London Fashion Week

So it was London Fashion Week last week, and obvs being the uber fashionista that I am (ahem. Yes.), I managed to obtain an invite to an event that Glam Media were hosting, sponsored by Rimmel. Normally I'm just very much aware that LFW is going on, and think dreamily about the various fashion wonders that are being paraded down the catwalk as I rifle through Charity shops and Hammersmith Vintage Clothes Fair in a vain attempt to recreate them. But not this year!!

Ok, so maybe one morning spent in a very luxurious room in One Aldwych Hotel having my nails done doesn't actually count as having arrived at London Fashion Week, but it's definitely a start.

The event was run specifically for bloggers and so I met loads, who were allmuch cooler than me and knew far more about, well, everything. One, who worked at Dutch Elle, told me that she started as a two month internship, then moved onto six months, and at the end of that was offered a job. You know me, I love a good internship, especially at a glamorous magazine, and I was totally inspired. I'm going to email Lisa and get a reference from her, and some advice on how to apply for a second internship next summer.

Key Trend Spotted: Over-sized 'costume' jewellery with neon. Get on that y'all.

The only colour I ever have on my nails is red, so I went for err, a lovely red, but thought I'd go a bit crazy and have red sparkles over it. This summer, whilst partying in Portugal, I got really very into body glitter. I loved the way it caught the light and made me look like a vampire (because of the way I sparkled in the sun obviously) but when I got back home I thought that couldn't really continue, so this was my last attempt to hold onto the summer. I chose 'Precious Stones' for my top coat and, although it is maybe a little bit Christmassy, it looks fab.

A definite look for all my upcoming Bristol Freshers parties at any rate.

We took liberal advantage of their goodie bags (yesss we all took two. Love, I have a 17 year old sister. I couldn't well go home without one for her could I!?) which were so full of make up, and nail varnish and lipstick that I kept peering into my laden bag with disbelief. My fave gift is the Kate Moss lipstick in shade 107, which is a dark vampy red and my chosen colour for this autumn. It looks particularly hot when worn with a turned up collar on my new grey boyfriend style tweed coat or trusty leather jacket, sunglasses and studded boots - and also with '20s flapper style dresses (of which I own several) for a glam grunge look. I've been wearing Maxfactor Lipstain in shade 06 for a while, but there's nothing like lipstick. I do love a good lipstick, I really do.

With our goodie bags!! We felt like we were on the red carpet

We also went for breakfast at the very classy Delaunay were I had a delicious fruit salad - and the pastries looked a m a z i n g - and a very British pot of tea (with strainer woo). Most exciting, we bought four marshmallows from their shop (don't even ask how much they cost) and they were so yummy it was actually mind blowing. I don't normally like marshmallows because they make me feel like I'm drowning, but even I loved them. Especially the Green Apple flavour. It was so green.

Popping into the Chanel pop up store in Covent Garden probably wasn't the best idea. I totally adore the new purple lipstick. As my friend pointed out, I could become known in Bristol as the girl with the purple lipstick. I like that idea.

It was also not the best idea to pop into the Kurt Geiger store, where 'Everything But The Dress' is in full swing. I literally FELL IN LOVE. How could I not fall in love with Manohlo-esque purple velvet shoes with a gold heel?? The price tag on the new Min is less beautiful so if anyone wants to fund this poor students need for gorgeous footwear, here's where you can find them.

In fact, if someone could just fund this poor student’s need for beautiful purple things, I'd be grateful.

Least glam moment: The Moomin shop, in Covent Garden (which is actually owned by the Finnish Government. When you ring its Foreign Office there's a line for the Moomin shop. True fact). We met actual Moomin. It was an exciting moment for us all.

I sometimes write for online magazine Whatever After - check out my feature on London Fashion Week Nails and my Top Ten Tips for beautiful nails. (Well, only if you want to. You totally don't have to.)

Sadness

omg tomorrow's my last day! Lisa just told me she's moving house on Friday so she wont be in which means I wont be in.

Sadness!!! I can't believe it's ending already, it's gone so quickly.

I've got a box of truly British Fortnum and Mason biscuits sorted already and will write a thank you card and am going to buy flowers tomorrow morning.
So the big question now is; which planned outfit do I ditch?? This is a serious dilemma.

'Cute Jump'

I'm such a New Yorker these days.
When I leave work I 'grab' an iced coffee from Pick a Bagel and then I meander through Central Park back to my hostel, whist for breakfast I get a fruit salad or a croissant from one of the tiny stalls on Collumbus Circle. Then, in my lunch hour, I go to Balducci's, where they make the best salads of your choice (who knew dried cranberries would ever be nice in a salad?! Only in New York) and I sit on a high wooden stall in the window and watch the world hurry by and read a book.

I also love how everyone says good morning to each other! At first I was all suspicious and didn't reply other than a mumbled greeting to be read as 'stay away you perv I totally have pepper spray in my bag' but now that I've realised that it's just what's done I'm practically singing my good morning responses. This should seriously be taken up in London. Although maybe it's only successful in the sunshine. Gee that Biblical rain must really be getting y'all down...

Today I wore my Topshop jumpsuit with a pattern that looks like spaceships and Lisa said 'Cute Jump' and I was just thrilled.
It was crazy this morning with the final bits of the September Issue (capitals definitely required) being done so this afternoon I think everyone was on a bit of a comedown; I was sent out to get 5 dozen doughnuts so I think everyone was definitely in celebration mode
There's a very fabulous gay guy who waltzes about the place and who everyone clearly adores and is maybe a litttttle bit useless but kept on for his pure entertainment value, as a sort of pet.

The weather is almost as crazy as the whole September Issue debacle; it's really really reallyyyy hot but also really windy, which should be a relief but the wind is also really hot so it just feels like there is a giant breathing really heavily on the whole of New York.
Very strange.

Off for a swim... I'm itching to go for a run in Central Park to really cement my New Yorker status, but that might have to wait for tomorrow.

First Day

omgomgomg it was amazing!!

I did arrive absurdly early and nervously picked at my fruit salad and iced coffee (sorry, cawwwffee) for a bit before finally plucking up the courage to scurry through the imposing Hurst Tower revolving doors and ornate collumns.
I successfuly made it through security, who issued me with a visitor badge, and then went up the 25 floors to Harper's Bazaare.
I quickly found Lisa who is literally beyond lovely and very cool. She had glitter in her hair and all down the back of her neck, and when someone pointed this out she was all just like, yeahhh I was at a party and they strated pumping out glitter and it is a bitch to get off. And I just stood quitely, in awe of her coolness.
Then she gave me a tour and it's just like I imagined it would be!! We went through a room full of shoes, and rails of clothes in colour coded order, and girls laying out outfits on the floor, and there are mood boards leaning against the glass walls so that it looks like they're part of the New York skyline, and pictures of Kate Moss from the latest issue on the desks, and the actual editor in chief Glenda Bailey having an indepth conversation about which Dior jacket to use. I just drifted through it with this absurdly big smile on my face.

I have more to say, but I need to get to work! It's just a five minute walk from our new hostel but I need to get my morning cawwffee...
Until next time
xx

Packing Commences

Packing for New York has commenced. Keeping it simple by basically just taking everything I own.

I always get terrible Packing Stress, even when I'm only going away for a night. The terror of rejecting an item of clothing which I later discover is vital to the trip and, indeed, my very happiness, is strong. Some may even say excessively so.
But I've never been to New York before, let alone for a two week intern at Harper's Bazaar; what do I take?!
This is beyond stressful.