London’s End in Sight

London's weather is beginning to flavor the air with spring. Bulbs are beginning to sprout; the wind is starting to swirl and the air producing an aroma of warmer temperatures. As the seasons change, I have grown to become accustomed to this beautiful city. I'm not sure if I am ready to allow this season in my life to change course. I have 1 ½ more weeks at AIU, and it's not long enough.

While I sadden over the thought of leaving, I aim to make the most out of my time. This week has been a great week. I continued working on my final projects for "Uni", went on a run to Primrose Hill, shopped and got drinks with a friend from class, walked in the rain through Regent's Park, wound around the London Eye, went to two of London's top clubs….and the weekend is yet to conclude!

One of the highlights of this week was a meeting made with a woman named Marty Wikstrom. She is a former president of Nordstrom and manager of Harrods and now works as the head of fashion and accessories at Richemont. Mrs. Wikstrom was a sincerely elegant woman with a solid outlook on life. Her unpretentious presence left me feeling at ease, exciting me to continue this journey in fashion. "You are the sum of your experiences," she told me, as she encouraged me to work hard for what I want. "Where your passion lies, you will find success." Follow the gifts you have been given to promote change and activate growth.

I am grateful for the time I was allowed with Mrs. Wikstrom, and I look forward to seeing where passion and hard work can lead.

This Saturday afternoon I plan to sew my heart out at AIU. My 2 garments are nearing completion. They will be unveiled in a fashion show on March 9^th. I will be modeling my and other designers' creations.

Cheers, Friends! I'm off to engage with a lil more London.

Ireland Left an Impression

“'Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue.
So I took her hand and I gave her a twirl
And I lost my heart to a Galway girl”

Ireland was home to one of my favorite destinations. The sunshine greeted us (the traveling foursome—Jen, Zoe, Carly, & me) when we arrived into Cork. Birds flew overhead as the light sparkled atop the River Lee.

After checking into our hostel, we set out to find lunch and explore the city. Though our eyes were heavy with traveling tire, they were bright with the excitement of a new place. Our hostel was located at the heart of downtown Cork, so the area was bustling with an array of people and activity.

The style was quite different than that of London’s. The whole look was quite sporty. Men and women wore a lot of sweat suits, and the youth were brightly clad in, jeans, T’s, sweat shirts, jackets, and high top tennis shoes. I was surprised to see the extremity of make-up worn by girls as young as 10. I even saw a youngster wearing a pair of heals!

Night life was also exciting. We went to see some live music the first night at one venue and danced the night was at another.

Our second day in Cork is one not to be forgotten. The sun shone its face once again as we set out to explore Blarney—an old town outside of Cork. We took a bus to the Blarney Castle. This 13th century structure was positioned on an expanse of captivating landscape.

To walk among the stone fortress was surreal. We crawled through a dungeon, climbed narrow steps, and entered small rooms once occupied by those of the renaissance.

Kissing the Blarney stone and gaining the gift of “Irish Gab [Eloquence]”

Our evening was an expansion upon our awesome day’s adventures. We dressed ready for a night of Irish culture. All drinking a Bulmer’s pear cider in a local bar attached to our hostel, we caught sight of four men dressed in plaid. “Is this plaid day?,” I said with game (…). This conversation starter led us to another local bar where we danced the night away. My favorite memory of the trip?—being sung Galway Girl by a handsome Irish football player. As the dance floor closed, the traveling quartet headed back to our hostel to prep for our last day in friendly country.

Our final day in Cork was a lovely day full of shopping and dining. We left for home that evening, giving us 3 full days in beautiful Ireland!

Magical Day Sprinkled with Light

The sky cried the clouds dry on Tuesday, leaving yesterday a bright and sun-shining day. On my day off from school I was excited to saunter in the sunshine of London. Without a watch to check the time or a traveling buddy to distract, I set out to explore Covent Garden.

Covent Garden is a beautiful shopping center. It was alive with people who too sought to soak up some vitamin D. Pubs, cafes, and restaurants’ outdoor seating was filled with customers. I enjoyed walking through the cobblestone streets amidst an even livelier London.

On my shopping excursion I found many treasures. I happened upon a vintage clothing shop called ROKIT.  They had some fabulous finds—one in particular being a camel colored fur tube top. I know what you are thinking…fur? Yes, it’s gorgeous, though! The front of the top is made of fur, while the waistband and back are of ribbed knit fabric. It appears to be made out of vintage elements.
 
As I continued my ventures deeper into Covent Garden, I came across the Apple Market. Vendors were set up beneath a covered area. Near their booths a huge crowd of people gathered around a street performer standing upon a tall ladder and juggling swords. Huge waves of applause would chime after a cheer-worthy stunt was made.
 

Deciding to escape the commotion I found myself standing in front of small toy store. I almost walked past it, but something told me to do otherwise. My feet turned around to walk up the stairs of the quaint store. It was beautiful! Every item displayed had character and vintage appeal. From wooden tops to paper theatres, Benjamin Polluck's Toyshop was magical.

A music box like this one was sold in the shop. It reminds me of a childhood music box I had.

Music from a street playing string quartet danced through the 2nd story window, adding to the toy store’s lovely atmosphere. After leaving Polluck’s with a handful of goodies for my little nanny friend Julia, I came upon the source of the song. The performers played on the ground floor, while spectators peered over a square balcony to join-in on a spirited performance. The violinists were dancing as onlookers clapped vivaciously. The whole scene gave me goose bumps. What a memory!

No, the day doesn’t stop here. On my way back to the bus, a shoe store caught my eye. I am a shoes girl, and these shoes were unlike any other I have ever seen. Boots with a colorful quilted inset, plastic diamond cut pumps, and colorful booties name a few of the interesting styles represented.

TERRA PLANA

The adventures concluded with a quiet coffee in the sunshine. I sat outside of a local café to relax, people-watch, and write a few postcards. It was a GORGEOUS day!

While this post is getting to be quite long, I’d also like to include my night at the symphony. I went to see the London Philharmonic Orchestra. My walk from the tube station to the theatre was beauty in itself. I walked over a walk bridge across the River Thames. The water sparkled with the lights of the city. It was a great interlude to the sparkle and shine of the orchestra’s instruments and exquisite music. What specifically caught my eye about the performance lay in the conductor’s and musicians’ passion. The way they made their music with eyes focused, body swaying, and arms/mouths moving was inspirational. Their passion and hard work lies in creating beautiful melodies for others to enjoy. Shouldn’t this be our aim in life? We are called to use our gifts to their fullest so to bless the lives of other people. This is where one finds fulfillment.

I was placed in the choir seats, so I was able to see the intense and passionate expression on the conductor’s face.

And now to the start of another day in beautiful London! I am off to take a run.

UPDATE! week of fun :)

I am way past due to write another blog post! Life has been so busy, and I haven’t had the time. From sewing, to sketching, to shopping, to pub crawling, to clubbing, to spending time with friends, London is just keeping me on my toes!

My Design Development course is going well. I am almost finished with my conceptual design (artistic creation) and will begin the ready-to-wear garment on Thursday. My Fashion Photography class (one I haven’t talked much about, I just realized) is starting to kick off and get more interactive. Here are some images taken in class:

I am assigned to shoot a jeans advertisement, Black and White male portrait, and an editorial shot for the end of the term. My ideas are continuing to formulate! Here are a few inspirational images for a photo shoot on Monday:

 

 

This past weekend was a lot of fun. Three girls and I were approached at a club and asked if we would like to go across the street to another club—one in which we would be give a table (a luxury that would cost around 300-500 pounds). Velvet seats, Grey Goose, mixed hip-hop, dim lights, and hours of dancing made the night quite memorable!

This morning I went to PURE London 2010—a UK fashion trade show. It was inspiring and eye opening to see the many vendors and array of styles represented. I find myself drawn more to a younger, more hip type of design. One of my favorites was Me and Thee.
 

the prints are amazing!

Mais il est ou le soleil?  was a label shown on the catwalk this morning. I loved the mixed textures in their Fall 2010 collection. There was movement combined with rigidity. While the elements juxtapose, they worked beautifully together!

Tonight is the Brit Awards 2010. A few friends and I are heading to an after-party a bit later tonight. It should be a great time! Details soon to follow…

Also stop back for a few trend alerts that I have both noticed on the streets and read/heard from experts.

Pleased with Paris!

PARIS!—the magical city of romance, art, fashion, food, and finery.

My weekend was incredibly spent in Paris, France with four friends. We spent three whole days packed full with sight-seeing, shopping, eating, laughing, and having fun.

 

  Drinking French wine in our hotel room Friday night

 

My favorite parts?

 

STYLE: Parisian women are beautiful! Their style is exquisite and inspiring, as they use each day as an excuse to dress handsomely.

 

ART: Visiting the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Arc de Triomphe was unreal. It was strange to walk amidst pictures I had seen so many times. I gained so much gratitude for the artists and architects that created such intricate pieces of handy-work.  

 

View from the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower

QUIET TIME: On a few occasions a friend and I would sit outside a Crepe shop near our hotel. I really enjoyed sitting, people watching, and talking without a care. On the last night of our trip as my traveling-mates slept after a long day of walking, I decided to ventured into a nearby church. I walked in as a sweet Parisian Priest stood at the pulpit. Though I couldn’t understand a word of his sermon, I enjoyed sitting in the large gothic church, taking in the arched ceilings and colorful stained glass windows.

ROMANCE: The men of Paris are much more forward than those of London. I gained a confidence booster, as many males were drawn to my hair. They weren’t afraid to say what was on their mind.

Ready to WOW the French men (little did we know, those we were to meet were a bit creepy)

Until next time, Paris.  I will be back!

Beauty of Britain

In my time in London and travels throughout Britain, I have seen the prevalence of soothing green, blue, and grey.. 

 

From moss covered trees to perfectly tailored hedges, the fresh hue of green creates a magical scene.

On Sunday I made a trip to Bath with my friends Ardita and Abdul. It was incredible to stand on ancient grounds and taste the lifestyle of 1st century Roman culture.

The bubbling water and ancient stone exuded a raw yet luxurious setting

Gorgeous Ardita stands in front of the natural hot springs that were found by the early Romans.

Today I walked through Regent’s Park. I walked a different route than normal and happened upon a pathway lined with hedges and fountains.

I will take this route to school from now on!

Muse

loLast Thursday in Design Development students were asked to find a muse for our fashion illustrations.

Here are 4 images I chose:

Sarah Lamb of London’s Royal Opera House

This image is breathtaking.

Me as a little girl—Dancing Innocence

A Mermaid, John William Waterhouse

Magical.

Marion Davies—1920’s actress

I am drawn to her big, smoldering eyes, dark lips, and vintage appeal

It was fun to solidify images that give me inspiration. I look forward to seeing these themes unfold in other areas of my design.

Hair Today and...Gone Today!

Are you ready for the shocker?

I finally let go of my long hair! There has been much talk about this moment, and it has finally arrived. Never would I have chosen this hair style for myself, but it’s beginning to grow on me. Who is this girl in the mirror?

Here I am before the chop…

Britain’s top hair stylist took scissors to my hair today. 8 inches of my hair (in it comfort, safety, normalcy, and memories) was dropped to the floor before my eyes.

The act was done in front of an audience of other hair stylists. “A woman has got to separate herself from the rest of the crowd,” Akin said. The talented stylist has an eye, as he captures the beauty of art in others’ hair. As I sat in the salon chair, the stylist declared the trend of deep side parts and a come-back of curly hair.

Girls, put your straighteners away and go for a full-bodies curly mane!

Hmm I surely did today...

HELLO Hair!

The 80’s style at the show toned down to a 40’s look

My new hair cut is different, and it’s going to take some getting used to. I am glad that I made this plunge. Why not?

What have you always wanted to do?  I challenge you to push away the temptation of stagnation and just go for it!