Interning @ ELLE Magazine

Can't believe how long it has been since I have last blogged! Since I've last posted I've been so busy with my exams, interning, job hunting and maybe I'm guilty of a few holidays... But, I'm back! Sorry!

So... Wayyyyyy back in June, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to intern at one of fashion's leading magazines - ELLE! The experience I got from there was incredible and I learnt a whole new side of fashion.

Before I started, I had no idea what to expect as this was my first internship and professional experience... I had the usual idea of Ugly Betty or The Devil wears Prada. But when I got there, it was nothing like this! I didn't have to make one tea or coffee and I was literally made to feel like one of the ELLE team!

My internship role was being a fashion assistant in the famous ELLE fashion cupboard... it was insane what I was working with in the cupboard, varying from returning Topshop's next season's samples on the city sprint to running through Oxford Street to return a £10k Valentino dress. I was also lucky enough to get to go on the set of shoots and assisted, one being ELLE's first wedding magazine's shoot. 

I also appeared on 'What ELLE wears' on elleuk.com on my birthday (got a caterpillar cake too)!

I am so appreciative of this experience I had and I have met some of the most loveliest people who I hope to keep in touch with!

Happiness

So something not fashion related... a late night thought, influenced by someone very close to me.

What is it that makes an individual happy?

Is it their friends and family that surrounds them? Their success? Materialistic things? 

There's no right answer to be honest and all answers are opinionated... But there is definitely ways to avoid being sad.

My view on how to be happy is all based on perspectives - it's how you look at a situation and what you make of it. Sure, everyone feels down now and again, we are only human - but what is it that is telling you to feel down? It's our brain! As I have been told, some wise words "It is all in your head!"

If you are finding it hard to look at things at a positive perspective... take these things into consideration:

•  Who & What makes you smile... you know, that smile that you can't hold back - think of a time recently, being with your friends, family, colleagues, lover, etc. when you have really smiled :) - stay close to these people.
• Be compassionate - This is doing something kind, for someone less privileged than yourself. Even if it is small, look how happy it makes them - the way they appreciate it! It also makes you feel great about yourself!
• Find happiness in what you are currently doing - i.e. job, degree, etc. having a positive outlook will help you achieve the best in what you are doing and also you will be interacting with people in the same position as you.
• Healthy lifestyle... I'm not one to stick with these (through my bad sweet tooth) but your brain isn't the only part of your body that should be happy! Endless scientific studies prove this right! Also get enough sleep!
• Be optimistic & be grateful for what you have in life, this helps you bring more into your life. If you set yourself up for success, it's easier to remain optimistic. For example, put yourself in a temporary thrilling situation... ask yourself, "Am I setting myself up for success or failure?".
• Accept and embrace yourself! The way you look, talk, act... your personality - this is you, don't be sorry for it.
• Smile. You'd be amazed how it actually lifts your mood.

Style Pick: Gwen Stafani

Currently writing this listening to a good selection of No Doubt and Gwen Stafani's solo singles... 

Both 90's Gwen and today's Gwen - No Doubt's front woman is one of Pop's Goddesses in image reinvention. Her style adapts to the different stages of her life, yet still retains her status as one of  the world's coolest rock queens.

I love how she inputs sportswear into everyday casual-wear & I will 100% be inputting this into my summer looks! Not only is Gwen inspiring my looks, but the likes of young stars such as Iggy Azalea, Rita Ora and Miley Cyrus are taking some style steals! 

The key to Gwen's style (90's) is all about proportion - if she wears a tiny crop - she'll balance it out with a pair or baggy harem fit trousers and some chunky footwear. You will also find a mixture of feminine and masculine pieces in her wardrobe - pairing stilettos with boyfriend jeans and boxy blazers with dresses.

Gwen is still killin' it... just look how amazing she looks!

OOTD: Knee Highs and Floral Jerseys

I recently bought some chunky knee high sandals from Linzi (£40) and finally, I have had the guts to wear them! These shoes definitely get mixed responses when I'm out, usually a love or hate, but for me, I love them! They're not ideally practical for the summer as they tend to feel a bit clammy in the hot weather and could leave very embarrassing tan lines, so these will not be coming on holiday with me! 

Alongside my shoes, I am wearing a floral baseball jersey dress by Ichiban - (bought exclusively from Asos). They sold out of my size, so I bought a size up, making it even MORE oversized... I don't like wearing it as a dress as it's soooo big that it's unflattering, so I threw the jersey over a plain black bodycon dress to keep the look feminine.

With this look I kept to minimal make-up, but this outfit would look great with a coral lipstick, which is the colour I also had on my nails! The Gold Hooped earrings and gold framed sunglasses were ideal accessories as they matched the buckles on my shoes and they're not too 'out there', keeping the attention on the main garments.

My A Level Media Final Pieces...

Seeing as I am getting a lot of good feedback from people about my final pieces that I done for my Media Advance Level coursework, I thought I would share the videos with you! We had a choice of creating a music video or a film trailer of a genre of our choice... and neither of them appealed to me (me being the usual picky and difficult Jo), so, I spoke to my media teacher and he allowed me to pick from the other options that the exam board offer! I wanted to include fashion as much as possible, so I chose to do an advertisement, based on the clothing website 'Motel Rocks'.

I had loads of fun shooting and I want to thank the models that I used for their time and effort!

This was all filmed, styled and edited by me! :) 

Make sure to watch them in HD!!!

Models: Paige Amber Collins, Gea McMullen, Amy Sutton, Shannon Murphey, Grace Sykes and myself. 

Shot on Canon 700D

Bye-bye parting!

I never have a set hairstyle: different partings, one day it's curly, one day straight, sometimes up... I can never decide and I get bored so quickly! But right now, I'm loving the slick-back hair trend that is about - I think it's one that can't be pulled off by many, but when it is, it really emphasises someones features. 

Not only does it give off a sophisticated, classy look - it is so easy to do, and you can have it to suit yourself: extra slick or loose.

So many designers have been using this look on the runway, from the likes off Yves Saint Laurent, Barbara Bui, Rag and Bone. Even celebrities are sporting this look: Rita Ora, Jennifer Lawrence, Kim K, Nicole Scherzinger, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Amanda Holden, and so on...

Here are my attempts of this look (célfie time):

I wear this look quite loosely because I don't have a pea head... I love the idea that my hair is out of my face, it makes me feel more free and gives off a fresher look. This will be a great hairstyle for the summer, when I want my hair down but I don't want the sticky feel.

Trainer stock-up!

So it's been a while since I've got my hands on a new pair of trainers... my last purchase was last summer - I got myself some black/red Nike Free Runs and some BRIGHT green New Balance 574's (I know... dead choice). I definitely needed to up my sneaker game and be prepared for the summer coming up, so over this last month I've had a little stock up, including a pair from my most recent wishlist, YAAAY!

[Left to Right - Nike Air Footscapes Dessert Chukka Quickstrike, Nike Roshe Run & Nike Air Max Theas]

I'm really happy with my choice of trainers! They're all so comfy and are amazing quality (Easily expected from Nike!). ATM, I am mostly wearing my Footscapes - an expensive purchase - £160 (luckily, with help from the lovely boyfriend, thanks Shaquille ;)! ) but they're definitely worth it, the quality and detailing is to top standards! They're soooo versatile, I can literally pair these up with most outfits and aside this, the comfort is unreal!

Alongside these trainers, I've also copped myself some plain Converses (A grey pair & A 'carnival pink' pair), they're a basic must have & will be ideal for the summer.

Now, I'm going to take it slow with trainer buys and begin looking at some sandals & lighter weight shoes and then hopefully I'll be all kitted out for my summer footwear!!!