A Wonderful Weekend

This past week has been tough for me. I spent my previous two weekends volunteering at different events, and while I did come to New York to enhance my CV, I was beginning to feel like I was missing out on what this amazing city has to offer. This was also met with feelings of homesickness as the reality of how far away I was from my family and friends was really beginning to kick in. I finally had a whole weekend free to myself so I took the opportunity to start ticking things off the long list of things I want to do while in New York.

FRIDAY

Friday was a late start. Sleep seriously needed to be caught up on, so I stayed in late and didn't rush to get ready like I feel I've been doing for the past two weeks. Lucy and I headed out to collect Grace from FIT as she had classes that day, then travelled downtown to the West Village to grab a bite to eat at By Chloe. This small chain boasts a delicious selection of vegan meals and treats. I'm not vegan myself, but I was more than happy to sample from the wide selection, and honestly, it was just as delicious as anything else I've eaten here! I had the 'meatball' sandwich from the cafe, then nipped next door to where they sold all the sweet treats and enjoyed a vegan peanut butter cookie. 

Next we headed uptown a little to the Chelsea area to watch improv at the UCB theatre. This theatre caught my eye as it was mentioned in Amy Poehler's book Yes Please, which she set up with some of her colleagues to give up and coming comedians a stage to practice on. Tickets were only $10 (and even cheaper on Mon-Thurs) and we got to enjoy an hour of hilarious sketches by two different groups of comedians. The first focused on some of the everyday experiences of travelling on the subway, something which I can definitely relate to having lived in New York for over a month now (I can't believe it's gone so fast!). The second performance was from a group of women dressed as men, making light of some of the infuriating things men do. I can already tell I'll be visiting this place a few times while I'm here, and it seems like the kind of place I could comfortably go on my own if no one else fancied joining me.

SATURDAY

On Saturday we opted to explore the uptown area, particularly Central Park. We were going to check out the Guggenheim Museum but a lot of the rooms were closed, so we figured it would be more worthwhile coming another time. It was a beautiful day so we took a stroll round Central Park. Parts of the park were fenced off and we could see long lines of people weaving around the park. It turns out there was a festival on that day. If we listened close enough we could hear Kings of Leon playing in the background. 

For dinner, we travelled down to Penn Station to a Mexican restaurant called Lucy's Cantina Royale which we had passed a few times but never had the chance to try. I was so impressed with the selection of food and the prices were amazing for somewhere in central Manhattan! The restaurant has a lovely rooftop area where we chose to sit, offering views of the street down below and the Empire State building. It was so nice to have a proper sit down meal and the chance chat to each other without any distractions. 

We finished the evening by rushing back to Brooklyn to watch Suicide Squad at a cinema close to our accommodation. Unfortunately we did miss a bit at the beginning, but it didn't hinder the experience. I'd heard a lot of bad things about the film, saying there was a lack of plot and that it wasn't very good, but I personally really enjoyed it. You could tell there was a lot of footage that had to be taken as the film felt quite fast paced, jumping from scene to scene, and the joker hardly featured in it as much as I had expected. Still, I was impressed. 

SUNDAY

Having missed the Smorgasburg food market last weekend due to volunteer work, the girls went again on Sunday to give us a chance to check it out. Sunday's market is located in the beautiful Prospect Park, which we wandered around for ages before eventually arriving in the right area. I treated myself to a pork baguette, an ice cream sandwich, and a much needed ice cold, homemade lemonade. I walked around and eyed up all the stands before making my final decision, and I noticed some other cool food like the viral sensations raindrop cake, rolled ice cream and ramen burgers.

We headed home and relaxed for a little bit before going back out to visit the Photoville exhibition which was just round the corner from where we are living. We were a little late so had to rush round it before it closed, as Sunday was the last night. Photoville featured a variety of photography projects and displays that were each presented in their own shipment container. There was an exhibition on Bill Cunningham which was lovely to go and see, and there was also a lot of work on gun crime and Black Lives Matter which as very moving. 

We finished the evening with yet another Shake Shack (honestly, we are ALWAYS there) then headed home ready to start another week of studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology! 

I felt this weekend was a well deserved break for me, and I hope that all weekends are just as jam packed as this one.

Until next time,

Aderyn x

Birthday Lust List

Having been saving up all summer to come to New York, I haven't had as much chance to splash out on treats for myself as I usually would. Finally autumn has come around which means we're even closer to Christmas, and (of course) my birthday! So I've decided to put a little post together about all the things I've been dying to buy for myself but have been too stingey to purchase. 

A PROPER BAG

I can't remember the last time I carried my belongings in a bag that wasn't of the canvas variety. I'm currently sporting a tote that I picked up at freshers fair last year. So I've decided it's about time I get myself a real bag. I need something big enough to fit my notebook and laptop in for lectures and that can carry the weight of my frequent Tesco shops once I'm back at uni. I like these two bags from Monki and ASOS because of how clean and simple they are.

REAL BIRKENSTOCKS

In fairness, my £6 Primark pair have lasted me about two years which isn't too shabby, but they are certainly approaching their long overdue death. Everyone I know has applauded the quality and comfort of Birkenstocks so I think it's about time I got some - even if we are approaching winter!

A CAMERA

My poor blog is exclusively photographed with my iPhone 6. While the photos aren't shocking, they could definitely be better. I really want to invest in a proper DSLR camera that I can attach some pro lenses to in order to capture some beautiful shots for you lot. 

AMY SCHUMERS BOOK

I looooove Amy Schumer! I am so excited about the release of her book The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo and can't wait to get my hands on it. She is also performing at Madison Square Garden while I'm in New York a day after my birthday (fate, I know), so getting tickets to see her would be the dream.

A RAINCOAT

Considering I live in rainy Britain, you'd think I would be in possession of a jacket to keep me dry. But nope. And my umbrellas ALWAYS break. So I think that a raincoat is a rather practical and essential item. The one I've featured here is from Urban Outfitters. I love the traditional rain coat silhouette and while I would like to rock a matching yellow jacket and hat ensemble, I think navy is a little more versatile.

PYJAMA STYLE SHIRT

Honestly, I would be grateful for any clothing as I am suffering a serious styling block at the moment. My wardrobe NEEDS refreshing! But I'm particularly in love with pyjama style shirts right now, like these two, both from Topshop. The loose fit is right up my street, and they'd be perfect for both casual and smarter days.

SILVER RINGS

I always fall in to the trap of buying cheap jewellery, which seem cool at the time, but then later turn my fingers bright green! I think it's about time I invested in some real silver rings. When it comes to what I wear on my fingers, I either go for minimalistic jewellery such as this ASOS hexagon ring, or slightly over the top stone rings like this set, also from ASOS - all real sterling silver!

So there's a few things I'm particularly lusting for this season. I think the general rule here is that I need to focus more on quality than quantity!

Aderyn x

Photo credit:

monki.com

asos.com

birkenstockexpress.com

argos.co.uk

missbish.com

urbanoutfitters.com

topshop.com

Capsule Trade Show

It seems New York doesn't want me to sleep. If it's not school and homework that is keeping me up, it's all the volunteer opportunities I keep throwing myself at. The weekend before last was NYFW, and this weekend just gone I helped out at Capsule trade show. For those that aren't sure, a trade show is an event where lots of brands come together to showcase their products, and buyers/wholesalers are invited to check out the products and pick brands that they want to stock at their stores. 

I came across this oppurtunity on Twitter when the company running the show put up a post asking for volunteers. I helped with general set up; cleaning the shelves, putting out welcome packs and distributing water dispensers and sponsored products. The days of the show were a lot quieter. I just walked around and helped the vendors with any requests they might have, for example missing furniture/signs and storing luggage away. This gave me a great chance to walk around and talk to some of the brands there. I was surprised to find the likes of Cheap Monday, Quay Australia, Zac by Zac Posen, Dr Denim and Teva at the show. Alongside these larger brands were others that I hadn't heard of before. I wanted to dedicate this post to showing you some of the amazing brands I came across.

MOSES

These initially caught my eye because of their resemblance to one of my fave brands Birkenstock, however these sandals are moulded from plastic and come in a HUGE range of colours and patterns. Having been an owner of jelly shoes, I know how sweaty this type of material can make your feet, but this plastic was much more matte and didn't feel like they'd make your feet all slippery in the summer time - because no one wants that! I loved how the sole was dotted, offering grip and comfort for walking about all day. They're coming to the UK soon, so be sure to keep your eyes on the Moses website.

SOLID & STRIPED

Swimwear is really stepping up its game! There were lots of amazing swimwear brands at Capsule, but Solid & Striped particularly caught my eye because of the huge range of colourful products they had on offer. I think it's about time we took as much pride in our beach attire as we did for the rest of the year, and Solid & Striped make sure you don't miss out on any style points with their quirky collections.

SHHHOWERCAP

I looooved this brand. Shhhowercap are doing something I don't think anyone has done before and making shower caps cool. My previous shower caps have included pink with white polka dots, and clear with a yellow rubber duck print - not cute! Shhhowercap has taken the very unsexy and embarrassing-to-wear shower cap and made it super stylish. All their shower caps feature the turban style and are made from a much 'quieter' fabric than the rustle-y plastic you might be used to. Their amazing range of colour and patterns make me want to wear these shower caps outside of the bathroom.

MYTHOLOGIA

Their leopard print lace up sandal was probably my favourite shoe of the entire show. The Greek brand reflects their heritage, taking traditional styles and bringing them up to date. In a fast fashion world, Mythologia prefer to take things slow, paying attention to the details and quality of their shoes, which are all handmade to order in Greece by Greek craftsmen.

PAM LEFT PAM RIGHT

The footwear game was on point at Capsule with another collection of sandals making my list of favourite brands! I could see myself in every pair of Pam Left Pam Right sandals, they're definitely my kind of style. I got chatting to the designer, Pamela Ho, and learnt that she makes all the shoes herself, by hand, in a little studio in New York City. A small part of me now wants to become a shoe designer so that I can make myself some sandals as amazing as these. I'm a huge fan of the colour palette Pam chose; navy blues, natural browns and stripes (stripes are now a colour), and I loved that her designs weren't too feminine. They look super comfortable and the attention to detail was amazing. A little thing I noticed was that each shoe was labelled left and right - no more confusion in the mornings! Maybe with a few more pennies I can buy myself a pair of Pam Left Pam Right shoes.

Sorry that this post was a little late, I hope it was worth it!

See you next time,

Aderyn x

Studying In The States

I don't know about all of you, but growing up watching shows on Nickelodeon and Disney Channel, I always fancied the idea of studying at an American school. What started off as cheerleader drama and finding the perfect homecoming date, turned in to red cups and frat parties, and it all looked so much fun! Of course the academic side appealed to me too. In the UK we pick a single subject for our degree and study that for three years, whereas in the US you get to pick from a variety of specialised classes, designing your perfect curriculum. Or maybe I just wanted to try a kegstand? 

Flash forward a few years and here I am, sat in my dorm in New York City, writing this blog post to you as a student of the Fashion Institute of Technology. While FIT does not fit the stereotype of an American college experience, I've dreamed about studying here since I was in high school, spending endless nights scouring the website to view the classes they had available, only to eventually close off those tabs upon discovering the cost of studying in America. Seriously guys, you think we have it bad, talk to an American student. 

As far as I'm aware, you can't find a fraternity or sorority at FIT, and sport certainly doesn't hold the same value as it appears to elsewhere. Many people probably think of FIT as a super prestigious fashion school filled with daddy's girls and too-cool-for-school fine art types, and a highly vigorous program of study. At least that's what I thought. What I, in fact, entered in to was a very small university, filled with friendly students and faculty, classes where attendance alone counted to 50% of your grade, and holding some of the cheapest tuition rates in the country! 

Don't get me wrong, I feel beyond privileged to study at the famous Fashion Institute of Technology, and 14 year old me would be astounded, but it certainly isn't what I anticipated. I haven't encountered one single snooty tutor, which I would have expected given some of the positions these people have held in the fashion industry. And so far, the classes haven't been too hard. Admittedly, I have had one year of studying for my degree on my fellow students, and all my classes were entry level with no prerequisites (a class that is required in order to do the more advanced version of the class). I was terrified that I would enter in to a room full of bold (ok, this might be true), feisty and far more advanced peers, but so far everyone seems just like your typical students back home.

There is certainly much less pressure on students here. Typically students in the UK may have two large projects over a year, or a large project and an exam, both of which are 50% of your final grade. Here, they chop it up in to much smaller chunks, some of which may come from attendance or contribution in class, as well as grades based on homework or a few smaller exams. I did one test last week which consisted of about six multiple choice questions, all based on facts from that weeks reading, and we were told that this counted towards our grade. It wasn't like our exams at home where we are escorted in to an exam hall and drop off all our bags and phones at the door; we just filed in to class, popped our bags under our chairs, and it was over and done with in about ten minutes. One way I actually found the American university to be tougher than at home was the rule that stated if you missed more than three classes in a single semester, you would automatically fail that class. This is something I wouldn't mind seeing at my home university, as the people who rarely turn up to uni are just wasting the time of those who care about being there.

At FIT, I am majoring in Advertising Marketing Communications, which is quite similar to the Fashion Communication and Promotion course I study at Nottingham Trent. I chose to take six classes, three of which are under my major, and the other three are from a slightly different area. The classes are typically around three hours long, and I have them once a week.

My Multimedia Computing for Marketing Communications class teaches me basic computer skills that I would need in the industry, from simple things like Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, to areas I need to brush up on like Excel and Access. Advertising and Promotion looks at the essential qualities a good advertisement must have, and encourages us to think about how to reach our target consumer. The other class in my major is Mass Communications which looks over how communication techniques have evolved over the years, from the days of word-of-mouth, through to print, and where we are today. These classes are similar to the topics I study at home, but slightly more academic and terminology based, as they are not just centred around the fashion industry.

The three classes that aren't in my major definitely make up the more fun part of my week. Faces and Places of Fashion is a class where a guest speaker from the industry comes in every week to talk about their career and answer any questions we have. I'm really looking forward to some of the amazing speakers we have coming in, in particular Alexander Vreeland, grandson of fashion editor and style icon Diana Vreeland. I also take two styling classes; Photographic Styling which focuses on props and tabletop styling such as food and beauty, and Styling for Visual Communication which is more fashion based, and will incorporate the use of models as the semester goes on.

Sorry for the particularly wordy post, I hope you didn't mind! I just find it particularly interesting looking at the differences in international educations systems. and I thought I should give you all a little more of an insight in to what I'm studying during my exchange to New York City. I'm volunteering at Capsule trade show at the moment, so keep your eyes peeled on my blog for the highlights of my weekend!

Aderyn x

New York Fashion Week

(Outfit 1: Top, Zara; Lace-up Shoes, Target. Outfit 2: Dress, Zara)

For any of you who follow me on Snapchat, you'll notice that I spent the majority of my weekend helping out at some of the NYFW shows. I should probably take this moment to say sorry for my ridiculously long stories, but who knows when I'll next be back at NYFW!? 

I bagged myself two volunteer positions, both of which I got through the university that I'm studying at. The first I had to queue up for about 3 hours to get. By the time we got to the front there wasn't much left for us, but thankfully Style Fashion Week was still taking volunteers so we didn't hesitate to get our names down. A few days later I received an email from FIT saying they needed help for  Cristina Ruales show, so I replied straight away and got myself a position there too.

Style Fashion Week hosts lots of different up and coming designers and runs from Thursday to Saturday. I helped out on Friday and Saturday as an usher, helping guests find their seats. This was a fairly simple task, but some guests were quite difficult. A few people tried to pretend they were big names who deserved front row seats, but if they didn't have a ticket then they weren't getting in. Most people were very lovely and took a liking to our British accents, asking us how long we were here for and what we were doing which is always lovely. It was so much fun flashing our badges at the security staff and being able to gain access to all the backstage areas. I could get used to this!

The second designer I volunteered for was Cristina Ruales on Sunday. I won't lie, upon first meeting her I was quite intimidated. She was very brutal, explaining that the fashion industry is tough and if we weren't willing to work long, hard days then we should just leave right away. Scary - but she was right.

The day actually turned out to be a lot of fun. Her event was a little different to your typical fashion show. Rather than strut down the catwalk and go back again, the models came out every hour and performed a dance in her garments. The evening was more like a large social event with a bar, a hair and makeup area, and an illustrator who would draw the guests. I helped set up the event and steam the clothes that would be shown and sold. Cristina put me on the sales team, so while the show was going on we were also selling the collection. I was lucky enough to be put in one of her dresses. I felt just like one of the models (almost).

I've loved my first Fashion Week experience and can't wait to do even more. Even though the days are long, they don't feel so tedious when you're surrounded by amazing clothes and beautiful models. It completely worth all the hard work and stress. This weekend I am volunteering for a trade show, so keep checking back for an update on how that goes!

Until next time.

Aderyn x

Grand Expectations

First of all, I want to apologise for not posting yesterday. I've been super busy all weekend with New York Fashion Week, which I'll tell you all about in my next blog post. So here's my Sunday blog post a day late - oops!

A lot of people keep asking me what it's like to live in New York and if it's what I expected, but it's actually a really hard question to answer. As soon as you enter New York you just get swept up by everything and kind of forget what you thought the city would be like. In many ways New York looks and feels a lot like London. When you're in a city that speaks the same language as you, eats a lot of the same food as you and has the same shops that you have, it's easy to feel right at home. 

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about New York is that it's a really glamorous city and everyone who lives here is rich and famous. Of course, if you go to the nice areas of New York it begins to feel like what you see in the movies, but hang around midtown Manhattan for a day and you'll notice how dirty and smelly the city really is, and that it's mostly home to normal working class people who don't work particularly glamorous jobs. 

That also goes for the style around here. Being one of the fashion capitals of the world, you'd expect to see lots of fashion-type people strutting around in heels, but New York style (in my opinion) feels a couple of years behind the UK.

I'm grateful for living in Brooklyn Heights, as it provides a nice break from the city. The high rise buildings in Manhattan can make the everything feel very enclosed, so walking round Brooklyn feels like a breath of fresh air. And I'm pretty sure Lena Dunham and Sarah Jessica Parker live in this neighbourhood, so that's a bonus.

Something I never expected to enjoy about New York was all the tourist activities, as I find sightseeing super dull. But time and time again I have been proved wrong by this city. I still haven't done that many touristy things, but of what I have done, I can definitely say that Top of The Rock and walking over Brooklyn Bridge are definitely worth it. And if you go to Times Square, go at night! 

And finally the weather, something us Brits just love to talk about. Admittedly, when I came to New York in the winter, I came prepared. Apart from my face, not an inch of my skin was exposed to the sub zero temperatures, so I didn't complain too much. But the summer is something else. While you might enjoy the 34 degree weather when you're holidaying in Greece, temperatures that high are completely different in New York. The humidity is insane! I've given up on straightening my hair as it never lasts, and makeup is a waste of time because the subway stations ensure that you leave with a face dripping with sweat (I'm not joking). Your most expensive matte powder can't save you now!

Sometimes I don't think New York is all it's hyped up to be, but then other times I find myself blown away by this amazing city. Enter with an open mind and you won't be disappointed.

Check back on Wednesday to find out what I got up to as part of NYFW.

Aderyn x

Escape To Malta

Prior to coming to NYC, I went away with my mother and sister to the beautiful Malta. We stayed with my mums boyfriend, in his lovely house, in the town Mellieħa which is north of the island. The Maltese islands are all very small and easy to get between, which makes exploring everywhere a lot faster and easier than other holiday destinations. 

I was surprised at how much this tiny island had to offer. It's hard to pinpoint what my favourite thing was about my holiday because we got up to so much fun stuff! 

If you go to any beach on the island, I'd recommend going to Mellieħa Bay. They have an inflatable assault course in the sea (which is way harder than you'd think!) and a whole range of water sports that you can take part in. Me and my sister decided to take a spin on a jet ski which was one of the scariest things I have ever done - especially when my sister was driving! If you're the type of person who just likes the relax on the beach then this probably isn't the place for you, but if you're like me and treat your holidays like your Year 6 residential retreat, then you'd love this place. 

We were particularly lucky that my mums boyfriend had his own boat, so we got to go for a ride around the island and do a bit of scuba diving. Fear not though, we saw plenty of boats that you could buy tickets for that would stop for about an hour to give you chance to jump off and go swimming in the sea. 

For another fun day out, definitely visit the Splash & Fun Water Park. But don't do what I did and forget to wear suncream. There are some really cool slides here, my favourite being the one that has a big bowl at the bottom that you spin around, then eventually plummet to your near death via a hole in the middle. That's my kind of fun. 

If you fancy cliff diving, but are too scared to jump off an actual cliff, I'd recommend going to the Azure Widow. Not only does this place have a beautiful view, but there's a little natural pool that has formed surrounded by a wall of rocks that everyone enjoys jumping off. 

One thing I did not expect to find in Malta, but was dying to try, was an escape room. This was located in Silema and offered three different rooms to try. I think we opted for the hardest one - a scientists lab which was hiding a bomb that would infect everyone with a deadly virus once it exploded. We managed to find the bomb a minute after our time was up, which was frustrating as it didn't count, but we were satisfied to actually find out where the thing was hiding after a tough hour of following clues to find it. They have escape rooms everywhere now, so if you haven't already been to one then I'd seriously suggest booking a session. I'll definitely be going again!

So there's a little round up of things to try if you ever visit. I've also heard the nightlife isn't too bad even though I never got to try it myself. Let me know what your favourite thing was to do if you've ever been.

Thanks for reading,

Aderyn x