My Top 15 Memories of 2015

I have a habit of looking forward too much, eager to get on with the future and forgetting all the amazing things I have already experienced. This post is inspired by two people I follow stalk on Twitter; you can read about their years here and here. I thought it was a wonderful idea to look back on my year and appreciate all the amazing things that have happened, as well as show appreciation to the amazing people I have done them with. So here are my top 15 moments of 2015...

1. TRIPS AND HOLIDAYS
The trip to London with my foundation girls in March was one of the most fun few days of the year. It was exciting to get to spend so much time with them, as we all live a bit of a distance away from each other, making it hard to spend time together outside of uni. I also took a short trip to Marrakech, Morocco in June, with my mum and my brothers girlfriend. This was my first time leaving Europe and it was a bit of a culture shock. But the scenery was wonderful, the food was delicious and the markets were filled with the most beautiful things. In July, my college friends and I stayed in Wales for a long weekend away, which we pretty much spent playing games and getting drunk. It's just nice to get away from your usual routine and spend time with people you love, even if it's not in the most exciting place.

2. GETTING IN TO UNI
I was so proud of myself for getting all 5 of my offers. The period before my interviews was one of the most stressful things I have experienced, as I was frantically putting together my portfolio and finishing work I probably should have done a long time ago. I knew that I wanted to go to Nottingham Trent as soon as I visited, so waiting to hear back from them was very tense. It all ended well with me getting an unconditional offer on to the course I am studying now.

3. MY FOUNDATION GIRLFRIENDS
My foundation course was amazing for so many reasons, but none more so than the people that I met.  It was a scary time; all my high school and college friends had left for uni, and I felt a little left behind. But I soon realised everyone was in the same boat. I found myself a little friendship group and we grew closer as the year went on. We experienced all of the highs and lows of a very stressful and demanding course together, and I truly hope to stay friends with them for the rest of my life. They're the greatest bunch of girls I have ever met, and there's no one else I have more fun with!

4. PUTTING UP AN EXHIBITION
I'd done this before at A Level, but the course was very structured and everyone's work followed a similar layout. On my foundation course, I had complete creative freedom over the exhibition and the work behind it. I hit a few bumps along the way regarding printing, so not all of my work was finished to the quality I would have liked, but I'd done it! I'd organised my own photoshoot, filmed and edited my own short film, and created my own magazine and postcards. It was so satisfying to have all my hard work on show.

5. ACHEIVING A DISTINCTION FOR MY WORK
I have no idea how this happened, but I accept it and I am proud. I definitely put the work in, but my tutor was fairly critical of my work the entire year. Perhaps he was just doing it to push me to work even harder, if so - thank you Tony!

6. SEEING MY FRIENDS SUCEED 
As much as I love my friends and wish I could have taken them to Nottingham with me, seeing them all dotted around the country pursuing their own dreams fills my little heart with pride. They're all so passionate about what they're doing and it's wonderful to see their progress.

7. BLOGGING MORE
This is something I keep trying to throw myself in to, but finding the time and inspiration is never easy. Thankfully my tutors expect us all to run blogs alongside our studies, so that's giving me the little kick up the bum that I need. Even if no one reads this, it's lovely to be able to write and publish my thoughts and opinions online.

8. MAKING NEW FRIENDS
I'll admit that university isn't quite as social as I expected it to be. I've struggled not having a close knit group of friends like I'm used to. I just have to keep reminding myself that it's still early days. I've already made a couple of close friends, as well as some other friends that I hope to grow closer to.

9. MEETING MY UNI BESTIE
This girl is just so fabulous she deserves a shout out of her own. I am so appreciative of having someone I can turn to for just about everything while I'm at uni. It's comforting to know that if I fancy a trip to The Pudding Pantry or a friend to accompany me to the cinema, Beth is the gal. We can chat for hours about anything and everything. We share similar thoughts and goals, and good advice is just a few doors down. I'm unbelievably lucky to have found someone I click with so well.

10. BECOMING MORE CONFIDENT
This time last year I never would have pictured myself comfortably standing up giving a presentation, or going on a first date with a stranger. My confidence has increased so much in 2015 and I couldn't be more thankful. One of my New Year's resolutions was to challenge myself to doing little things I'm not completley comfortable with, and so far this has been a really effective way of pushing and growing my confidence, and I hope it continues to grow.

11. SEEING MY PARENTS HAPPY
Earlier this year my parents split up. It was a very hard time for everyone and I used uni as a way to escape from all the drama. I wasn't sure how I was going to cope when I came home for Christmas and had to deal with it all again, but both my parents seem happier than ever and it's so wonderful to see. It was hard to deal with at the time, but knowing that they're both better off enables me to view the situation in a more positive light.

12. ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: SAVAGE BEAUTY AT THE V&A
I never used to find visiting exhibitions that interesting, but perhaps I just never visited the right ones. In March I was lucky enough to get hold of tickets for the Savage Beauty exhibition at the V&A, and I have never been so moved by a designers work. It exceeded all my expectations. The interiors were just as incredible as the garments that were held in them. The whole experience was weirdly overwhelming.

13. LEARNING TO APPRECIATE ALONE TIME
For those that don't know, I have really bad FOMO (fear of missing out). It kind of controls my entire life. I find myself doing things I don't particularly want to do just because I may miss out on something mildly entertaining. Since going to uni and being bombarded with the pressure of constantly being out of your room and socialising with people, I've really began to appreciate just staying in and watching Netflix on my own. Believe it or not, I've actually turned down a handful of nights out to stay in and catch up on The Vampire Diaries. Some people may find that sad, but for me it's a bit of an achievement.

14. BECOMING MORE INDEPENDENT 
I've always been able to take care of myself, so the thought of moving to uni and having to cook for myself and do my own washing didn't really phase me. One of the things I've enjoyed most about living away from home is the sense of accomplishment of having adult responsibilities and actually doing them. Even though I knew how to use a washing machine at home, I could always rely on my mum to do it. Whereas at uni I can only rely on myself. Sometimes it would be nice to have an extra pair of hands to help, but it's also been really great for me to learn to take care of myself without having anyone else as a back up. There's nothing more satisfying that having a list of errands as long as your arm, getting up early on your day off, and just doing them all.

15. PROGRESSING WITH POLE
I started pole dancing last November, and it has been so rewarding to see my progress this year. I stopped going as much when I got to uni which I'm really annoyed at myself for. With everything going on, I put pole to the back of my priorities. But I am making a promise to myself that I will get back in to it in the New Year. It's so much fun and a great way to keep fit. Plus it's always entertaining to see people's reactions when you tell them.

And that's my year. There has been a lot of change for me in 2015, some of it good and some of it bad. This was a lovely way to look back and really appreciate how lucky I am to be surrounded by such lovely people and to be able to experience the things that I have. I'd really recommend everyone to think about their top 15 memories of this past year!

Aderyn x

December Haul

Apologies for the terrible lighting of these images and my lack of posts over this hectic Christmas period. I just wanted to share with you some of the lovely things I've spoiled myself to over the last month!

1. All jewellery, Urban Outfitters; all makeup, KIKO
I've been wanting some plain midi rings for a while and I came across this huge pack for £12, which complement my more standout rings just perfectly.
I'm also loving statement colour lipsticks at the moment (and bright red has never been my colour), so I fancied trying out an orange shade as a funkier alternative. I'm so stingy when it comes to makeup, but KIKO is surprisingly cheap and I've heard good things - so fingers crossed! I'll get a review up soon!

2. Dress, Topshop; white shirt, H&M; wrap top, Urban Outfitters
While rummaging through the Topshop sale, this striped dress stood out to me as the perfect addition to my growing stripe collection, and a potential NYE dress. It's not as festive and glitzy as I would have liked for NYE, but I fell in love as soon as I tried it on.
And as for the white shirt, I don't know how I've coped so long without this staple piece!

3. Bras, Urban Outfitters
The underwear at Urban Outfitters is always so pretty! Despite probably needing a little more support than this harness triangle bra has to offer, I couldn't help but imagine how cool the straps would look poking out from underneath my new wrap top. Thankfully the second bra I bought has a little more support. This one is actually underwired and offers two clasps instead of a measly and unsupportive one.

4. Both tops, Urban Outfitters
This white t-shirt I picked up is another staple piece I can no longer imagine my life without. It's super relaxed and baggy, and has the perfect amount of sheerness to show off my new bras underneath.
Glitter is also a new obsession of mine, and this cropped t-shirt has just enough sparkles to satisfy my craving till the festive season is over.

5. Skirt, H&M; jumper, Urban Outfitters
And just to add a few more obsessions to the list - fringing and bell sleeves! I really don't know when my love of fringing came about, but I needed a new leather skirt anyway and this skirt managed to kill two birds with one stone.
It's a shame that I'm always in multiple layers as I rarely get to show off the amazing sleeves on my new jumper. It's super cosy and there's even a matching pair of flared leggings/trousers - perfect for lounging around the house in style!

Aderyn x

My Summative Brief: Shearling (2)

Following on from my previous post, I wanted to share with you some of the visual merchandising I have come across for the second task. This one was quite difficult to find as shearling is expensive and therefore won't be used as dramatically in retail as other materials.

FENDI:
These are some examples from the Tokyo store. I wasn't expected to find coloured shearling, but this visual merchandising display uses a variety of colours to draw attention to their retail interior as you enter the store.

CHANEL:
While his is more an example of fur than shearling, the two could be considered similar. With the addition of the icy backdrop, this fur is advertised in a winter atmosphere, showcasing the needs of warm, plush fabrics in the colder seasons.

MILENA SILVANO: 
Unfortunately I won't be able to feature this image in my essay as I can't find a higher quality image, but I wanted to feature it on my blog because I think it is an interesting window display. Without sounding morbid, the way the shearling jacket is hung reminds me of animals hung in a slaughter house. To me, it draws attention to where we get our sheepskin from.

I hope to find some more examples while I am in New York. This is quite a difficult visual merchandising trend to come across, but the shops should feature more shearling due to the season. Fingers crossed!

Aderyn x

Film Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

*spoiler alert*


My general rule is to watch the film before I read the book, as more often than not, the book is better. And I'd hate to ruin a good film simply for entering it with too high expectations. Instead, I opt to appreciate the film for itself first.

I broke my usual rule for The Hunger Games series, and have watched every film knowing what is going to happen. But, unusually, The Hunger Games films have always lived up to my expectations, and the final instalment surpassed them.

There were changes to the book, there are always changes to the book, but every single difference felt thought out and necessary, and in some places better. *spoiler alert* In my opinion, the book skimmed over significant deaths such as Finnick's and Primrose's, but the film really emphasised these deaths and provoked much more emotion than I experienced through the books. Even the deaths of smaller characters were given much more attention, which really added to the audience's support and sympathy for Katniss' fight.

One of the things I love the most about The Hunger Games is, despite how shocking the concept of pitting children against one another is, it also doesn't seem that unrealistic of an idea in the world that we live in. The final film really makes you consider this, as the causes for the Hunger Games are explained even further.

*spoiler alert* One scene in particular, where President Coin suggests they hold a final Hunger Games with children of the Capitol, in order to satisfy the bloodlust of those affected by the games, really reflects the impossible search for peace in today's world. It showed how incapable people are of forgiveness, and the insistent need we feel to get our own back. In the film, the idea is presented as ludicrous, the tipping point in Katniss' decision to assassinate President Coin, yet in reality, if put in the position of those in the districts, most people may agree.

I felt the ending of the film could have come sooner than it did. *spoiler alert* The horrifically cheesy final scene depicts Katniss and Peeta in the future, playing with their two children in a meadow, while Katniss delivers her final speech to her newborn child. This didn't seem to fit with the rest of the film, and I think that ending it where Katniss discovers Peeta has returned home, would have laid enough suggestion that they end up together, and saved the audience from the Twilight-esque meadow scene.

Mockingjay Part 2 was a great ending to an amazing series of films. It lived up to every expectation the book had given me, and despite knowing what would happen, I was still glued to the screen in anticipation. It is one of those films you have to have seen the others to understand, so if you haven't already, catch up on the series!

Aderyn x

My Summative Brief: Shearling

I am currently working on my first summative brief. We have been asked to choose a specific trend, and from this, analyse advertising campaigns and visual merchandising around this trend, as well as research in to the further creative and cultural contexts.

My chosen topic is shearling. In previous projects, the group I was working with were looking at men's outwear trends, and this so happened to be my favourite. I'm a huge fan of this trend and it has been really popular this season, creating a greater opportunity for me to find some examples of great brand promotion.

The first task involves looking at advertising campaigns that feature shearling. As this is quite an expensive fabric (if genuine), I found that it was mostly the higher end brands that explored my trend.

Here are some examples of brands that feature shearling heavily in their ad campaigns.

COACH:
Coach has been a great brand to look at as most of their campaign images feature shearling in them somewhere, even when advertising accessories.

BURBERRY:

Burberry has some good examples of shearling in outerwear, however, in my opinion, the styling of the female models compared to the male model contrasts greatly, making it hard to pin down and analyse. 

TOPMAN: 

As I need to cover different market level brands, Topman seems a great alternative to the the designer brands I have been looking at. This campaign 'This Is Denim' features some great shearling pieces with some serious 60's/70's styling.

RALPH LAUREN:

This particular range of Ralph Lauren clothing is aimed at an older consumer, which may make a nice contrast to the other brand I choose to look at.

TOPSHOP:

Another high street brand that I could use to compare to the higher market level brands. I've noticed this trend seems to be bigger in menswear this season, so comparing it with womenswear could be interesting.

I'll be sure to post updates on my research to my FCP label as my project expands! 

Aderyn x

10 Questions FCP Students Are Tired Of Hearing

Anyone who studies a subject that has an undeserving stigma around it may find this post relatable.

1. What is FCP?
Fashion Communication and Promotion

2. So I might be wearing your designs one day?
I'm afraid not, no. There is more to fashion than designing clothes...

3. What is it then?
Honestly, it's a broad course. But essentially it's about taking the clothing that designers have made, and making our consumers want to buy it.

4. So you read Vogue a lot?
Not quite. AnOther, Protein and Kinfolk are more along the right lines.

5. But you do have to read magazines?
They do make quality publications, you know. I'd be surprised if any student - whether they were studying Architecture, Biology, Graphic Design or English Literature - wasn't expected to keep up to date with what's happening in their field/industry and develop a wider cultural viewpoint.

6. Isn't fashion just a hobby?
Fashion is an industry. A rather large one may I add. The industry needs marketers, seamstresses, graphic designers, web developers, photographers, accountants, trend forecasters, journalists, copywriters, buyers, PR specialists. The list goes on.

7. Isn't it just young people that care about fashion?
The fashion industry isn't just about what is 'in fashion', it involves anything that you wear. And unless you're a nudist, we all wear clothes.

8. So you must love shopping?
Erm, just as much as the next person, I guess. That doesn't really have anything to do with my course...

9. Wait, you don't do exams?
On this course, no. It's 100% coursework - which is not any easier. While you're up till 4am every night studying for an exam, we'll be right there alongside you; spending our nights crying in to our keyboards as we write up our reports and get our heads around InDesign, and our days catching trains around the country to visit exhibitions and collecting first hand research.

10. Are you going to be able to get a job out of this?
The fashion industry contributes £26bn to the UK economy, and is the largest employer of all the creative industries. There's no denying it's competitive, but it's not an unrealistic option either.

In all seriousness though, for anyone considering studying FCP (or a related course), don't let close minded people put you off. Fashion is a huge industry that brings so much to the British economy, and the variety of job roles within fashion is endless - don't think it's just limited to design. I don't get on with sewing machines, but I do love graphic design, and FCP allows me to combine my love for visual communication and fashion. I've only just started my course, but from speaking to third years, the workload sounds insane.

At the end of the day, I want to love whatever job I find myself at in 10 years time. So if that means studying a degree that some people don't deem 'real', then that's their problem. After three years, I'll know how much hard work I've put in to my degree, and as long as my employers can see that too, nothing else really matters.

Aderyn x

Street Style | Men's Outerwear

One of my favourite tasks of the course so far was our street style brief. In our groups, we all took a trend; ours was men's outerwear, in particular focusing on shearling and windbreakers, trends we had noticed picking up recently. 

After researching how brands were adapting these trends both online and in store, we took to the streets to see if consumers were actually buying in to these trends. Shearling was everywhere! Windbreakers, not so much. This was surprising considering the rainy weather, but we agreed that windbreakers had their peak a year or two ago.

My favourite shot is this first one. We had to chase these guys up the street, but then they entered a piercing and tattoo place. We took our chances in assuming they were just making an appointment, and waited outside for them (stalkerish, I know!). When they came out, we saw they were headed for Sainsbury's so we had to chase after them before we lost them again. Thankfully we caught up to them just before they reached the door and managed to get a picture of their super cool outfits! 

 This guy was with his girlfriend who encouraged him to let us take the shot. She was also a fashion student and understood the pain and embarrassment of approaching strangers on the street. We spotted them from quite far off as we were walking towards them. I have a feeling they knew we were going to approach them.

 We don't think this guy quite understood why we wanted to take his picture. Street style photography has really taken off in the past decade, so some of the older people we approached were either confused or just flat-out refused to feature. We loved this guy because he wasn't wearing the denim jacket with shearling collar as a fashion statement; you could tell this was his daily uniform and probably had been for a very long time, regardless of what was on trend.

We'll use all of our consumer research to help analyse a brand and decipher how well they adapted the trend to their brand image, and how well they marketed the trend. I'm looking forward to bringing all of our research from the past few weeks together, to create an in depth investigation in to the promotional strengths and weaknesses of our chosen store.

Aderyn x