Thank You Dr Martens NCL!

I'm so thrilled to mention I have a winning fashion film chosen by Dr Martens from a commissioned uni brief!

Last semester included a project assigned by Northumbria University Design School, the huge industry players Dr Martens and Newcastle lifestyle PR company OPR. I had created a PR strategy and promotional film based on DMs current campaign #STANDFORSOMETHING, with a twist for the Toon and posted it a couple of months ago!

The 60-odd Students from my Fashion Communication course all took to the creative opportunity so well and I'm sure it was one of our favourite modules since beginning uni in 2012. I loved developing my promotional strategy and creative concept - it definitely helps thats Dr Martens is such an admirable brand for me and I could explore its truly unique reputation!

Newcastle newspaper The Chronicle reports the win myself and fellow FashComm-er Courtney Stevens shared. Being invited along to the store was an absolute treat and the team were so generous as I was also spoiled by a £150 DMs voucher and a week for my film to be played in the Newcastle Monument store!

You can't blame me for being like a child in a sweetshop at the opportunity to pick anything from the DMs store to take home with me as a gift. I couldn't bare the thought of walking away without the absolutely drool-worthy bag I had fallen in love with when filming (it actually features in the video at 02:48!) My new beauty is a black/brown and burgundy backpack, which doubles as a handy tote, in the silkiest leather I've ever laid my hands on. Also with gold fastenings, a roomy interior and that smell that resembles cows in a field, I couldn't resist!

(I also picked up a classic tartan scarf and a cute leather coin purse)

I'm so grateful for the NU Fashion Communication team, Dr Martens NCL and OPR for this opportunity and thankful for their generosity! x

Thierry Boutemy x Opening Ceremony

'Moving away from the traditional recipe of fashion collaborations, including celebrities or a high fashion meets highstreet brand alliance, Opening Ceremony explores a new formula for its most current co-op...'

Read more of my article on Mayamiko Designed's brand new blog

Interning: Mint Velvet

#onehecticweek with #relaxedglamour

Mint Velvet is quickly becoming a favourite fashion hotspot for yummy mummies and style seekers across the UK. With an expanding collection of stores and House of Fraser concessions, the beloved brand is popping up all over and has a loyal band of sophisticated followers, including Kate Middy!

Catering for the more mature female market has some difficulties. With an alternative range of bodies and tastes to suit, the highstreet has often missed the mark with uninspiring and unflattering pieces. After doing some researching and writing an article on this often neglected subject, The Forgotten Age, a brief, but insightful internship with Mint Velvet allowed me to appreciate the brand's depth and value for these women. It turns out they're spot on when it comes to style for women who know what they want.

It was a delight to find the MV HQ to be in my hometown of High Wycombe. As soon as I came home for a long weekend, I jumped on the chance to contact them and I was thrilled to be invited into the offices as a PR and marketing intern, awesome!

During my time there in May, the Mint Velvet marketing office was rushed off their feet with prep for the AW14 Press Day, ensuring to give their guests the most valuable sneak peak at the coming collection!  I was on goodie bag duty and made up 200 Mint Velvet bags, with gifts from brands such as Dermologica, PopChips and Carmex as well as a handout with inspiration and fashion illustrations of the new collection. I was also on hand to run out and grab some final decorative bits, prep some sample garments and collect everything together ready for the following day.

All the details and decor were planned and packed off to the lavish Sanderson Hotel in London and everything was ready to be set up in the hotel's spa. First, the team had a well-deserved dinner at the brilliant Suka, the Sanderson's resident Malaysian kitchen, to refuel for the long evening! I wish I had taken a picture of my yellow coconut curry to show, but evidently, I was too lost in it...it was soo gorgeous!

On Press Day, the team were up and at the venue bright and early, making final adjustments and perfecting the presentation of the new collection. The spa looked incredible as soft white curtains surrounded the simple, yet luxurious decor and the delicious A/W pieces. 

Helping out with the last adjustments

Left: My domain at the door: welcoming fashion press guests

Top right: One of the graceful golden mannequins dressed in a key item of the collection- the most adored sequinned navy jumpsuit

Bottom right: A darker themed rail and the hygge, a snug area for the sublime AW14 casual wear as well as amazing manicures and hand massages

MY PRESS DAY OUTFIT

I was attracted to the Ida Cowl Back Tunic because of its grungy abstract print of black and stone, with a wave of azure...but I was sold when it hung like silk and I felt the breezy shell cut. It came a bit lower on my legs than it probably should of, but this made it fabulously oversized! Paired with black Topshop Joni jeans, a black bandeau and smart patent DMs, I was cool and comfortable for the all-day event.

This top is now newly in and available to buy on the Mint Velvet website - £69 

Some of my other roles in the office included updating the Mint Velvet press portfolio and sample database as well as collecting inspiration for AW beauty and the pretty pastel Easter 2014. It was a little strange to be working with darker, more wintery items during sunny spring days, but it was refreshing and I absorbed the images, colours and patterns we'll be seeing in the coming months!

I was in the office for 7 working days, but the timing of this experience couldn't have been more perfect, as the exclusive Press Preview event during this time was so exciting, eye opening and creatively-charged. Mint Velvet was founded in my home county of Bucks and working in its HQ showed reason for its growing success. Its tight-knit, social and passionate team creates a relaxed atmosphere in the office, which motivates and compels its prosperity. I'm sure each member has developed great adoration for the brand since its formation and flourishing success. It was therefore natural that I too felt an emerging sense of admiration for Mint Velvet during my short, but very sweet, time there.

Topshop Tropics

Woe is me, the common student - forced to simply browse and seldom buy in these hard financial times. BORE OFF, I want clothes and I want them now! I especially would LOVE some new summer beauties and found myself like a 'kid in a candy store' in Topshop this weekend, lusting over many many patterned things.

Here's the low-down:

Ever the sucker for ethnic and folk, especially when it's in a repeated tile print. These pieces make me want to go to Morocco or Turkey and bring back a whole suitcase of painted ceramic tableware.

1 - Folk Print Crop Top : £40

2 - Tile Tassel Longline Bikini : £36

3 - Tile Print Runner Shorts : £12

You can't get much more tropical than wearing half a rainforest on your body.

4 - Tropical Off The Shoulder Dress by Rare : £42

5 - Lemon Print Skort : £34

6 - Heavenly Two Part Wedge : £30

These pretty blues and pastel patterns are fab for SS14 (it's coming, slowly but surely, but it's coming) I imagine the jumpsuit is effortless to wear in the heat and the style also comes in a casual shirt dress and a playsuit!

7 - Tropical Print Boilder Suit : £65

8 - Mix Match Panel Floral Tee : £38

9 - Blue Gingham Joni Jeans : £38

Dr Martens #STANDFORSOMETHINGNCL

POSSIBLY THE BEST UNI MODULE EVER

I come to the end of my 2nd year and a huge sign of relief passes the group as we're not quite sure how we did it this semester. 

As part of the current #STANDFORSOMETHING Dr Martens PR campaign, this module (my favourite yet!) commissioned the development of our own EPR strategy and fashion film for the brand- to create a unique strategy, whilst maintaining DMs much loved brand aesthetics and attitudes.

I gladly called upon the loyal, creative, fashion-conscious students of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to celebrate the 1st birthday of its primary store. QR codes are hidden around the city, and when scanned, a sparkling array of Dr Martens prizes can be won. Here, my 3 minute fashion film introduces some of Newcastle's preppy residents and some key competition locations!

Native Rose

I was so chuffed to receive these wonderful shorts from my boyfriend for my birthday yesterday. One half of the bright silky co-ord from Native Rose.

Here I'm wearing them with a fuschia River Island jumper and an Accessorize necklace:

Today #4

Getting my prep on for uni with my blue and lilac checked dress from River Island.

Navy duffle cape - Topshop
Dogtooth blazer - Topshop
Tan leather loafers - Office
Gold bug necklace - Pull and Bear

90s Square Neck

Slightly obsessed with this 90s shape from Miss Selfridge at the moment, especially the striped dress. Below I'm wearing the black crop top and have found it a chore to wear something different that is as comfortable and flattering. I'm extremely tempted to get all the other colours for summer, and for £8 each, you can't really go wrong!

Stripe Mini Dress - £22

Black Mini Dress - £18

Mint Crop Top - £8

White Crop Top - £8

Nude Crop Top - £8

Today #3

The first signs of spring call for my summer dress! 

Worn with a black tee, navy socks with black lace trim and patent black monk shoes.

Yellow and blue floral dress - River Island

Black t-shirt - Uni Qlo

Socks - Topshop

Shoes - Topshop

Navy stone necklace - Accessorize

Statement Sandals for Spring

This week has been gorgeously sunny in Newcastle, giving us relief from the constant freezing winds recently. The jackets are just about off and shorts seem to be appearing from last summer's stash. I have a feeling it won't be staying around for long, so let's bring out our pedicures in this season's must-have chunky heeled sandal while we can. Brights and metallics are favourable, and a comfortable inch or two is a bonus!

1. Topshop Fernando Sandal - £50

2. Nasty Gal Miista Patti Sandal - £89.99

3. ASOS Humour Sandal - £40

4. Topshop Novice Chunky Sandal - £52

5. Out From Under Karla Sandals - £65

6. River Island White Fare Chunky Sandal - £55

Sherrif and Cherry at Liberty

Known for their fun, colourful eyewear, Sheriff and Cherry have recently been added to the ever-evolving Liberty collaboration portfolio. Four popular Sheriff and Cherry frames have been infused with the super summery Lib prints of Marco and Patricia, creating perfectly aestival sunglasses for SS'14! 

Here, three S&C x Lib frames stand out and complement some of the brand's current cool sunglasses:

1. Patricia Liberty Print G12 Frame with Gold Lens - £150

2. Red Marco Liberty Print G11 Wayfarers - £125

3. Blue Marco Liberty Print G11 Wayfarers - £125

4. Blue G11S Wildcat - £95

5. Grey Matte Classic Retro - £95

6. White Turtle Cut - £115

The Forgotten Age

What does beauty entail? Top Family Fortunes answers would include confidence, lovely eyes and a slim build, but another likely, more debatable, answer would be ‘youth’.
Words and graphics by Rosie Sparks

     Fashion and media industries orbit the easily influenced and highly powerful youth culture. Advertising and pop music sing out to young generations to enthuse their exciting, carefree existence. These years are often said to be the best times of your life, and we appear to reach an age for these experiences to be considered by society as unsuitable. Conformity pressures are associated with adolescence, but older women may certainly be victim to conventionality, as society often gives them frumpy housewife stereotypes. Messages in the media drive the idea that physical ageing is undesirable and almost curable. Younger models present fashion trends and TV adverts include older female models often in domestic settings: presenting germ-ridding products, catering for the family and having weight and appearance concerns. Many women, however, continue to celebrate their individually and visual personalities with fashion.

     78-year old New York boutique-owner Lynn Dell truly inspires. Her flamboyant style is a frequent feature on AdvancedStyle, a blog that celebrates mature flair. Lynn has a colourful perspective on this part of her life and motivates her clients each day with her motto ‘dress for the theatre of your life!’ She encourages fashion risks, ‘making mistakes is the best thing! I am lucky enough to have the day to dress how I like, so I’ll keep going until I can’t stop!’

     When women come into Lynn’s extravagant boutique, the team inspires clients to find something wonderful. ‘We get people who say ‘I’m too fat, I’m too old…’ but we tell them to try something new…everything doesn’t have to match, just be creative!’ She considers women aged 40+ through the eyes of the industry, ‘[society] ignores people over a certain age. We have the taste, but every young girl wants to look like her friend Suzie with long hair.’ Lynn believes these women have potential to explore their inner glamour. ‘They are neglected by themselves. We can’t focus on ‘what I don’t have, what I don’t look like’. You make life fun and enjoyable, as so many things aren’t fun!’ Lynn’s beauty essential is for all ages: ‘Once you put a smile on your face, everything looks good!’ Her belief in women is touching and her poise, radiance and enthusiasm for life and style shone through her words.

     Channel 4 aired a hit documentary FabulousFashionistas in September, and was a stark contrast to previous productions of 10 Years Younger and How Not to Get Old. A group of 6 women, with the average age of 80, exhibit their infinitely energetic, optimistic and spritely outlooks on life. Each woman’s ethos manifests in colour, independence, and fearlessness. Gillian still loves to wear mini skirts, and although the public may think ‘who does she think she is?’ she replies ‘I don’t give a toss!’ and maintains her performance arts career aged 87.

     When shopping with my 53-year old mother Christine, she leaves each shop, feeling ‘anxious, depressed and frustrated’. She states she feels most confident when feeling she looks nice, but this is problematic. ‘It’s hard to find the styles to suit my body as it’s changing, but there’s also not enough styles for older women who don’t feel old!’ For the highstreet to deliver to these women, both entities must be open and engaging with one another. Drapers claims 45% of 45-54 years olds prefer researching purchases in store than online, compared to 38% of 18-24 year olds. If this is the case, why are current retail environments accustomed to marketing towards, and serving younger consumers?

     A recent survey for FOLK magazine revealed over half of the British women aged 40-60 asked, a reassuring 73% expressed they own a personal style. 90%, however, claimed their fashion choices to be ‘safe’ purchases. Safety is not necessarily negative – attraction to familiarity and wishing for comforts are natural human traits, but it may be the limited encouragement and confidence to try something new that is socially influenced. Credibly, over half of these women expressed feeling of neglect and being unvalued by the fashion industry.

     All respondents stated they often question if clothes are ‘too young’ for them. An assumption that mature women do not and cannot remain part of the fashion scene may restrain their self-assurance and dampen the acceptance of ageing in this industry. With all respondents investing in anti-ageing cosmetics, hair dyeing and vitamin supplements, it may indicate that they, and society, favour a youthful look and believe signs of growing older should be postponed, or eliminated all together.  Conclusively, 63% of these women admitted to feeling pressured from the media and fashion industry to remain youthful looking.

     Fortunately, high fashion is beginning to embrace the wrinkles and lead the way with older models. Models commonly retire before the age of 30, but Daphne Selfe, 82, and Isabella Rossellini, 60, have recently graced advertising campaigns for Dolce and Gabbana and Bulgari, respectively. Jacquie Tajah Murdock, 82, modelling for Lanvin, claimed ‘it wasn’t until I was in my 40s that I began to see my beauty.’ This year, M&S celebrated the beauty found in all ages of women, in ads featuring Ellie Goulding, Tracey Emin and Grace Coddington, amongst others, in a presentation of timeless style and female unity.

     Yves Saint Laurent famously said ‘fashion fades, style is eternal’. With age comes maturity, and the knowledge of one’s self.  Older women must deem their individual characters as perpetual, and proudly present this by fashion and active lifestyles. Insisting to dress down after the age of 50 is absurd. No woman should be prescribed the dowdy, shapeless option, rather than taking her own inspired initiative to make a truly desired decision. Believe ‘why the hell not, I may never have the chance again!’ because this may be the ticket to eternal vitality and passionate promotion of the self for years to come. 

Article part of Editorial Journalism university 

module, exploring the theme of 'identity and fashion'.

Maude's Mint

[Apologies for the punny title, but the Geordie slang fitted so well]

Maude Boutique's stunning mint necklace instantly caught my eye whilst browsing Shopify on Instagram, and WOW, how awesome is their jewellery all the way from Fayetteville, Arkansas! Statement necklaces and costume earrings have long been on the scene now, and Zara and Topshop have had loads of gorgeous chokers but most of these seem to be about £40 with the gold turning pink after a couple of wears!

Many of these incredibly priced pieces come in alternate colour schemes, but I've found my favourite ones. I'll definitely be sharing this post with my parents, who have gone to the US for Thanksgiving this week - perhaps they could pick up a sparkly little stocking filler for me...

1. The blues necklace - $25 £15.50

2. Talking tulips necklace - $35 £21.50

3. Blossom choker - $45 £27.50

4. Taste the rainbow necklace - $32 £19.50

1. O my! Earring - $12 £7.50

2. Blue garden earring - $14 £8.50

3. Bee dangle earring - $10 £6

4. Crystal drop earring - $9 £5.50

5. Bug post earring - $6 £3.50

"A Maude Girl is much more than her closet, but the one she has should be full of 

clothes that help her feel confident as she makes her dreams happen"

Highstreet Hitlist - Textured Knits

Embrace the textured statement knits which are coming

 in as fast as the leaves are falling.

Chelsea Girl Cherry Eyelash Jumper - River Island - £32

Crazy Bobble Jumper - Topshop - £44

Silver Foil Jumper - H&M - £17.99

Cream and Black Pom Pom Jumper - Miss Selfridge - £39 £29

Suited and Booted

How amazing are these smart but playful Doc shoes!? Simple and smart, with laser cut design to reveal postbox red card suit symbols.

Sparkly Apple

Rimmel apple varnish with Louise Gray Topshop 'Hat Trick' gold/green sparkly polish on top.

Skinnydip: Gaudy Glamour

    I've been searching for the perfect iPhone case for months now! £2.99 rubber cases, from an eBayer somewhere in The Orient, just don't cut it (learned from experience). Finally, a company that has been popping up all over the high street offers a stylish substitute.

    Warning: Sickly-sweet fashion follows

    Skinnydip is a success-snowballing venture from London. Launched after a golden ticket from the BBC Dragons in 2010, its three founders certainly appear to be capitalising their appearance in the Den. Now selling the eclectic 'Bling' range of electronic accessories and clutch bags, Skinnydip marries bold colour and plastic rhinestones for undoubtable tackiness in the best way.

    Resembling costume jewellery disassembled and glued to sleeves and cases of popular electronic devices, these fabulous accessories are bound to get a reaction. I imagine it to be a challenge for one of these dastardly flamboyant pieces to go unnoticed in the club or, less glamorously; on the bus. Negative comments or ones of admiration would probably both be appreciated as these are definite attention seekers. It's lucky current fashion is encouraging such frivolity with bright synthetics and unashamed decorative excess. I'm a fan.

Black iPad Case - £20 @ River Island

Cream iPad Case - £22 @ Topshop

iPhone 5 Sunset Case - £18

Bottle Green Clutch Bag - £40 @ Topshop

These faux fur accessories also scream

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Blue Pom Pom Phone Charm - £5

Red Faux Fur Case - £15

Pre-Autumn Purchases

PREPARING FOR MY FAVOURITE FASHION SEASON

(and nippy Newcastle)

'Juste Parfait' Slogan Knit - Zara - £35.99 £9.99

My childhood involved much huffing and puffing over scratchy sock seams and itchy jumpers. I wouldn't have stood for this Acrylic/Alpaca mix but when the slogan is this cute (and it's a tenner), you just GET OVER IT.

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Crop Check Shirt - Topshop - £28 

Black (which I thought was blue when I bought it?) and white ✓ check flannel ✓ cropped ✓ 
I teamed this beauty with a red Topshop satchel and lipstick @ The Jazz Cafe last month

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Iridescent Clutch - Zara - £19.99

I've been on the look out for a holographic/iridescent bag for a while. After seeing the &OtherStories and Affix London  clutches, I'm glad I held out because I'm in love with this one from Zara's new collection. The orange version is just as tempting, but not as versatile. Classic shape with a futuristic shine - ADORE. 

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Black/Silver Cardigan - Dorothy Perkins - £10

One of my first purchases from DP whilst working there this summer. Another winter warmer to add to my knitwear collection featuring either sparkles or fluffy bits. Lucky this had both...

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Leopard Scarf with Fluoro Stripe - £19 £7.99

Finally from Zara, faithful as ever, an electric blue scarf with a zesty double stripe
looks awesome with leather and jeans.