Interning: Day 8/9

It’s been busy busy on the fashion desk over the last few days! A four day week is always good news in principle but the reality is doing five days worth of work in four days, particularly on a newspaper.

The shoot got postponed as predicted on Wednesday only for the weather to turn glorious and spring-like Thursday morning, typical! All the shoes arrived on Wednesday regardless and some of the gladiators called in were rather lovely, if I do say so myself. These beauts from KG, Nicole Farhi and Nine West in particular…


























I pitched an idea for the ‘Dressing Table’ feature that runs every weekend in The Independent Magazine and it’s going ahead. It will hopefully be in a few weeks time but prep starts early. It’s a beauty feature based around natural/organic products, all of which arrived yesterday – my desk is overflowing!! Writing starts on Tuesday so fingers crossed it all works out…

There have been lots of tasty treats this week getting us into the Easter spirit, from freebies to cupcakes! Happy Easter and happy bank holiday!!

Tara xoxo

P.s I saw Saturday’s mag yesterday and it’s looking good, the underwear as out-a-wear shoot is in there so check it out in tomorrows paper.

Thing's I'm loving...

For going out...



















For my holidays...



















For festival season...



















For the hell of it...

Interning: Day 6/7

Well it seems spring is over before it even started! The weather has been dire and it’s playing havoc with my SS10 wardrobe. Lace-up gladiator heels are no good when there’s a puddle around every corner!

In the office I’ve been searching for the very best maxi skirts (as seen on the catwalk) for an upcoming feature. They are set to be big for SS10 but think tightly fitted not Sienna’s boho style! Top Shop have some great plain versions online, as does L’Agence (available at Net-A-Porter) if you have a bit more cash to splash. Look out not this weekend but next.


I've also been calling in shoes for a shoot on Thursday - weather permitting! Converse, brogues and gladiator sandals. The models are in today for casting but the forecast isn't looking good so it may get pushed back to next week.

Monday: A simple denim day in Robin's jeans, my Zara stripy tee with detailed shoulders and black, buttoned, ankle boots. My jeans are from a great shop called Poison Angel on Brompton Road in South Ken, they have a great selection of denim from LA for boys and girls.

Tuesday: Black harem trousers from Zara (rolled up at the bottom) with a white vest and a Top Shop grey, linen, boyfriend fit blazer – this was a great sale find, £20 a few months back, it’s a great transitional piece.

Interning: Day 5 - that Friday feeling...

My Chanel sunnies were needed on Friday morning which was obviously a good omen, as I had a good end to the week.

On the fashion desk I went through the returns with Scarlett - there was a lot of fighting with parcel tap and plastic bags! It has to be said now minus the Gap, H&M, Banana Republic and New Look samples, and five/six bags of rubbish lighter, the fashion cupboard is at last looking a tad tidier. Gemma is a happy lady!

On Saturday The Independent Magazine featured an amazing, exclusive interview with Dolce & Gabbana (25 years in fashion) by fashion editor Susannah Frankle, accompanied by a stunning shoot styled by Gemma and photographed by Andrew Woffinden. (Pictured above)

I drove down to Bournemouth on Saturday to celebrate my Annie's 21st. However, as the clocks went forward Sunday, I lost an hours sleep while hung-over which made getting up this morning quite a struggle, or though a slightly less delicate affair that I had anticipated.

Friday: Went for my new grey Zara chiffon drape skirt which has a thick black waist band (see old post, SS buys for pic), a striped French Connection top and a Top Shop blazer with tights and new KG heels (birthday present from my friend Amy) which are very utilitarian - not! They have a buckle and caged detail and with my hair in a bun, circa a 1997 ice skating competition, the whole outfit was unintentionally, very sports luxe.

Tara xoxo

Rock 'n Rose - Spring Jewellery

Thanks to Twitter I discovered a great new jewellery designer this morning so I thought I'd share.

Rock 'n Roll, established by North East sister duo Jessica and Emily Jane Lathan in 2007, is an online fashion boutique specialising in classic, vintage, handmade jewellery.

The collection of contemporary accessories and head pieces reworks vintage treasures to create gorgeous and unique trinkets. Best of all the vintage nature means it is also very green and it doesn't cost the earth.

www.shop.rocknrose.co.uk

Here are a few of my favourites from the web site...

Interning: Day 3/4

Since my last intern blog post I have been helping call in handbag pictures and prices for the 10 best feature (out next Friday), which stylist Gemma Haywood is putting together – of course the Mulberry Alexa is in there (now back in stock on Net-A-Porter).

Yesterday there was a bit of a last minute scramble. The prices and stockist info from a recent shoot was misplaced and three of the pictures were going to press - a few last second phone calls to Christian Louboutin, Sophia Kokosalaki and Jean Paul Gautier were required.

Unfortunately, Jean Paul Gautier HQ is in Paris and my GCSE French just wasn’t up to scratch. Things weren’t helped by the fact that the slip dress, used as part of the ‘underwear as out-a-wear’ shoot, was not part of the SS10 catwalk collection i.e. no look number. This left poor me to explain what it looked like from the photo – I failed, miserably.

Working for BaxterStorey Ltd I am well adept in the art of receiving freebies but, because of the nature of the business, these are normally food or drink based. However, in the fashion department on a national newspaper it seems freebies come in the form of shoes and beauty products! Fashion assistant Harriet received a lovely pair of Vivienne Westwood heels yesterday and a cute pair of flats this morning, with an adjustable gold bracelet which winds round the ankle. As I type she has also just received a Marc by Marc, bow shaped knecklace watch – very jealous! I’ve also been sorting out the invites that come in daily!

Wednesday: I went for a watercolour print H&M dress in a mix of AW blues, with a wide black waist belt, black tights, black ankle boots from Primark (bargain) and a black cardigan from New Look which has a lace back to it. Lots of black, but the strong print called for it. As usual I wore my Michael Kors silver chronograph watch, which I live in, and a silver Links of London bracelet. (Must add, fell down the stairs in Paddington tube station. I just about managed to hang onto the railing but it was still highly embarrassing. Needless to say I changed into a pair of studded flats at lunch time, just in time for a trip to Urban Outfitters with fellow intern Scarlett.)

Thursday: Decided to have a casual Thursday, black River Island leggings, my flat, suede fringe boots in caramel and a plain black long-line vest under my new H&M Garden Collection anorak. Accessorised with chunky, gold and tribal print bangles.

www.gemmahaywardstylist.com

Tara xoxo

Versace SS10 lands at Net-A-Porter

Donatella describes it as ‘young, fresh and very wearable’. The Versace SS10 collection arrives at Net-A-Porter.com...




















Yesterday, a few select pieces from the Versace SS10 collection went live on luxe online store Net-A-Porter. It’s the first time the label has been made available online and just in time as this fresh, sexy and very feminine line reasserts Versace as a fashion heavyweight. From figure-hugging mini dresses to dramatic floor-skimming gowns, expect a modern take on early 90's Versace.

An exclusive interview with Donatella can also be found on the site and in the latest edition of the Net-a-porter magazine, out today. A great read, Donatella discusses difficult decisions made following the death of her brother Gianni in 1997 and why this is her favourite collection to date.

http://www.net-a-porter.com/flash/magazine/intl/issue_32/issue_32.pdf

Interning: Day 1/2

This week I started my internship with The Independent on the fashion desk – feeling very metropolitan and channelling Whitney Port all the way.

Having only had editorial work experience and a stint in PR, this was my very first fashion placement (excited squeal) and Monday highlighted a few things, all of which anyone in the industry will snigger at…

Firstly, look books are A-mazing, Monday was the first time I had seen one in the flesh you see. The aim of the game is to stand out from the crowd – Christian Louboutin’s bible-style (very apt), hardback book stood out for me; very extravagant in black, red and gold. As did the sophisticated and simple offering from VB. Tidying the A-Z took forever simply because I couldn’t help but look through every single one.

Secondly, it’s the norm for the fashion cupboard to be a mess…with hundreds of products being called in and then returned, and shoots happening left, right and centre, it simply becomes a dumping ground (much like my housemates bedroom). I have such an urge to tidy it but I have been told by fellow intern, Scarlett - www.scarlookcloser.blogspot.com, that it’s beyond the point of rescue.

Thirdly, as much as I love them, high heels and the tube just don’t mix well. I can survive the car park, train and walking to the office but the underground, with it's random sloping walkways, is a real challenge - especially in rush hour. I shuffled through on Monday but today, lesson learnt, I had a pair of flats in the Mulberry.

Fouthly, it’s not all glamour. I’ve been spending my day calling in camera bags for a top ten feature. The only one to get excited about is an Anya Hindmarch – very cute.

And last but not least, ALWAYS put the lid on your Buxton bottle of water. Speaking from experience, if you don't, you will end up with a very wet handbag and a broken camera (currently sat in the airing cupboard). This also means no photos of what I’m wearing to work which I was going to post, inspired by www.styleofafashionista.blogspot.com.

So instead a bit of imagination is needed…

Monday: Navy tailored harem’s from Zara with a skinny brown belt, plain ¾ sleeved white leotard from Top Shop and a pair of H&M lace up heeled gladiators in nude. Teamed with my classic trench from H&M and a Mulberry Daria drawstring tote.

Tuesday: River Island skirt – button through, African print in cream, black and orange (floaty, sits quite high) with a plain black vest from ASOS and a cute ¾ Chanel–esq, cream jacket with black edging from H&M. Teamed with black tights (yes it's still cold) and open-toed, shoe boots with a ribbon lace.


Tara xoxo

Grazia 3D

The very first 3D fashion magazine hit the news stands today, with Grazia taking fashion into the next dimension. Unfortunately, the overall opinion on the fashion desk...‘so what’.

I have to say Grazia is my favourite weekly fashion mag with a great mix of high-end and high street, and there's even some good investigative journalism thrown in. But this new concept wasn't as earth shattering as billed.

You need an iPhone to get the full 3D experience, holding it over the pages as you read, but once we finally figured this out, we just didn’t care. It seems everything has to turn 3D at the moment, films, TV even catwalk shows - just for the sake of being 3D.

Dept fashion editor Carola summed it up: "fashion magazines should not have to come with instructions".

Nice idea and all, but just not worth the effort.


Tara xoxo

H&M Garden Collection

The H&M Garden Collection is now in stores and I must say, I love it!

While walking down Kensington High Street on lunch, I was drawn into the store without a second thought. Beaming out of the shop entrance (on another miserable day, weather wise) the romantic, exotic and glamorous prints caught my eye.

The floral looks are inspired by chlorophyll-green gardens, sun drenched landscapes and 70s hippie chic flower-power. Perfect, as florals are key this SS10 and a great way to inject some life into any lack-luster wardrobe.




Best of all, this capsule collection is made using organic and recycled materials. All the garments have been produced using sustainable materials or using recycled PET bottles or textile waste. Surely this redresses the balance for any non-recyclers? *cough* Me - terrible I know!

The collection oozes hippy summer lovin’ from the pinafore dress in organic cotton with romantic roses, to the smock dress in organic cotton with an ethnic floral pattern. Other highlights include the organic cotton top in a small floral design and the frilly chiffon top made from recycled polyester.




I started off by purchasing the beige anorak (below, £29.99) perfect for over a floral jumpsuit, both of which come in tencel - screams festival! The price points are low as always from H&M which could spell trouble but then, that's what overdrafts were invested for!



Tara xoxo

ASOS Bloggers event 2010

The créme de la créme of the fashion blogging world attended the Access All Areas event at ASOS HQ last night. The girls sipped champers and mingled amongst the Habitat furniture before strutting their stuff down the catwalk, in ASOS's finest SS offerings. Very jealous!




ASOS HQ.








Carrie. Her blog wishwishwish is A-mazing, great photography.











Kristin. I NEED this dress for my summer hol to Mexico. Butters the dog seemed to have a good time too!

Oscars 2010

The red carpet brings out the best and worse in those crazy celebs (and their stylists)but it's all part of the Oscars fun!

Here's who got it right this year, the best dressed, the real winners...

Cameron looked stunning in head-to-toe sparkle, big hair and a statement red lip.



A figure hugging, full length number with lace inserts and again a statement lip. The slicked down hair (so hard to pull off) gave Sandra the perfect Oscar winning look.













Black and silver, Nicole Richie went for full length vamp with slicked back hair.












And who got it wrong, the losers, sack the stylist time...

Charlize made a boob.



SJP's dress, on its own, works but unfortunately it seems she had a fight with some fake tan...and lost - the colours just weren't quite right.












Since when was dressing in the red carpet a good look? Sigourney Weaver decided to blend in.

Continued...

Things that glitter...carrying through the sequins and high shine from A/W but with a nautical twist...

...leggings: Vero Moda, top: Zara...