Catch-up

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Hi guys,
I know its been a while since I've blogged, and I am really sorry, but I have two words that act as an excuse: FINAL YEAR.
I'd heard all the horror stories, listened to all the ranting, and thought "That won't be me. I won't let myself get that stressed" well, here we are, 5 weeks into term, and I am well and truly stressed. (Also, sidenote, I would totally love you all forever and ever if you would fill in my survey for dissertation here. thankssss!)

The last time I blogged I had just spent a brill week in London on placement at Fabulous mag, and spending much needed catch up time with my big sis, and since then a few things have happened.

Firstly, A new haircut

Me and my gorge flatmate

Anyone who follows me on pinterest (if you don't, why not? find me here.) will probably have guessed that I was contemplating a full fringe for a while, as my entire hair inspiration board was filling up with pictures of gorgeous fringes. Once I got back from my girly holiday in Magaluf, I fancied a change and bit the bullet. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, but it has taken me about a month to love it, as I was totally unsure at first!


Secondly, A new Job title.
My uni have are launching a new Fashion Website called Fashion North, and I have been named News Editor! I'm super excited to be part of the new site, and totally thankful to have yet another amazing opportunity to put on my slowly expanding CV. I hope to post loads about it closer to the launch, and will definitely try to post about the launch party, but for now follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

But that's pretty much it, apart from a trip home planned and a halloween night out, my next few weeks consists entirely of uni work and shifts in Sports Direct.
Who said Fashion Degrees were glamourous?

Changes in life, changes in style.

For those of you who may not know, I am about a month away from starting my final year of university (Too scary, have a mild panic everytime I think about it!) and so far my university experience has been AMAZING. I really feel like uni has changed my life in so many ways, and the major change I've noticed has been in my own self-confidence.

Three years ago I moved from a small Northern Irish town, to a slightly bigger English city. I left behind my friends, my family and everything that was familiar, to be a small fish in a much bigger pond than I was used to. I remember being nervous about moving, but also really excited. Without dwelling on it too much, I didn't have too fab a time at school, and was really excited to be somewhere that I could have a new start. Going over (with a shocking amount of stuff) I had been chatting to a few people on my course on Facebook, but had absolutely no idea what to expect from them in real life. 

Long story short, some of those people are now my best friends, (Miss you all, as at this point I haven't seen you all since May!) and I feel like a completely different person than that nervous fresher who got off the boat three years ago. I can see these changes in so many ways, but the biggest has to be in my wardrobe and pictures of me. Fresher me didn't know the benefits of a good eyebrow threading and tinting, and even though I study Fashion, I look back and cringe at what I was wearing. But now I am so much more adventurous with clothes and makeup, as well as being so much more comfortable with myself. 

Being really self-conscious meant that a lot of my now everyday wardrobe staples, would have totally terrified me. Leather trousers would've made me run a mile, but now they're the favourite piece I own. Even with regards to my blog, I used to be scared to post the link anywhere and kept it to myself for a while, but know I tell any social media platform that'll listen, and I would never have dreamed of taking pictures of myself and posting them online for fear of people calling me vain. Now, I don't care. Before uni I used to worry about what people thought far too much. I hated my legs so I never went on nights out without tights on, now I wear whatever I want as long as I like it.

Before discovering what an eyebrow pencil was, and well before I realised that a side fringe was SO not a good look for me. But good to see I still have one standard pose. Hands on hips everyone!

Basically the whole point of this post is just to tell anyone debating about their future or whether they should take a massive step in life, to just do it! If it doesn't work out, that's fine, at least you tried, and you never know what amazing things will happen to you along the way.

Black nights

 Leather Jacket- Warehouse//Top-River Island//

Leather Panel Leggings- Zara//Black Glitter Heels- Next

I had absolutely no intention of going out last night, but some last minute discussing with my friend meant an impromptu night out. Unfortunately I hadn't really packed anything to go out in so I wore the new trousers I got for Christmas, with this River Island top that I got in last years Boxing day sales for about a fiver! 

I had such a lovely Christmas  filled with family, friends and amazing food. Everything I love! Now to start revision and assignments and have my Christmas bubble well and truly burst! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas too.

Thanks to my little cousin for these pictures too! she was roped into it and I guess she'll make a fab little photographer some day!

Vintage spots

Top-River Island//Skirt-Vintage//Shoes-Dune at Debenhams//Necklace-Argento

This is me in what my flatmate Chloe called "Typical Niamh Pose!" I wore this to uni yesterday, and it was not a good decision, it is very windy, and I spent most of the walk home holding my skirt down and my hair out of my eyes. Damn North-East Weather.

I've had this top for ages now, and I think this is the second time I've worn it. Slightly ashamed of that, but I rediscovered it a few days ago, and I decided I would either wear it or eBay it! The skirt is from Rokit on Brick Lane, and the necklace was a gift from my friend. 

My dip dye is really starting to wear out now, and I'm still in two minds of wheter I should redo it or not? I love it, but it has really dried out the ends of my hair, I'll more than likely end up caving in and getting it done again though.

OOTD: Nude Stripes

Top-Internacionale//Skirt-H&M//Bag-Primark//Shoes-Topshop

I wore this out on Monday night for a friends Birthday. I saw the skirt in H&M and I had to have it, and it was a bargain so I could just about afford to! The top is last season, and I got it for my birthday, but they just matched so well, that I didn't know what else to match the skirt with.

At the moment, life is just one long assignment. its the only thing I seem to do these days. I am counting down the days until Christmas as well, by the time it comes round I won't have been home in four months, and I've never been away from home that length yet. I'm very excited!

Galaxy Print

Dress- Missguided

Necklace- New Look

So this week was Reading week, and instead of going home I decided to head to Glasgow for a few days to visit my friend as she has just started uni there. This is what I wore when we went out last night. I wasn't going to post an outfit pic, but quite a few people were asking me where the dress was from so  I thought I'd put it on here with a link.

I got this at freshers week this year, so I didn't think it would still be there but it is, also, I borrowed the necklace from my friend, but now I really want one! 

London Calling!

So as I mentioned previously, I spent the weekend in London, first attending a fashion Journalism workshop, but then meeting up with my sister who lives there and spending a few days with her.

Friday night consisted mainly of eating junk food, while watching the Help, which is SUCH a cute film, and getting an early night before our busy day on Saturday!

On Saturday we headed for the V&A museum, to see the costume exhibition that they have on at the moment. It is such an interesting exhibition, with many timeless and classic pieces as well as pieces from recent films, (Including Twilight which we found a bit strange) and each piece has quotes from the director, the designer or the actor who wore it. There are also video interviews with many of the designers and really good bits of information that I never realised. I unfortunately have no photos as the V&A don't allow photos, not good for bloggers! But I fully recommend the exhibit, and you still have plenty of time to go, it runs until the 27th January. Also Student tickets are only £9 and I think they are totally worth the money just to see Audrey Hepburn's 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' dress up close.

Before heading to the exhibition we went for a little wander down the street, took a look at all the gorgeous houses in Kensington, and discovered the cutest bakery ever. It was decorated like a french Patisserie, and it had the most amazing hot chocolate I've ever had. It was better than Starbucks and if I lived in London I would need to have it everyday!

Enjoying the best hot chocolates ever!

After the exhibit we headed towards Harrods! and on the way passed my favourite shop ever which I had to resist even going into!

 

After a spot of shopping we went for dinner in Sloane square (We really really want to be posh London socialites!) and then we headed back towards Victoria to go and see a musical.

My sister works at St. James' theatre and at the moment there is a new musical playing called 'Daddy Long Legs,' which she hadn't seen yet, so we decided that we would go together. I loved it. It only has two cast members and it really is such a romantic story, I cannot recommend it enough. Afterwards we had a glass of wine, and headed home, and then just spent Sunday in bed watching films, before I had to be put back on the train to Sunderland Kicking and Screaming. 

I cannot wait to live in London!

London Fashion Journalism Masterclass

I have just returned from an amazing weekend in London, as I went down with uni to attend a fashion journalism masterclass. The talk took place in the University of Sunderland's London Campus at Canary Wharf, and we all set off from Sunderland VERY early on the train on Friday morning.

The masterclass featured talks from four top journalists:
Rachel Richardson, editor of fabulous magazine,
Hattie Crisell, a freelance Journalist,
Hannah Almassi, Deputy Fashion News and Features Editor at Grazia,
Louise Gannon, a showbiz Journalist.

These four Journalists are all very hard, working, ambitious women, and they gave us a fantastic view into what our futures as fashion Journalists will hopefully look like! They shared with us their tips on getting a foot in the door, and on working in the industry in general, and so I thought I'd share the best bits of advice I gained from the day.

Get Experience.
At this, and indeed other talks I've attended, the emphasis was on getting as much experience as possible, but we were also told to get as much out of the experience as possible while there, so basically be polite to everyone, and go above and beyond what you are supposed to do, because if an opportunity comes up they might remember you and working really hard for free will be worth it in the end!

Prepare yourself for rejection.
We all know that its the sad case at the moment that we will face rejection no matter what line of work we choose to follow, but in journalism, rejection will come even after you've got a job. You may not be chosen to do a really good interview, or a piece you have written may be cut, but the advice we were given on Friday was not to "be precious about it." This will be no indication of your ability or your work, and there may be several different reasons behind the decisions.

Look the part.
Do not turn up looking scruffy. As Rachel told us, "you are a representation of the brand" and if the brand is Fashion then you will have to look like you have made an effort. 

Learn your trade.
All four of the girls agreed that it is important to know which writers you admire and know their work well. Read around your subject, but also don't focus solely on it, but be aware of current affairs, finance and other areas, that could be the angle or idea for a feature or story.

Inspiration comes from everywhere.
As previously mentioned, reading around the subject can inspire you, but this can come from anywhere, Magazines, Blogs, books or Newspapers, and inspiration can also be something as simple as things you and your friends are discussing amongst yourselves, or that you all feel is a pressing issue. I f you do come up with a good feature or story pitch it now, even if you are still a student, if it is a good idea and it is well written it may just get published.

And a few final tips:
Everyone you know is a contact, use them well.
Be yourself.
Don't feel you need to know everything all the time.
Keep your social footprint clean. Be careful what you post on Facebook and Twitter.


Thanks to the four speakers and to the University for arranging the masterclass it was inspiring and so helpful, and it meant I got to spend an amazing weekend in London with my sister, (more on that later) so now I just need to get my degree and get a job. All these essays will be worth it in the end