The Lady is a Tramp

Happy Monday!
Today I sat my Fashion Marketing & Retailing exam, which marked the official end to semester 1, and that can only mean one thing: holidays! After having painfully watched the Textiles students leave the Halls early last week for their Christmas holidays, I now too have the luxury of being able to go home, stress free.  Hence, I'm in a very good mood!  Despite being the only one left on my floor (or rather, the block - everyone seems to have gone home for Christmas already) I leave for my hometown tomorrow morning, and to say that I'm looking forward to it is most definitely an understatement.
It has been a good semester, & I'm really enjoying my course, even if it general First Year.  I have learnt how to work an industrial sewing machine & overlocker; how to pattern cut; and we all got to design & make 2 garments (a shirt, & a skirt, for Womens Wear).  I have also handed in 4 portfolios, including 1 for Visual Presentation (all about Photoshop, Illustrator, DreamWeaver), & sat an exam for the Fashion Marketing module.  It has been a busy semester to say the least, but living with a great bunch of people has made this term extremely enjoyable.
I'm about to start packing for tomorrow, but I thought I'd leave you with an OOTD.  Hope you're all stress free too! :)

Top: Topshop

Shorts: Topshop Boutique

Tights: Primark

Shoes: ASOS

Uni Project #3

Skirt Design
Just as we had to do with our shirt, our 3rd project - designing and making a skirt - had to be photographed and edited in the style of i-D magazine.  I got an overall A for my shirt project, which I was really happy with, but I noticed that our photograph was marked "Excellent" & "Very Good" (your marked for appropriateness of image and text layout, as well as how well it fits in with i-D).  This time round I hope I can improve my mark and get at least 2 "Excellents", simple because I always like to make sure I'm improving. 
So the final skirt design is in the picture above.  It is made to look as if it's 2 skirts in one, but really the corners that stick out are pockets.  The front & back look the same, apart from the back has a seam down the middle and an invisible zip.  Also, I don't know if you can see them in this picture, but there are 2 rectangular cut-outs on either side close to the bottom of the skirt.   It was inspired by Tony Cragg sculptures, hence the tagline at the bottom.
Our brave & beautiful half-naked model, Zoe, posed for our skirt's covershoot.  Check out her blog & Tumblr.

Vivienne Westwood Fashion Film.

Yellow Brick Road

You guys all know by now that I'm studying Fashion Communication at Uni.  A few weeks ago, I was approached by Ashleigh - a 2nd year Fashion Comm. student - who asked if I could be her model for her first Fashion Film project.  'Moving Image' is a module included the course, and for their project the Fashion Comm. students had to pick from one of the many fashion label's sold in Urban Outiftters, and create a short fashion film to promote it, in the style of the brand.  Ashleigh chose Vivienne Westwood Anglomania.

Find out more about the inspiration behind the video on Ashleigh's blog.  Just to give you some background information though, the video follows the short-lived high of a scarecrow when she snorts some gold (a drug, in this video).

I had a great time shooting it, and the end result is great!  I genuinely cannot wait to start doing all this in 2nd year! Hope you guys like it, a lot of work has been put into it! :)

*All credit goes to Ashleigh. Check out her blog here.

A Spot of Style

Children in Need Fashion Show

Last Thursday our Uni held a fashion show in aid of Children in Need.  We raised over £1100 and we, the 1st years, got to showcase our shirt designs down the catwalk for the public to see!  It was a great event and we all got to mingle over glasses of champagne and pudsey-inspired cupcakes, which is always a bonus!  Pudsey bear also had a cheeky wee go down the runway, wearing the official CIN tartan designed by the Uni on a custom-made shirt.

It was quite a busy night as me and a few others were working for the Uni magazine, taking pictures, videos and interviewing people at the event for a spread in the magazine.  I had a really good night though, and I got to dress up and wear one of my favourite skirts (love the print) with my BCBG mesh top (which I don't wear enough), so it was a win-win all round!

Leather Jacket: Ben Sherman

Top: BCBG Max Azria

Skirt & Shoes: Topshop

Bag: H&M

Necklaces: Gift; Armstrong's

Feeling Like Dorothy...

Bargain Buy
Perhaps I left Katy Perry's concert feeling inspired by all those crystals... But look at my new shoes!!  I'm absolutely in love with them.  Do you want to know the best part?  I bought them for £12 in Primark!  Go grab yourself a pair quick before they sell out because I reckon they've been pretty popular.  These are in silver, but they also sell them in black if silver is too flashy for you.  For me the sparlkier, the better... but I might buy the black ones too anyway...
They look really pointy in the pictures, but they've actually got a really nice rounded tip :)  I love how sparkles are in right now (thank you Miu Miu!) & these are a great alternative buy if you want to be on trend but perhaps don't want to spend that much on sparkly shoes that may go out of fashion quite quickly.  I just had to show you them and give you a heads up if you were looking for a sparkly pair!

Katy Perry

California Dreams
Last weekend I went back to my hometown to go see Katy Perry live.  I must admit, I was quite excited to see her perform as I knew there was going to be a lot of outfit changes, candy, and fireworks.  I was actually amazed by how many crystals were in all of her costumes!  Every single outfit had at least 100 crystals in it - her acoustic guitar was so blinding, it was practically made of crystal for crying out loud!  Having said that, I didn't mind it at all;  I was mesmerised by the attention to detail in every costume.
In all seriousness, Katy did not disappoint.  We were quite near the front for most of the concert, so I managed to get some good photos of her in her many outfits.  Look out for the one of her in her catsuit - she wears bum padding which, ironically, makes her bum look saggy...
Would I recommend going to see her live? Yeah.  She puts on a good show, and she plays good pop music... and that's good enough for me.

Uni Project #2

Shirt Design
For the past few weeks, we have been learning how to use industrial sewing machines in our Womenswear class.  We started out with the basics, like threading and using the overlockers, before making a sample shirt.  We then had to come up with a bunch of designs and choose a final design to make in the workshop.  We had a week to make it. From scratch.
I don't know about you, but I'm not gifted when it comes to sewing... specially pattern cutting.. it's all a bit like maths to me.  Nevertheless, I gave it a good go, and I'm very proud of myself!
When we were finished making hte shirt, we were told to photograph it in the style of a British high street store of our choice - Topshop for us - and edit it in the style of iD magazine.  Here are some pictures of the photoshoot from it.  Oh, and there are meant to be buttons on the front.. but the button machine was only available to use on deadline-day... Hope you like it!
NOTE: The themes given to us were Scottish Heritage & Royalty.

BORN THIS WAY.

Happy Galaween

So can you guess what I was for Halloween?!  We celebrated Halloween on Thursday here for "Galaween" & I dressed up as Lady Gaga from her Born This Way video.  In all honesty, I didn't get a costume in time, and I didn't have that much money to spend on one anyway... so I improvised & just got clothes that I already had in my wardrobe!  Easy option - but it worked.

Fashion Show

Top, Leggings, Cardigan, Shoes, Earrings: Topshop

Scarf: Vivienne Westwood

Backstage

On Tuesday I helped out at a fashion show in Edinburgh run by OOHFASHION.  I was there from 9am until 10pm and I got back to Gala at around 12.30am.  I had to get up at 5.30am that morning in order to catch the 7am bus to Edinburgh!! & I had a lecture the next morning! It was rough, but it was definitely worth the experience.

I worked backstage as a dresser (for anyone wondering what that entails, its basically just changing a model into different outfits during the time their off the catwalk).  For us, we had about 3 minutes max. to change our models from one look the next.  There were 140 outfits in total with an average of about 14 looks for each model.  It was stressful but exciting and the adrenaline feels amazing, haha!

Here are some pictures from backstage, enjoy!

Uni Project

I-D
Before we came to uni, we were given a project to hand in during the first week of semester.  We pretty much had to interview ourselves and present it a magazine page in the style of I-D magazine.  I'm now approaching my 6th week at uni so I handed this in ages ago, but I thought you might like to see it.  Unfortunately I can't find a way to actually publish the document as it is, which means you can't see the layout it was in... but I'll leave you with the image, the slogan, and the interview. I hope you enjoy it anyway, sorry you can't see the proper layout!

MY FACE IS MY PASS.

What are you studying?

I’m studying an undergraduate degree in Fashion Communication at Heriot-Watt University, in Galashiels.

Are you from Scotland?
No, I’m originally from Mexico. Although I’ve been living in Scotland for the past 10 years!

What inspired you to study fashion?
I was always the arty kid at school. It was only when I was about 14 that I realised my creativity could be put to good use – which is when I discovered the world of fashion. I remember flicking through ELLE one day and browsing through one of Alexander McQueen’s collections, and that was it – I knew fashion was for me.

What do you love about fashion?
The freedom.; the anarchy; and the confidence it leaves you with.

Describe your style.
I don’t really have a set style. I wear what I want when I want. One day I could be sporting a grunge look and the next I’ll be channelling 80’s disco. I like trends, but I only follow them if they’re worth it.

What makes you happy?
My friends and family.

Do you have any ambitions?
To live the dream.

What is “the dream”?
To be successful in my profession, travel, and eventually settle down and be happy. I want to work as Fashion Director for ELLE UK, but shhhh – don’t tell Anne-Marie Curtis!

What’s the most prized thing in your wardrobe?
That would have to be my Alexander McQueen silk scarf. It was a gift from my boyfriend.

Can you cook?
No, but that’s okay. Learning will be interesting.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
In 10 years, I will be based in London – fact. I see myself developing experience within the publishing field, possibly as a stylist or fashion journalist. I would love to work for LOOK magazine.

Do you have any style icons?
Lady Gaga is a big one for me – I’m obsessed. I love her creative mind and means of self expression. Her style is iconic and her fashion is art.

What’s at the top of your A/W wish list?
A well-tailored, oversized blazer. There’s something sexy about the androgynous look.

Any Random facts about yourself?
I speak Spanish fluently. I also play the drums pretty well.

Do you live by any mottos?Everything happens for a reason. 



LOOKBOOK

So Stand Up For The Love
I'm officially a member of LookBook.nu! I'vebeen thinking about getting it for some time now but I never had anyone to take my pictures or anywhere decent to take them.  Below is my first look ever.  I have like no hypes so make sure to hype it if you do like it (simply to make me feel better)!

Shirt & Trousers: Topshop

Necklace: Armstrong's

Watch: Omega

New Projects...

Coming Soon
So I can't say much right now but I'm currently taking part in a big project with my a few of my flatmates.  All will be revealed in due course, but all I can say is that this will be epic.  However, I will need your support to make this project worthwhile.  Hopefully I will be able to share this with you guys soon! Please stay tuned to find out more. In the meantime, I will give you a sneak peak of the photography involved. I hope you're as excited as we are!

Edinburgh

Sunglasses - Armstrongs

Cape - Topshop

Shirt - Paul Smith

Shopping

A girl can never shop too much.  Ever.  So, with that in mind, I hit the streets of Edinburgh for the day with my flatemate, Connie.  We didn't have anywhere in particular we wanted to go to, apart from Armstrong's in Grassmarket, so we just had a wonder around the city.  It turned out to be a really nice day which put me in a great mood (considering it had been raining that very morning - hence the cape).  We ended up buying a few things... but I did purchase these things with my birthday money so I don't feel so bad!

Skirt - Topshop

 Gold Chain - Armstrongs

Cross Necklace - Urban Outfitters

Top - Topshop

 Lipstick - MAC's 'Dubonnet'