recent grads.

If you haven't been around Twitter today, you'll have missed fashion156 sparking a debate into graduates and job opportunities.

They tweeted:

"Open question to graduates. Do you feel equipped to secure the kind of job in the industry you desire. If not what are your concerns?"

...which led to a post on the fashion156 blog.

Of course, this is a debate which concerns me on every level. I emailed f156 my view on education in fashion (too much for a tweet)...

"I've just graduated from Northumbria University's fashion course. I obviously can't speak for other courses but Northumbria does focus a lot on portfolio and links with industry (we have year in industry as part of the course and a placement officer who deals only with finding student placements and advertising graduate jobs.) We (generally) have quite a good rate of employment, which I think is down to experience. I've been applying for lots of jobs in the past few weeks and even entry level positions want people with experience. If you haven't come from a course with a placement scheme of some sort, you might struggle to find paid work in the industry. I chose to travel after doing 5 months with a supply company and now I'm looking into doing another unpaid placement so I have a full years experience at different places.

From seeing other unis work at Graduate Fashion Week, it seems as though lots of courses focus on a high-end market (and final collections - lots of those shown were very 'catwalk', which might be impressive but isn't what buyers/employers are looking for in order to sell!) and don't focus on portfolio skills etc as much as we do - many of the other unis didn't have full portfolios out or took up much more of the stand with garments, and I think this is a huge mistake as most graduates aren't going to find paid work in the high-end and would likely struggle to start their own business too. "

(Slightly edited...)

...but since seeing some more responses I've got more to add.

Over four years on the course I've heard a lot of my coursemates complain about our course for various reasons, but we seem to have it really good - Co-operative Designs tweeted the following to f156:

"damn straight. Most knitwear students dont even get taught how to knit a jumper. shocking!"

...and was instantly incredibly thankful for everything my course has taught me. We weren't at all taught about digital communication (another thing f156 mentioned) - but on a design course (rather than marketing/communication), I'm not surprised about that.But we are taught how to pattern cut, and sew, and use Adobe programs to professional standard. The print students know how to screen print, and the knitwear students know how to knit (even those who only take knitwear option in fourth year), and our final collections are made by us ourselves (with help from the technicians, but 99% of collections are made in the studio on campus) - which I know isn't the case for all unis.

I think people in the industry know this about Northumbria and that puts me in a good position, but even so, people want to know you have the experience.

I think the reality is, you need education AND experience in order to get anywhere. For the majority of jobs I've applied for, they look at your CV and covering letter and that's it. No work examples - no portfolio, no collection, no anything. You have to impress in text.

This might all be terrible news for new graduates, for people already enrolled on fashion courses, or for people starting a fashion course in September, but hopefully it's better to know the reality of the situation - and what you can do about it - now.

----------

I hope this doesn't sound really Northumbria-biased, but obviously, I don't know about other unis enough to talk about them. Fellow Northumbrians (on any design course), I'd love to hear your opinions; but I'd especially love to hear from students/recent grads from other places...

Dilemma

There's a placement opportunity, based in Heaton, for a trend prediction company.

It would be until the end of the year, 3 days a week, unpaid but within walking distance of me, so...yknow. It involves travelling, and industry experience, and writing for their blog (!!!!!), and I really want to apply.

BUT

it would mean not going to Europe, which I really, really, really, want to do.

I wonder, if they'll perhaps still be looking when I come back?

Fingers are crossed.

I think perhaps I shall email our placement tutor and ask her what she thinks....

Kane-ing It

Hey, what's this? A new post?

'citin.

I'd like to say I've been too busy with really important/interesting things, but in all honesty, I've mostly been sleeping/eating/going out/eating/wandering around Heaton early in the morning/sitting around the house in my pyjamas/eating/saying ...i heard too much.

Lots of eating.

Somehow I manage to still fit into my clothes, it's a win/win situation, I feel.

ANYHOO

on with the post!

Christopher Kane for Topshop, I heard:

Oh, these are the ones I want most! The sheer studded leggings, and the cut out stud dress, the velvet (?!? Looks it from here..) one sleeved number, THE BLUE SWISHY DRESS!!!! It will be mine. I'm enjoying the sheer dresses also, but since they won't be cheap I probably wouldn't go for them....

Mostly the shoes, also!

Yeah, actually, I'm sorry, can we take a minute just to vidi the shoes?!?!?!

Oh, yeah, yeah we can.

AHHHH.

I can only find prices in dollars, apparantly...but everything is between $60 and $310? Which sounds pretty steep, I'm not gonna lie. Shall update when I find £££'s.

So there's obviously some nods to his previous main line collections. And there are a hell of a lot of studs and sheers (this makes me happy), along with some neons and frills akin to his earlier collections. Course there are also some prints in there, including the photorealism of his last collection - this time with crocodiles instead of gorillas and the like, though....

And might I point out, that this one 'ere was manufactured through RTW (I got a sneak preview, therefore. I've been seeing this one around for months!)

So, to summarize, he's amazing and should be lauded as such. ♥

Lots more pics to be found here, FYI.

Also; Bow Down To My Awesomeness.

Commencing.....now.

One of the blogs I read on a regular basis is IS MENTAL.

This post appeared almost two weeks ago - this is how long I've been meaning to post about this! This is what placement reports have reduced me to! Two weeks!!!!! - where was I? Oh yes. This appeared on July 12th: clickity click

Regarde le.....main picture. I need to stop acting like I know French.

So yeah, Boutique leggings for Topshop, which I totally designed. AHAHAHA I am brilliant etc.

Yeah, so not even in the "I drew up the sketch" sense of the snake print oversized crop tee...thing...thats in Topshop also right now, but in the actual "I came up with designs, Topshop picked their favourite, I drew this up, it got sampled, it got bought, I am awesome" kind of way, which is about 56 million types of awesome.

XD.

You too can buy a genuine pair of Topshop leggings (it doesn't sound as exciting when I say it like that.) right here if you follow this link plzkthnks.

Amanda of IS MENTAL, if you happen to stumble upon this, ta for the photo. I am too excited/smug to not put this up here, and lord knows when the next time I'll get to feel excited/smug is. :D.

Ahhhh It's Done

The dreaded placement report.

All but finished, needs to be handed in tomorrow and I need one last smidge of info. Well, I hope to get one last smidge of info, but it's not necessary, since this is a pass/fail thing and I've covered everything in the brief.

Yeah.

But you don't care about that! You superficial thing, you.

So instead, here is a rundown of my week.

Monday

Coop; RIP.

I got hideously drunk (bottle of wine before leaving the house; and nothing else.).

I don't remember getting off the bus or getting into coop....

...I do remember and am reminded every damn day that I broke my camera and lost my ring, which belonged to my gran and I will never get back.

My little finger feels naked without it, despite the fact I didn't wear it all the time.

*sniff*

Awesome night though, ey?

Tues....

Actually, lets fast forward a few days.

The next two days were spent finishing off reports and nursing the bruises/cuts I garnered on Monday night (thats one bruise on my knee, one on my elbow, and a massive gash on my arm which I seem to think would've hurt more when I did it....? Fell over on the stage a hefty number of times. It was the wet floor, not the combination of 6 inch heels and alcohol, mmmmkay?)

Thursday

So today I had a tutorial at uni, which was awesome. Mostly cos my tutor was loving the fact that I loved my placement, ran a blog and was doing a lot of cinema viewing. Good times.

Also went to see Moon with Dean, which was pretty awesome.

Also it starred (briefly, as this was allll about Sam Rockwell, who did put in a stellar performance.) Kaya Scodelario (Effy from Skins. I am going to go ahead and assume I spelt her last name correctly. I probably did not.), and Matt Berry (Bainbridge Dixon/....errrr...the boss in series 3 of the IT Crowd..? I forget his name in that. He is mint though.). These things pleased me.

Go see it, if you get the chance. Preferably at awesome independant cinemas which are awesome. Did I mention I love the Tyneside? Awesome.

Other than that I have been mostly wearing such outfits as this:

Well, when not in pyjamas, you know. I have no outfit pics from Monday. THIS MAKES ME SAD. Not as sad as the loss of my camera/ring though. But I had my leopard print maxi dress on, and it was awesome.

----------------------------

In other news, I'm off to the Lake District for 24 hours tomorrow. I was gonna go tonight but then I had to wait for this info to finish this project......

Photos to follow.

Because I have stolen Aaron's camera.

Because he left it here, and it's a Canon too, and my memory card fits in it.

In other, other news, Aaron is pretty sure he has swine flu. He is at home, thank god, but I'm pretty sure this means it's only a matter of time for the rest of us.

Sadly he has remembered about our "the first person in this house to get it gets a fiver off everyone else" bet, but if the rest of us deny it ever existed, perhaps he will think he dreamt it in a flu-addled dream???

*crosses fingers*

Every Living Thing, Pushed Into The Ring

...fight it out to wow the crowd

*dances*

I am very into Metric's new album.

I haven't written about what I'm actually up to in a while...

So today I'm on the train home for Lewis' christening tomorrow, and to take as much stuff as possible back so I don't have to bring everything next week.

There was the cliche sitting on the case.

I was glad no one saw me do this, I feel acting out cliches is not a good thing whatsoever.

Although I feel it may be repeated next week....le sigh.

My faith in nice, kind, helpful Londoners was restored also - I know the assumption is they're all rude and generally not nice but there are at least 4 exceptions to this rule. The nice men who collectively helped me off the bus at Finsbury Park, stopped to let me cross over the road to the station, helped carry my bag down the steps at the station, and onto the actual tube to King's Cross - thankyou.

Oh, and then I made it onto the train with seconds to spare and had to drag my case through 3 carriages to get to my seat. Bad times.

And the outfit I chose to do all this in?

Gothic times, my friend:

Leather jacket, aka one of the reasons I'm now poor, from eBay; vintage dress

from Camden, vintage belt and boots from Brick Lane.

So now I'm on the train and the only thing I can think to do is blog and trawl eBay.

I haven't really done anything in the past week, apart from work at placement and Kasia's leaving party last Friday. We went to Bloomsbury Lanes, which, if you haven't been, is a 50's style diner/bar/bowling alley at which I sucked majorly at bowling (no bumpers, y'see. I'm crap without them, can't bowl in a straight line.) and got somewhat drunk (4 cocktails, since the company was paying and all). And then some of us went to Hackney, to a pub whose DJ was playing an awesome/mental mix of tunes. They might as well have plugged in my iPod, such was the randomness. Beyonce (Single Ladies ♥) and Nirvana (Smells Like Teen Spirit) were the ones I remember mostly.

And then I stayed at Laura's, whose room closely resembled a sauna.

I realise I haven't really mentioned Laura before, she's the girl I'm sharing my part time with on placement, and she's also on my course.

There are many photos on facebook, but here is a smattering for your viewing pleasure.

That's enough of that then.

Debating spending stupid money on train food. I wouldn't, but I'm starving.....hmm.

This Week..

...I've been having an awesome time at work, pretty much. I did some photoshopping, I am now clearly awesome at it XD

I'd post what I'd done, but best not, incase it goes into production. Hehe.

This is pretty much a catch up post, before I go out today. I have a massive walk planned, I don't know if I'll actually do it though given the weather.

Currently watching Mary, Queen of Charity Shops, hah, reminds me of my time at Cancer Research last year. All the little old ladies. Aww.

Oh oh! And I'm up on the Imagebook website, finally. Citin. 

Friday, Saturday, Happy Days

This is last Friday and Saturday, ofc.

Sunday was not a particularly 'happy day' and is therefore not included.

But yeah.

I met Kim at 4-ish (after leaving work early, teehee) and we dropped her bag off here and went to see QI (!!!), cept, we got there and queued for a while, and then they said it was full, cos apparantly having a ticket wasn't enough, it was also first come first served. BOOOO. Good job they were free goddammit. Gutted though, no Mr Fry sightings ;_;.

So I showed Kim around the South Bank a little instead, in the rain.

And we went to Giraffe for tea.

Where they charged us "optional" service charge? But they whack it right on yer bill so you'd have to ask to have it taken off, and risk the embarrassment. SNEAKY BUGGERS.

And we wandered around in the dark a bit too.

And on Saturday, we went to Camden XD

I saw Eudald from work! Haha, it was random. And he was with two of his friends and all 3 of them had trenchcoats on, I lol'd, it was like they were in a club of some sort.

ANNNND we had lunch at the market, which is one of my fave places to eat cos it's a) cheap and b) SO diverse, you can literally have anything. I had Mexican, Kim had Chinese, and we sat on the awesome new motorbike chairs on the right side of the road - I'm pretty sure it's newly open, I guess after the Hawley Arms fire? I dunno, it looked pretty shiny and new.

I spent lots of money on a bright pink skirt, a long black dress (VAIR gothic/Comme De Garcons/Rick Owens. LOVE.), a white jacket and a nautical brooch, and a Russian-style fur hat, which was purely for that nights entertainment and which I have been trying to shoe-horn into my actual wardrobe for the past week, but to no avail.

(FYI, there will probs be pics of these items on here at some point soon, mmkay? I'm in my jamas now and can't be bothered to change.)

It doesn't matter what I put it with, I just look Russian. I'll keep it till winter, when it's actually fur hat weather, and see what happens then, ey? Else it's going on ebay.

So, the nights entertainment, you ask? EUROVISION, MY DEAR!

Bailey had invited us round, and jokingly she suggested it be fancy dress.

Never offer the option of fancy dress to someone from Newcastle - I am almost certain it is the fancy dress capital of the world. (No lie, go out, any night, and you will see hundreds of people in fancy dress. Especially if it's a weekend. Or a big student night. Or a day ending in Y.)

I was Russia, and wore this, as well as my fur hat:

(Hat from Camden Market, vintage jacket from Brick Lane, vest from work, skirt from

Topshop, boots from ebay. Fur tail from Portobello market, put together by me :D)

Note the fine colour matching of the flag there! Also the fierce use of fur (read: the only 2 furry items I had), and know that I also took a bottle of vodka. This last fact was regrettable.

And Kim was France:

She looked AWESOME. I dunno what it was about the flicky hair, but she looked so much more French with it. And those are all my clothes, haha. Even the necklace kinda looks like onions! Genius.

'course, Nico, an actual french person, turned up later, but Kim clearly *looked* more French, so yknow.

So yeah, we went, we made/drank copious amounts of cocktails, we ate pizza, we cheered on Greece*, Bailey's dress fell down more times than was appropriate (well, one time is more than enough, really), we danced with a crutch...?**

...we woke up the next morning somewhat worse for wear.

Understatement.

Made it home, slowly, after much walking/fresh air before we could brave the bus, and after a stop at Tesco for cheese strings and haribo (Kim) and sausage rolls (me). Hungover cravings are weird.

We got in, we had a sleep and a cheese string each, and I made sausage rolls and mash, and it was awesome. XD

----------------------------------------

OK, so today, I felt like an actual proper designer. Haha, it was ace.

I dunno why, I mean I was sitting at Eudald's desk cos he's buzzed off to New York for 10 days (lucky bitch.) but it's not like I haven't sat there before...shrug.

Annnd on the way home I saw this car:

LEOPARD PRINT SMART CAR

WANTWANTWANT

----------------------------------------

* The campest, therefore, the best song. Apparantly the UK gave it 12 points. I did not remember this. I do remember voting for it twice, though.

**I have no idea who this crutch belonged to.

Model Me

I got the photos back from my 'photoshoot' with Sandra! So yeah, here's some of the best ones.

And some of the final artwork she did...

And the placement idea:

But since it looked a little too similar to the one we got the idea from, they didn't want to book it :(

But yeah, also, remember when I said about getting stopped on Oxford Street and a guy took my details for a model/extras agency? Yeah so they got back to me, and I went for a photoshoot for the website and everything :D

It was pretty awesome, but I'm not posting any more til I'm on the website, cos I don't trust it now =/.

But yeah, citin citin citin!

Next Top Jenn

Today was a good work day, ohh yes.

Sandra (the print designer!) is was working on some graphic tees with faces, and faces with like really smudges makeup? I can't really describe it without the inspiration photo. But yeah she thought I'd make a good model cos my hair is so bright haha, awesome. 

So she took some photos and got me to put loads of eyeliner on and smudge it, and it was awesome, we took hundreds of photos XD

She said she'll do me a disc of em so I can put them in my project (i.e. upload them here!) so I'll do that when I get em.

Ha

All I could think was 'smile with your eyes!', i have watched far too much America's Next Top Model.

Annnnnd I was working on sequin placement designs to be sent to India, which is a big project :)

Annnd then I was a fit model on the afternoon, cos Eudald got me to try on all the new Topshop woven trousers. I fell in love with one pair, they were beautiful! high waisted, a little wide legged, fitted like a glove, gorgeous. 

AND I got some more free clothes XD good times all round, says I.

Hayfever :(

So despite the fact I've never suffered from hayfever before, I currently have a blocked nose, aching sinuses and crusty eyes when I wake up in the morning. Lovely.

And sadly, the last two days have been placement-filled, so I couldn't even just curl up in a ball and watch tv till it went away :(

Although there isn't much craic from these days, I kind of just drifted through them =/ oh dear. Hopefully will have pepped up a bit by next week! I hope so anyways, this weekend is plan-filled, I better be well enough for it (there will be posts, I shan't spoil the suprise.).

I spent far too much money at the start of this week, mostly on ebay =/ new burberry coat, to replace the one which was too big (which i sold last month for extra moneys), leather jacket (which is love), a bowler hat (ohhh yes!), and 2 pairs of boots =/. Oo and some new jeans (!) from Topshop. Mostly the ebay stuff has gone to Newcastle - it'll be like my birthday! AHH IM EXCITED, ONE WEEK!  

If Gemma gets her own way I'll be adding a pair of shoes to that mix, but I think I might hold off for now, I dunno. Theyre £110! Well, £99 with ye olde student discount. But there are some similar ones on ebay for muuuuch cheaper *strokes chin* I'll see, I'll see.

I need to check that list of things to do when I get money! I know book europe trip is one of em, but I haven't gotten around to that yet =/. I will, at some point. I do really want to go!

This post has no pics :( this is sad. But....I'm too lazy to go find some so deal.

I'm off to fill the Lost-shaped hole in my evening with chocolate and Winchesters*. 

*errrm gonna watch Supernatual, innit.

la paio di scarpa, sono bello!*

The last two days I've been in the office (XD), mostly sketching stuff up for Asos - so much work! - and somehow managing to buy some shoes from aforementioned website.

They are lush.

They arrived this afternoon, while I was out.

Was going to go to Dalston and Shoreditch and eventually that old faithful of places, Brick Lane.

The idea was to swing by Christopher Kane and Luella and drop CVs in the the vain hope theyll take me on for a month or so over Fashion Week in September. Cept the cable was missing for the printer and I couldn't print out said CV's, so I guess that'll have to wait for tomorrow :(

So instead I thought 'I'll get on a bus and see where it takes me' - I ended up in Muswell Hill, which is a nice place, and had lunch at a Greek restaurant which had the most awesome lampshades (I was mega inspired by them, you can't usually say that about a lampshade):

I had a very tasty salad, a tiramisu (lush), and a mocha (also lush), ta for asking.

And then I nipped round the charity shops, and bought 2 books - one a book about the fashion industry (I can read about it, not just live it XD), and one a book on learning Italian. I thought earlier this year I might try and learn a new language, and this was one of the ones I thought about (I'd also like better French skills plzkthanks).

It may or may not have taken about 5 minutes to translate the title. ¬_¬.

So the shoes! Yes.

(Cardi stole from Luke, top from work, skirt from Topshop, via ebay, shoes from Asos)

Clearly sexy, yes?

*Translation: 'The pair of shoes, they are beautiful!' - incase you were wondering.

3 days?!

I have not blogged for, I mean.

:(

It's out of laziness, not busy-ness - I've been catching up on the newest season of America's Next Top Model, and last night was all about Lost. Which is clearly awesome. I have theories, debating emailing The Lost Initiative with em. 

If you are a Lost fan, watch that. And then search facebook for the group. obvs. Geeky Tom is clearly a legend. (Although theyre all pretty good)

So last 2 days I've been at work, but not done much of anything, really... (although I did get literally a sainbury's bag for life full of free clothes, some of which are coming up north with me in a few weeks for kim/anyone else who wants them XD) 

And on Tuesday, I had quite an interesting day.

Went to the Horniman Museum (eh, I've had enough of museums at this point so...yeah.) then got the train back to Charing Cross, went to Trafalgar Square and sat on nelson for dinner ^_^. And then I wandered into soho to look for fabric shops - there were some, but none which had like, everything. =/. I want to find somewhere where I can ask for some decent swatches so I can have some sort of fabric reference book, is that too much to ask? Meh. I finally found Beyond Retro, too. It was alright *shrug* I like Absolute Vintage better.

Well, I found the BR in soho, apparantly the one near Brick Lane is further along the street I thought it was down, I just didn't go far enough. Meh.

I better add some pics to this post, liven it up a bit and that.

So I was using the new Google photo thingy, you know what I mean, yeah? Looked up some places:

Home; London

Work; London

Brick Lane - looking down the street which holds Cafe 1001 (♥) and Rough Trade

Camden Market/Lock

Home; Newcastle

COOOOOOOP! etc. I miss Newcastle :(

Holey Hell.

Had a hole in my tights, it turned into a ladder. A massive one. I wanted laddered tights, but when one leg has a massive hole around the knee and the other one is normal it does not achieve the desired effect. Hmph.

Today was busy

Vair busy

Until about 3pm and then I got a bit bored. ^_^

But now I'm off til next Wednesday! wtf.

I actually wish I'd been off today, I would've done what I am going to do tomorrow (which is, mostly, walk about) but my planned route took my through the Bank area, so I could've seen the protest & all that. I've never seen a proper protest, I would've thought it'd be rather exciting...

Apparantly they were protesting about the economy and the environment (when isn't there someone protesting about the environment - shut up and do something then, ffs, it would be more productive.). And some people were just supporting the G20 summit? OK, whatever BBC News. Supporting it, yeah, that's why they were kicking in the RBS building.

I bet it would've made for some good photos/stories for my sketchbook. Damn.

I like that area of London too.

Plus, I hear Russell Brand was there (well, he was, it was on his blog.), which is more reason to go if anything.

Wonder if there's anything around tomorrow? Obvs I'll have my camera so we'll see ^_^

I notice That Fucking Gherkin is peeking out at the back there. Anyone who actually knows me probably knows I'm being stalked by it. Yes, stalked by a building. ShutUp.

OH HAI

So first post.
Hmm.

A little about myself, i spose - if, perchance, you have wandered here from some god-forsaken part of the interweb, and are not, in fact, someone who knows me.

I'm a 2nd year Fashion student at Northumbria Uni (this makes me 20, fact fans), currently on placement year (for the whoooole of 2009) and living in London where I've been for 2 whole months O_O.
I'm living in Harringay, and working in Kensington (just off Ladbroke Grove, at a company called RTW who supply Topshop, Miss Selfridge, ASOS, etcetc.).
On my days off I am to be found wandering the streets of London town, in my awesome chelsea boots, taking photos of random things and spending too much money on coffee.

Also, I like brackets.
Infact, I like punctuation in general. And smiley faces.
:)

The idea of this 'ere blog, I guess, is part online diary, part keeping my friends back home up to date with my whereabouts, and part ramble about what I'm doing at work/around town/what I'm wearing/what music I'm listening to today. Fun times.

I probably should have started this either at the start of this year, or when I started placement, but I only just thought to do it, so....deal with it.

so, today

I was at work ^_^ and didn't do much of anything...research and stuff, dealt with my scarf project (I am official scarf designer for Miss Selfridge, I'll have you know.), posted something, had the best chicken wrap ever from a cafe on Golborne Road and couldn't finish it cos it was so massive (I have the rest in the fridge for tomorrow, of course).

But I did buy tickets to see my beloved Patrick Wolf in Camden in June.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D.

Clearly excited.
I'm also trying to round up anyone whose free on April 24th, if there are tickets left, for Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Camden Crawl. Don't actually want to see anyone else on the bill. It's Blitz! = awesome.

Here is a nice picture of Mr Wolf. He only serves to jazz up this post a bit, tbh.

Ah, the tiny shorts. At least he's wearing underwear too in this pic, t'were a different story the first time I saw him live, I tells yer.