Chunky Black Heels

2. Chiffon Cami

3. Asymmetric Wrap Skirt

4. Black Embroidered Dress

5. Biker Coat

6. Geometric A-Line Skirt

7. Jacquard High Neck Cami

8. Chunky Gladiator Sandals

I already own the two cami's. I thought that £18 for the one's in Topshop were a bit too expensive for just a simple vest, but the £5 one's in Primark were a really odd fit. So I was met in the middle by New Look who offered me this chiffon cami for just £10. I've also been a bit of a jacquard fan recently, so the other vest was perfect for me!!

I'm in love with both pairs of shoes, and they look like something you'd spot in Topshop!! The dress featured is also the spit of this Urban Outfitters dress that I was lusting over for months but refused to part with £52 for.

How do you feel about New Look? Are there any other stores that you underestimated for some time?

Kimono Krazy!

Fabulously flowy, delightfully delicate and beautifully bohemian! I'm in love with this oriental inspired trend. To be honest, I love anything that's going to add a bit of a boho vibe to an outfit, and with the glorious weather we're having at the moment, minus the terrestrial rain, the next-to-nothing material and loose fit is perfect to avoid any unattractive sweating, whilst still looking like the cool kids at Coachella. 

Kimonos are available practically everywhere at the moment, and you'll find them in all sorts of styles, from the traditional oriental florals to bang-on-trend modern neons! Here's a round up of my favourite kimonos to suit all occasions, as well as how I styled up my own knitted version!

Formal

1. Black Lace Kimono - New Look, £19.99

2. Blazer Kimono - ASOS, £40

3. Mono Kimono Jacket - Urban Outfitters, £50

 Modern

1. Lime Embroidered Kimono - Topshop, £65

2. Blue Mandala Print Kimono - Motel or ASOS, £45

3. Vintage Floral Kimono - ASOS, £65

4. Textured Stripe Kimono - ASOS, £50

Traditional 

1. Bird Print Kimono - Topshop, £55

2. Oriental Kimono - Miss Selfridge, was £55 now £30

3. Canton Kimono - Motel, £48

And here's how I styled my Topshop knitted kimono. I love the burnt orange colour!!

What's your opinion on kimono's? Love the oriental look, or think they're best left for fancy dress?

Intern Diaries: Week 2

The tasks for my second week as an intern were similar from the first week. The whole internship has involved a lot of social media. I'm happy I get such a big role when it comes to this and I am completely trusted to update all the social networking websites with whatever I want! I even set the brand up with a Lookbook account. 

Here's how my week went:

Day 1 - The first day of the week saw us photographing all the shoes we didn't get the chance to shoot at the weekend. We also made a fun little video of us dancing around in the shoes. There was some seriously funky footwork going on! Only a few of the shoes were my size so I don't think I can quite call myself a foot model just yet.

Day 2 - I had to upload pictures of all the sale items to our Facebook and Pinterest pages. This was a pretty tedious task but I guess it's the interns job to do all the nitty gritty stuff. I was also given the task of creating a few mood boards for the new collection whilst looking after the shop. We finally received the shots from the photo shoot at the weekend, so another tedious job was lined up - uploading all the items to ASOS Marketplace. Hurrah!

Day 3 - As well as becoming a foot model this week, I also gave hand bag and scarf modelling a try. All these pictures were also uploaded to ASOS Marketplace. More social media work was done, and it was today I set up the Lookbook account! I also started using their Chictopia account again which had been lying dormant for quite some time. 

Day 4 - My final day! Myself and some of the other interns spent the day in the shop whilst working on the brand's social media. We even got cake because it was on of the interns' birthdays over the weekend! It was a nice final day to have despite the weather welding my bottom to my seat! 

I really enjoyed my time and I feel like I learnt so much in such a short space of time. Of course I'd love to intern at bigger companies, but it's true that you get a real hands on experience on smaller brands because the team is so much smaller! Everyone was so friendly and I intend on going back for another two weeks later on in the holidays, but I need to time to relax and catch up on my college work first!

Please leave any questions, I'd love to hear from you!!

Intern Diaries: The Photo-shoot

Don't get your hopes up thinking that this was some high end, glamorous photo shoot. It wasn't. All the prep was done in the tiny office, the shots were done just outside our building using only a camera, and we had about sixty different outfits with three different make-up looks on two different models to shoot in the space of about six hours. Talk about hectic!

My job was primarily just to carry the masses of clothes around with me to allow for super fast changing, with a few opinions on the styling and direction of the shoot thrown in. I found myself peering over the photographers shoulder to get a peep of the photos - and they looked fab! It's amazing what a bit of make-up, some natural light and a decent camera can do! They're gonna be the coolest shots on ASOS Marketplace - watch out!

It was great to be able to get so involved with the photo shoot, even though the brand is only small, and the team even tinier. I'd love to be able to experience a full on glam editorial for Vogue, but that's setting my hopes a little to high, don't ya think? Regardless, the whole day was so much fun and the lovely weather made it even better!

The shoot just consisted of product shots for ASOS Marketplace, so it was quite technical in that we had to show off the clothes accurately, with views from all angles, and we had to apply the no flash and no editing rules that ASOS enforce. We gathered quite a crowd! The professionals on the shoot such as the make-up artist and male model were confused as to why people found this interesting but it isn't something you see everyday! At least I haven't seen a shoot take place before. If I was one of them I'd be stopping and staring too! Heck, I'd put my jacket on the ground and sit and watch!!

It was a loooong day. I arrived at 10am, and didn't leave till 8pm. We weren't expecting it to take so long but it was well worth it. The shots look great, it was a fun day and I can now say I've assisted on a photoshoot. Win win all round!

Intern Diaries: Week 1

So I managed to land myself an internship (which are pretty damn hard to find up here in Manchester) with a small start up brand based in the city centre. I was really happy when I found out I'd got it, because I had no experience what so ever, and they always say the first internship is the hardest to get, probably for that reason. 

I'm only there for two weeks, but hopefully I can go back later on in the holidays for another two weeks (as I'm pretty sure my best friend and my boyfriend are on holiday at the same time which is going to be mega torture for me, I need to keep myself occupied). 

So here's what I did in the first week:

Day one: A nervous me walked in to the studio, but was pleasantly surprised to find that everyone there was very nice and friendly, and I wasn't given too big a task on my first day. Myself and the other interns (who had already been there for a a week or two before me) were given plain t-shirts to customise and let our creative juices flow. It was a nice relaxed first day.

Day two: We started off the day by sketching some designs for the new collection, and then we were sent out to snap some street style shots (wow, talk about alliteration!) which we were very unsuccessful with because it was really early and no one was about. :( I had to do little errands throughout the day like nipping to the bank, and putting stickers on a huge pile of lookbooks. Then I was given the task to create a print for the upcoming collection which I was really excited about, although the speed of the computer that I was working on made the experience rather frustrating, and the fact I was using macs which I've hardly used before. I was also sent to work in the shop they have in Affleck's for a couple of hours.

Day three: I spent the first half of the day working on the different social media websites the brand has which included making a Pinterest board, and a sort of 'steal her style' celebrity look sheet using pieces from the brand, which I then uploaded to their Facebook page. When I came back after my lunch break, a photo shoot for ASOS Marketplace was being organised which I helped with, then we all spent the rest of the day styling for the shoot which was so much fun!! I can't wait to actually attend the shoot and assist with everything! :D

Day four: Today was a very tiring day. I write this having just woken up from a nap. The morning was spent locating all the items that we needed for the shoot which was a huge task considering the amount of clothes that are crammed in to such a tiny office space. After this I was sent to work in the shop, where I spent my day on the laptop checking the social media sites, and I also got to create my 'pick of the week' from the items in store, as well as an outfit post on ASOS Fashion Finder and I also did some more designs for the upcoming collection. 

I think working for a small brand is really great because you get much more of a hands-on experience. I wasn't expecting to be given so much responsibility. I was half expecting to be stuck in a little corner with a list as long as my arm of mundane little tasks to do, but so far I feel like I've really contributed to the brand and learnt a lot. The hours are quite long, but I only work 4 days a week, and the experience is definitely worth it!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about the first week on my internship, and that this post wasn't too lengthy. I will have another post up by Monday talking about my experience on the photo shoot, and then another post up next Friday covering my second week as an intern! So please check back if you'd like to hear more!! :)

Please leave any questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you! xx

Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model: Devastated!!

This is post is well overdue! I started it and then saved it in my drafts to return to another day, but never did. Oops! 

Bascially, I was just going to rant about how jealous I was of the girls for being able to work with those hot male models (and topless may I add!). And also that I'm devastated that Jess went home. She was probably my favourite, on par with Naomi, and to see her go home to my least favourite (Abigail) was just too heartbreaking. I don't like Abigail's look; I don't think she looks like a model and she should have gone home. I definitely think they made the wrong decision, and I'm going to miss Jess in tonight's episode.

What do you think? Are you happy that Jess went home?

Invading my dad's wardrobe!

Who thought you could find stuff to wear from your dad's wardrobe!? Ok, a lot of people. This trend isn't a new thing, but my dad doesn't have any of those cool patterned shirts that are oh-so-stylish on us girls, not him, at the moment. But I did manage to scavenge this belt, and considering I've been searching for good width black (ok this is dark brown) belt, I'd consider this a huge success!

1. Cardigan - Topman

2. Shirt - H&M

3. Belt - My dad's

4. Shorts - eBay (brand unknown)

5. Shoes - Topshop

Whilst we're all gathered here, can I just congratulate myself on snapping up these denim bad boys for less than a fiver! I don't know if you've ever tried to find a pair of cheap Levi's (or other alternative) on eBay, but you can't usually bag yourself a decent pair for under £15! Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Levi's anyway; they don't stretch much and their idea of 'high waisted' isn't as high as I like. I'm very happy with this purchase.

 Especially since before I bought these, I didn't own a single pair on denim shorts. I'm sorry, but denim shorts are too much of a staple piece for me not to have in my wardrobe, and the amount of times I've thought to myself "you know what, this would look great with some high waisted denim shorts", well! They had to be my next purchase.

Wild for Daisies

The daisy trend has been around for a couple of seasons, and just as the tears were filling my eyes in fear that this craze was coming to an end, the daisies have come back in full force, bringing with them other floral prints, like sunflowers which I am completely lusting for!

I don't know what it is about daisy prints that make them just so much more adorable than any other floral. Maybe because they make you think of the daisy chains you probably made when you were younger. Regardless, I need more daisy themed items in my wardrobe! 

I recently purchased this cute shirt off eBay (of course) originally from Warehouse. Although it's a little tight around the chest, I had to keep it because it was just so cute! I have also just discovered that Warehouse did a whole range of items in this gorgeous pattern, including pants, a bralet and dress. Give me them now please!

Another pattern I'm totally in love with is sunflower prints. I first noticed this summery pattern whilst browsing and eternally crying because I can't afford the stuff at American Apparel. This cute little shirt and shorts combo is on my wish list, but at £94 for the set (insane), I think I'll try and track them down on eBay instead.

You can purchase the top here and the shorts here!

Here are some of my other favourite floral finds!

1. Daisy Shorts - Motel, £38
2. Daisy Midi Dress - ASOS, £28
3. Daisy Tank Dress - Urban Outfitters, £42
4. Daisy Vest - Topshop, £30

I'm absolutely in LOVE the ASOS midi dress. I think it would look great toughened up with a pair of boots and a leather jacket. I also really love the midi length, since I hate showing my legs; this covers most of them up!

Are you a fan of the daisy print or are you bored of this floral fad? Let me know! xx

eBay Luck!

For a while, I've been a very unsuccessful eBay-er, often missing items that I'm watching and constantly getting outbid. But I recently snatched this jacket for under £10! Now that is what I call a success. I'm starting to feel like eBay loves me again.

Jacket - Trader, eBay

Floral Top - Topshop

Leather shorts - H&M

Jelly Shoes - Juju Jellies, Topshop

My blog is seriously lacking in look posts for a number of reasons; the variety in my wardrobe isn't very wide, I don't have a good quality camera, I have to take them myself using a self timer app and the whole process is just very time consuming! I hope to start doing more look posts as they seem to be the most popular, and my lookbook account was becoming rather dormant. It's also a good way to keep tabs on what I wear so I don't end up repeating my outfits too often.

Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!! :)

Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model: Makeovers!

I've got to honest, the standard of makeover's have been dropping in recent years. Remember the orange frizz bomb they gave Roxy last year? And when they chopped the hair off my fave model Lisa! She looked so much better with it long!

I found this years makeover's to be a bit disappointing, mostly due to the fact no one received that big of a change. The majority of the girls just got a trim and some highlights, with the most dramatic changes being a couple of full fringes added in! I was also a bit annoyed that two of the girls were given the opportunity to turn down their makeovers!

In some ways, the non-dramatic makeover's were a good thing because I thought that a lot of the girls already looked really great with the hair they had, but in some cases I thought a good makeover was desperately needed (*ahem* Emma). 

Overall, I'm happy with who went home. And I'm so glad Lauren got best photo! She's not one of my favourites but I think she really deserved it because her photo was fab, and in my opinion she should have got best photo last week too!

What's your opinion on the makeovers? I'd love to know who your favourites are!!! :)

Britain And Ireland's Next Top Model is back!

I'm a huge fan of all the Next Top Model shows, and I am delighted to announce (even though you probably already knew) that BINTM is back for their 9th series after what seems like far too long a wait! After America's finishes, Britain's tends to start immediately after, but Next Top Model hasn't graced British screens in months and I almost died with anticipation! Fortunately, we were awarded for our wait with two episodes on Thursday! The second episode was especially exciting as they did a mock cover for my favourite magazine COMPANY!!

I already have my favourites, but it's early days and they may change after the girls have had their makeovers. 

My four favourties: 

Naomi - Because she looks like a typical model (and I seem to favour towards fellow blondes)

Jessica - I think she is adorable and I love her crazy hair

Laura - She's gorgeous once those glasses and piercings are removed

Sophie - I just really love her look

Did you watch BINTM on Thursday? Who are your favourite models? Leave a comment, I'd love to know!

Tune in to Britain & Ireland's Next Top Model, Thursdays at 9pm on Sky Living

Primark at ASOS

Ahhhhh Primark. When we're running low on funds we can always turn to you to find affordable clothing. But it usually involves hopping on a bus, and then spending an hour trawling through the chaos to find a few items that are on the non-tacky side of cheap, when really I'd much rather do all that from the comfort of my own bed. 

As you all probably know, Primark doesn't have a proper website where you can buy their clothes online *sad face*. Enter ASOS. Leading online fashion retailer ASOS has teamed up with Primark and are offering a few of their pieces to buy on their website, for a limited time *happy face*!  At the moment Primark is just 'testing the waters' as they say, and seeing how the sales go. Hopefully, all being well, ASOS will soon enough offer a large selection of Primark's finest so we can all get a bargain without having to step outside!

I am personally very excited about this as I usually divert away from Primark because I'm too lazy to search through the ugly stuff to find the real (knock off) gems. Being able to filter through everything online would make this whole process much quicker and easier, and we've all been craving an online Primark shop for far too long now!

Check it out here: http://www.asos.com/search/primark?hrd=1&q=primark&SearchSuggestUsed=true

What do you think of ASOS stocking Primark? Are you overjoyed, or do you think this ruins ASOS's reputation of quality fashion? Leave your thoughts in the comment box below. I'd love to hear from you!!

It's a man's world!

Fortunately for us girls, it's deemed socially acceptable to walk around in men's gear, making the range of shops we can buy from even larger! The whole androgynous trend, which I'm rather fond of, has been around for a while, with celebrities such as Alexa Chung, Leighton Meester and Rihanna even taking it to the red carpets, opting daringly for suits over gowns. 

I think it's great that the men's section of shops is available to women as well. I myself am the proud owner of a couple of men's pieces including a big burgundy cardigan (which I'm never not wearing) from Topman. The men's section is great if you want over-sized pieces or a genuine 'boyfriend fit'. It's also great for customizing one-of-a-kind vests by hacking the sleeves off shirts and tees, and maybe even cropping them up to waist length, perfect for this summer (if we ever get some sun)!

I've pulled together some of my favourite androgynous pieces from the high street, these ones actually being from the women's department (because actual men's tailoring is something a woman probably shouldn't try to pull off):

Tile Cigarette Trousers - Topshop £42

Polka Dot Paisley Shirt - Urban Outfitters £45

Leather Bag - H&M £69.99 (in love with this!!)

Mono Pattern Coat - ASOS £80

Katz Cut Out Boots - Topshop £75

Geo Tile Print Blazer - ASOS £35 (also have matching shorts and trousers)

What is your opinion on the androgynous trend? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Maybe you could even post a look with your take on the trend, leave a link in the comment box. Thanks.

Look Post: My big bobbly coat

I had my last exam today. I make it sound as if this exam period has been pretty treacherous for me. It hasn't. I had an English Lit re-sit, and two General Studies exams. But do they even count? Anyway, today was the second and final General Studies exam, so I opted for something comfortable. I can now say I am free from exams for another year! Hurrah!

Coat - Mango

Jumper - New Look

Collared Top - Topshop

Jeans -Primark

Shoes - Topshop

Satchel - Primark

I love my bobbly coat. It's one of the few practical items of clothing I've ever bought myself, and for that I'm proud. I was beginning to feel like a bit of a hobo in it, so when my friend ordered a 'de-fuzzer' for her similar coat, I decided to take advantage of it. After about an hour of de-fuzzing I was left with an aching arm, a slightly improved but still tatty looking coat, and a ball big enough to make a brand new (maybe smaller) coat. I do feel better for having done it though.

These shoes were a permanent addition to my feet up until a few weeks ago when I brought home my jellies. Since then, they've been a big neglected so I thought I'd whip them out today and show them some love. This is the first time I've worn them sock (and plaster) free. They took what felt like a decade to break in, but they were well worth it. 

Also, what do you think of my new central parting? I've been edging this bad boy over about 1mm every month for the past two years or something ridiculous like that. I'm just not one of those people who can dramatically change their look from sweeping side fringe to central parting and get away with it. I have to take it gradually. 

Look Post: Jelly shoes!

This look is from a while ago. I know this because I made the 2cm change from a 'just-off-centre' side parting, to an actual centre parting (I'm such a daredevil!) about a week ago, and this look features the slightly off side parting that I've been gradually shifting over for about 3 years. 

I think I was only nipping out with my mother when I took this look post. It was basically just an excuse to flaunt off my new jelly shoes which have been a permanent addition to my feet since I got them!

 Jacket - Peacocks

Crop Top - Ebay (Topshop)

Joni Jeans - Topshop

Jelly Shoes - JuJu Jellies (Topshop)

In other news, I only just found out today that blogger is planning on closing down their reading list feature soon (correct me if I'm wrong) so I made a bloglovin' account so that I can still manage and keep up to date with all the blogs that I follow. If you're on bloglovin' I'd love it if you could check out my profile and give me a follow. :) Thanks!

Favourite Beauty Essentials!

I'm not too fussed when it comes to my beauty products. I don't have a huge beauty regime nor can I justify spending more than £4 on any beauty product (with the exception of foundation, which I don't really wear anyway). But there are some fabulous products I just need in my life, and I don't know how I'd cope without them.

The first product I want to rave to you about is Palmer's Cocoa Butter. This body butter is super thick and luscious. It glides on without making your skin look greasy and leaves behind a delightful chocolate smell making it hard not to bite a chunk out of your own arm (a bit like that weird looking guy on the Lynx Chocolate advert). And if you don't like the smell of chocolate, then they do a fragrance free version which is just as good! I've tried a one or two other cocoa butters in my time, and the odd shea butter, but none are nearly as thick and dreamy as this. I've noticed Garnier moisturiser in particular makes my skin look really greasy, as if I've just applied loads of sun lotion. So this one is by far my favourite! To be honest, I just love anything by Palmer's. The olive butter is almost as good!

Next is this liquid eyeliner by Collection 2000. Honestly, I've never tried any other liquid eyeliner so I can't really compare. But that's because I've never needed to! I first picked this up just because it was so cheap (£2.99!!) but it's proved to be a miracle. This stuff just doesn't budge! I've even gone to bed with it on (I know, shame on me) and woke up the next morning with it still fairly intact. This stuff is quite easy to apply, and has become an absolute essential of mine!

So I have a bit of an obsession with lip balm. It all started in the winter of 2011 when my lips became really chapped. A friend recommended Carmex to me and this stuff is just magic!! I've been through about 3 tubs in my time (and I find the original to be better than the flavoured ones), but a few of months ago I ran out. I was surviving on a Chapstick that I found in my bedroom for a while, and it was okay, but nothing compared to Carmex. I then nipped to Boots one day to buy some more Carmex but they didn't have any in store so I settled for Burt's Bees after seeing my friend use it. Although it's quite good, I really regret not buying the original one because this pomegranate oil one has a really weird smell. A rule seems to be occurring here, always buy the original! Finally, the Palmer's lip balm came free with my moisturiser one day so I thought I'd give it a whirl. It still has the same lovely smell, but once the intial creamy-ness has worn of, my lips don't feel that moisturised. So my verdict? Carmex all the way!

And they're all my favourite beauty essentials! I'd really recommend them all, and obviously since this is me, they aren't too expensive. What beauty product do you swear by? Leave a comment and let me know. 

Controversial Issue: Unpaid Internships

For those of my readers who are looking in to a career in the fashion industry, or any industry for that matter, you will probably know that experience is key. You know that door people harp on about, the one you're aiming to get your foot through? The key is simply experience. But obviously experience isn't that easy to get. Otherwise every man and his (purse) dog would be diving head first through that door in to the stylish dream office, with the latest seasons clothes scattered about the place and male models wandering around half naked (or at least this is how I imagine it to be). 

If you can't get a job without having any experience, but you can't gain experience until you've had a job, then you're put in a bit of an awkward position. Everyone has to start somewhere. And this is the beauty of interning.

Many people say that internships are pretty scarce these days, but I think if you know where to look*, and particularly if you live in London, then it shouldn't be too much of an issue. But what about for those of us who don't live in London? Well, they're pretty tricky to find. And what about those of us who aren't even graduates yet? Even trickier. This is why I consider myself very lucky. I'm still at sixth form, and living in Manchester, but have managed to bag myself an internship for two weeks over the summer at a small brand, working on branding, advertising and imagery (as far as I'm aware). I'll keep you updated on this at the time. 

Now on to the controversial bit. As many of you will know, companies don't tend to pay their interns. At first, you may consider this as fair, as the intern has next to no previous experience, and really the company is doing them a favour. But with the more internships you take on, the more you will learn and the more responsibility you will be given, almost to the point where you're practically doing the job of someone who works there (or so I've heard). So where do we draw the line? Should interns be paid?

Many students coming out of uni can not afford to work for free, being up to their ears in debt and what not. But here's how I (and many others) see it; if the government starts forcing companies to pay their interns, they'll be less likely to offer them, meaning we have to sacrifice the already scarce opportunities to gain some first hand experience. As a result, industries will be even harder to break in to. Of course, there is always the option of a compromise. Whilst I was at the Company Fashion Forum, the speakers explained how it is against the law for a company to have an intern for more than a month without paying them. Now, I don't know how true this is, as from what I've seen from looking at other girls blogs, this 'law' isn't acknowledged everywhere. But maybe this would be a good in between ground? 

This whole topic was sparked slightly by my general studies exam today where I managed to slip this in as a bit of an argument for one of the questions. Sorry for the very 'word-y' post. 

*I highly recommend checking out fashionworkie.com and @ukfashionintern on Twitter. Also, job sites such as gumtree.com can be really good too.

What is your view on unpaid internships? Do you have any work experience opportunities that you have blogged about and would like to share? Leave a comment below, thanks.

May Wish List

It's just turned 11pm. I should be revising for my English Literature exam on Friday, but what was meant to be a half hour break somehow escalated in to me watching the Vampire Diaries, adding even more things to my watch list on eBay, and creating this blog post for you lovely readers! 

Paisley Playsuit - Topshop

White Dress - Urban Outfitters

Orange Co-ords - Topshop

Triangle Necklace - Urban Outfitters

Western Belt - Topshop (lots of Topshop on here!)

Orange Dress - Debenhams

Striped Dress - ASOS

'Mom' Jeans - Topshop

Black Sandals - Topshop

Being without a job means that all of these items are well and truly out of reach (although I've managed to bag myself a job interview as a sales advisor so maybe this will soon change!) but a girl can dream right? The paisley playsuit I have been in love with ever since I spotted it in store, and the lovely people at Topshop had designed even more items in that gorgeous paisley pattern, all of which I desperately need; shorts, trousers and blazer. 

The Urban Outfitters dress I have had my eyes on for a LONG time! I can't even remember when I first spotted it, it's been months! But as with all Urban Outfitters products, unless you're in the sale, you won't be coming home to my (overflowing) wardrobe any time soon.

Co-ords I absolutely adore! It started with Topshop last season but now River Island has jumped on the bandwagon. Hopefully we'll see even more big high street names designing their own versions of the wonderful two piece sets (maybe for a bit cheaper too please - H&M I'm counting on you!).

My favourite piece, and only a recent find, are the sandals from Topshop, but at £72 I don't think they'll ever be seen on my feet. I'm not a huge fan of flashing my toes, so I usually steer clear of sandals, but the band running down the middle looks like it would cover up most of the offenders (although I do have visions of prominent big toes peeping out from behind that band *shudders*).

Have you got any things you've been eyeing up for ages and have finally decided to splurge on?

Peeper Protectors!

The only glimpse of summer has probably just passed, but just in case we are lucky enough to receive some more sunshine, I think a spectacular pair of shades are to be prepared!

I don't currently own a pair of sunglasses as I never holiday anywhere hot, and the British weather only seems to demand a pair of solar shields for a couple of days a year. But the range of spectacles out there is just too tempting, and I really should protect my peepers from those harmful rays. So here is a round up of my favourite (affordable) sunnies.

(left to right)

Half Frame Round Sunglasses - Ebay £1.99

Bronze Round Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters £16

Milo Round Sunglasses - Topshop £12

Etched Frame Castro Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters £16

Half Frame Round Sunglasses - ZeroUV $9.99

Classic Retro Sunglasses - ASOS £12

I recently came across the the American brand ZeroUV and they have a huge range of amazing sunglasses and they're all really cheap. Unfortunately, the price gets bumped up with the additional cost of delivery, but to be honest, they're still a good price for a pair of sunglasses. Personally though, I could never buy a pair of sunnies without first trying them on.

There is quite a big focus on the 'steampunk' trend and although I really love this style of sunglasses, I don't want to look too 'pretentious' with my choice of shades. Another big trend at the moment in the world of sun goggles are the very extravagant, heavily embellished glasses, decorated with the likes of flowers and pearls. I must say these aren't to my taste, and I could never pull such a statement piece of eye-wear off, but if you can then go for it!

I wonder how many synonyms for 'sunglasses' I have used in the post. Have you got your peeper protectors ready for this summer? 

A little rant and a little tip

So my 17th birthday was way back in October, and I was very lucky to receive my provisional and all my driving lessons as a gift. There's no way I could've forked out enough money to pay for them myself!

But unfortunately I waited until about March before actually applying for my provisional. And since I don't have a passport (because my family seems to enjoy holidaying in cold, rainy Wales) the process took a lot longer. A photo signed by someone a) not living in my household and b) not related to me, two alternative forms of ID and about a fortnight later... I had my provisional. And yet still, being as angry at myself as I was for not doing this sooner, it took me until yesterday to actually get round to booking some lessons!

To be fair, I had a deadline for my Graphics and Textiles coursework that was consuming all of my time, and I still have an English Literature resit I am meant to be revising for, so the amount of time I had available to learn to drive was pretty limited. But now the deadline has passed, and my driving lesson's booked for the day after my Lit exam, I have to say that I am relieved that I finally got round to doing this. But I'm also fuming with myself, because in reality, had I started learning to drive right away, I would've passed my test by now! Actually no, in reality, my nervousness of facing the road would've meant I'd be in hospital by now after causing a huge pile up somewhere.

But regardless! My tip to anyone who is approaching the 17 mark: GET YOUR PROVISIONAL AND BOOK SOME LESSONS! Because you'll severely regret it otherwise.

JuJu for jellies!

I don't have much luck when it comes to buying new trends. One of two things usually happens to me; I impulsively buy the item either to go off it (insert picture of my dusty TOMS here), or find that the trend doesn't stick around for very long; or I wait too long to buy the item and I'm then put off ever buying it for the reasons stated above, and it turns out that the trend sticks around for ages!

Unfortunately money is always going to be an obstacle, unless I marry a rich man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, please) so I can't afford to have every new trend. But hopefully I chose wisely to tap into the new trend of jelly shoes! I was desperately seeking a shoe to see me through the summer, so maybe these will do the job. I chose to get them in black because then they'll go with everything. I made the mistake of buying purple doc martens a few years ago only to wish now that I'd gotten them in black, so my new motto is 'better to be black than sorry'.

I'm very excited to wear my new JuJu Babe's. Hopefully my mother will be nipping to the supermarket today so I can tag along and use it as an excuse to flash of my new 'kicks'. Although my sister's confirmation is later today, I'm not sure if it's the appropriate occasion for jelly shoes. I've never been to a confirmation before. What is the dress code for this kind of event?

As usual when I buy a bit of a statement piece, I'm concerned that I won't know how to style these up. However I have looked around on lookbook for inspiration and they seem like they go with almost everything! But just in case any of you have the same concerns, I'm going to try to do a blog post on how to wear jellies soon, and maybe a review.

What are your opinion on jellies, love or hate? Have you got a pair of shoes that will be your staple piece through summer? Leave a comment.

My first look post!

The sun has finally decided to rear it's beautiful head and for the first time this year, I left my house without my big bobbly coat! Although the weather reached a pleasant 16 degrees today (yes, that's considered warm here in Britain), I decided to stick to mostly a black outfit.

This is my first look post, so I have no idea how to pose in front of a (rubbish iPhone) camera. I did my best.

My mesh crop top can be found at Topshop. I tried this on about a month ago and really liked it but decided not to buy it. But when I found it in the sale just a couple of days ago for £12 (down from £26) I couldn't pass up the opportunity. My bouclé shorts were originally from H&M although I snapped them up for 99p (£3.99 including shipping) on eBay. My shoes were also off eBay, originally from Topshop, I got these bad boys for £25. I love eBay. And the leather jacket from Peacocks I have had for years!

Black is my comfort zone, and although it usually looks boring, I like to think that my mix of textures and patterns spiced up the look a little bit. And even though black isn't typically associated with spring, I thought that my (too short) shorts and skin baring mesh top would make up for the lack of summer in my outfit today. And let's be realistic, it's not like the sun was going to reach any blazing temperatures today. You know the kind, when that black jacket suddenly turns into a back burning torture device.

How did you enjoy the gorgeous weather today?

Confessions of an eBayaholic

It all started approximately 7 years ago...

I had just started Guides and they were planning a prom themed party. I needed the perfect dress. My mother and I looked everywhere, then one day she logged on to eBay. Hundreds and hundreds of dresses appeared at much more affordable prices. I found one I liked then we waited till the last 10 seconds. 10, 9, 8... I remember it so clearly; 7, 6... I really wanted that dress; 5, 4... I prayed that my mother was the highest bidder; 3, 2, 1... SOLD! YOU WON THE ITEM! I screamed. And that's where I was first introduced to the God send that is eBay.

More recently I've become obsessed. Who can resist grabbing that top for £2.50 when it should have been £32? Sometimes P&P charges can be a bitch. You feel chuffed because you won a dress for 99p, but it costs you about £4.99 in reality. But who cares?

My dad. I'm not old enough to have a PayPal account so all my orders go through his account. Of course I pay him back, but he doesn't approve. I recently spent about £80 on eBay, for which I bagged four dresses, a shirt, two skirts, a pair of shorts and some Topshop Joni jeans. Not bad! But after that splurge I decided I give up on eBay for a while. But just a couple of days ago my watch list managed to shoot up to over 70 items again. I think I've relapsed.

Here are my most recent bargains:

Topshop Crop Top - £4.70 (including P&P)

I only got this today. Can't wait for it to arrive.

Topshop Button Denim Skirt - 4.99

I love this skirt, I wear it all the time now! It's a tad big, but it's fine with a belt on.

H&M Boucle Shorts - £3.99

These shorts are more like hotpants. I'm a bit concious of exposing my butt cheeks, but otherwise I really like them.

Do you use eBay? What are you favourite bargains that you've got?

Mint Madness!

Do you have an automatic response you tell people when they ask you a certain question, even though that response is simply not true? For example, when asked what your favourite film is you say Pulp Fiction, even though it's actually Toy Story 3. Well my automatic response is pink. As in what-is-your-favourite-colour pink. But I'd never wear pink, or have my room pink, or paint my nails pink. So why do I say it? In reality, I love mint!

I'm not talking about the mints you eat, or the adjective 'mint' - that only antique collectors use. I'm talking about that delicious pale green which wouldn't look out of place on top of an ice cream cone. I can't get enough!

The pastel trend is nothing new. It grazed the catwalks back in SS12, and now that spring is finally here again it's making a comeback! I'm a lover of all pastel colours, but mint holds a special place in my heart. As I'm typing this I have a mint polish on my nails (albeit very chipped), and sat right next to me is my phone engulfed in a (grubby) mint case. Although it's coming across that I don't look after myself and my belongings very well, the actual point I'm trying to make is that I LOVE MINT!

To celebrate all things mint, here are some of my favourite pieces in this fabulous colour:

Mint Mesh Overlay Mini Skirt - £38 - Topshop

Blouse With Double Collar - £28 - ASOS

JuJu Jellies 'Babe' - £20-£28 (stockists vary)

Topshop's Railroad Collection

If you're an avid follower of Topshop like myself, and find yourself checking their website at least once a day, then you'll have seen their railroad collection. All very 50's American inspired, with a mix of denim, lace and my favourite for this season; tea dresses! I can't get enough of this collection!

When I look at this collection, I immediately picture myself in the blue floral tea dress, with dainty trimmed socks and the white t-bar shoes, sitting in a 50's style diner, tucking into a monster of an ice cream sundae. The collection also has a western prairie vibe, from the more feminine lace pieces, to the array of denim, check shirts and bolo ties!

It's safe to say that I love every piece of this collection, and I think it really defines the style I am in to this spring/summer. Unfortunately  as with all Topshop clothing, I find them to be a tad overpriced, but hopefully I can afford splurge out on just a couple of items from the collection.

This was a very difficult decision, but here are my top 3 pieces from the railroad collection:

Lace Crop Top - £24

Cotton Circle Crop Top - £32

Molly T-Bar Geek Shoes - £35

What are you favourite pieces from this collection? Leave a comment below.

Am I missing a milestone?

Most of my thinking is done before I fall asleep at night. But the other night my body decided to wake me up at half past three in the morning, and I had a bit of an epiphany.

I want to go to a festival!!

I'd never thought about it too much. A few people I know are going but all my closest friends have opted against spending their summer in a nylon house and using dry shampoo rather than the actual stuff.

But it's an experience! And according to my 'peers' 17 is the year for festivals and 18 is for holidays! And when I go to uni I don't want to be the only one who doesn't have a rotting wristband still latched on their arm.

But how do people my age afford this!? I figured the answer was either they have a job, or very generous parents. And unfortunately I have neither. And I can assume that many other people are in the same boat as me, so how did they fork out £200+ to go?

And even if I could afford it, who would I go with? Everyone I know who is going to Leeds is coupled up, so I'd be third wheeling times 5! Maybe I could convince my own boyfriend to go?

Am I being silly? Is going to a festival that much of an experience that I can't pass through to adulthood without having been to one? I don't know, but am I willing to take that risk?