Tuesday 22 December 2015

Pinterest, nail overload

Type in nail art, acrylic nails, nail ideas into Pinterest you'll get 1000's of images for inspiration. I have been a fan of acrylic nails for a good 2-3 years now, I love the way they look and elongate your hands. I love to try out new colours and designs. I am a person of extremes, I either will have pretty/girly colours or black/grey nails. Not much of an in-between.

So as I'm looking into what nails i fancy for Christmas and my trip to NYC I thought I'd show you some of my favourites that I'm torn between (that sounds sad, and I know it's not a life issue but I want nice nails so that's that).

Which do you prefer...?














SHARE:

Saturday 12 December 2015

Winter: My Make up Favourites

With the weather becoming cold and miserable, our skin hits the devil time, I'm talking dry skin, annoying spots and rashes...I have a few make-up must-haves that will help disguise this and also a fabulous energising face wash to help your skin out.


 They're Real-Benefit Mascara

This was actually a freebie in a magazine, yet one of my favourite mascaras. Its actually a primer but does a good enough job to be a main mascara!

Si Giorgio Armani- Perfume

Everyone needs a mini perfume, good to go for a night out, work, day trip what ever your day to day plans are. Also helps that it smells like heavennnn!

High Light- Highlighter

£1.99, £1.99 this little bottle of beauty cost me from TK Max. Perfect for under the brows to give them definition, cheeks to highlight your cheekbones and give you that glow all year round.

MAC concealer 

Small but mighty. This concealer is used by professionals to hide as much as tattoos, so if the winter is causing you to break out in spots this item is the way to go! £15, yes expensive but I've had it for 6 months and I'm not even half way through as you only need a dab!

Seventeen Define&Conquer- Contouring Kit

This is one of my favourite items in my make up bag. Easy to apply and easy to blend. I use this on a day to day basis if i want more definition to my face or a settler method instead of bronzer. I will use it for a night out or event along with bronzer and ensure i blend well or ill look like an orange...no one wants that.

EXTREME eyeliner- Collection 2000

The only black liquid pen eyeliner i have ever used, and don't plan on changing anytime soon. A pen for me, is the easiest to apply, its strong and bold and once on will be there until you decide to remove it.

Energising Face wash- Clarins 

A gift from my mum when my skin hit a very rough patch. I used this in the morning when i woke up before applying my make up and every so often in the evening to ensure all my make up was off. Within a week my skin cleared up dramatically and felt a lot healthier. Give it a go and see the difference it has!

Blusher- YSL

A palette of a soft pink and a soft sparkly pink to give the natural look of blushed cheeks. This has been in my make up bag for a long time (originally my mums, sorry!) and now mine and its still going strong. Perfect for every occasion.







SHARE:

Thursday 10 December 2015

The Fashion Industry- Reflective Journal

The Fashion industry holds many opportunities including marketing, PR and social media. We looked into each role further by watching a documentary by Alexa Chung, a fashion editor in British Vogue. Events or journalism stood out the most to me. Every business has to think about the FCP process, a series of steps taken in order to create innovative fashion communication. It is key to all context areas, internal factors which include the 7Ps (product, price, promotion, physical evidence, place, people and process), the market, trend, competitors and consumers. For any product a business must consider context, the big idea, creative concept and the execution. The was shown in the Grayson Perry documentary where he took individuals identity and personalities and tried to mirror this through art by collecting primary research and sculpting a piece of art that best reflected them. I have learnt how every brand has its own vocabulary though pattern, motif or colour palette on a product, promotional element or in store. For example, Tiffany is known for the blue box which is a specific shade made personally by pantone.

After getting an in-depth insight in these key areas, we had to put it into practice with a 4-week project. We looked into the predicted trends for A/W15 from secondary sources such as WGSN and create visual mood boards with common narratives. Brand analysis consisted us going into all market levels to look at a selected trend, for me this was denim jeans, and how the brand used the 7 p’s to communicate and promote the trends.  Areas such as the layout, VM, pricing and labelling. We looked at what worked well, what didn’t and the comparison to how they promote the trends through value, mass and high end markets.  Next we took to the streets of Nottingham and collected primary images on what trends had trickled down from in store. We discovered there was a strong focus on colour, pattern and silhouette. Finally, we analysed a brand of our choice who demonstrated the trend of denim and looked into their values, identity, marketing mix and what we would change or add to the brand. We chose Urban Outfitters who sell for the urban minded edgy individual, a store that knows how to promote through social media, interior layouts and makes “every store an experiment”. With their marketing mix being of a high standard there is no wonder it is such a successful store worldwide.

Fast fashion was very interesting to me, learning how some stores have 52 seasons a year putting huge pressure on manufacturing countries to produce mass items cheaply and quickly within 6 weeks. I blogged about the importance to think about who, what and where every product came from.

I have continued practice on Photoshop and InDesign. Learning how to master magazine layouts, photos and text layout. I look forward to experimenting with on our next brief. I have become confident in the areas taught and look forward to using these skills continuously in the future.
SHARE:

Tuesday 8 December 2015

Christmas Spirit in NYC


As my countdown to the big apple trip is in full swing ( 34 days to be exact) i thought today i would blog about the best of the best window displays that consist in New York this Christmas. From Macy's to Bloomingdales there is no hiding that this year its all about the bigger the better 3D designs, strong and contemporary themes.

Traditional wintry themes of icicles and snowscapes run throughout, with Barney's taking it to the next level by transforming windows into ice lockers featuring live ice sculpting and continually growing ice caverns. Department stores partner with world-renowned sculptors, florists, luxury brands and childrens’ television shows to create striking Holiday windows

Lets have a look at the best...

Barney's


An overarching theme of Chillin’ Out, which is taken very literally in these 2 displays. Barney's brought in ice formation company Ice Castles to create a fully operational ice locker to continually grow an ice cavern throughout the duration( image on the right) The second display, In the live performance, raw blocks of ice are carved into sculptures using chainsaws, chisels and drills to celebrate and glorify the craft.(image on the left)

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 16.56.29.jpg

Saks Fifth Avenue


Adopting a cold, icy feel in its Winter Palace-themed windows. More than 225,000 lights have been used on the facade, transforming the store into a winter palace complete with crystal spires, towering icicles and snow-covered magnolia arches. The windows represent some of the world’s greatest wonders, reimagined in subzero temperatures.

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 17.00.29

Bloomingdales


Bloomingdale’s partnered with world-renowned florist Jeff Leatham for this year’s windows, entitled Holiday Through the Senses. The displays reference each of the five senses through floral assemblages, faceted sculptures and props. Best collaboration I've seen!

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 17.08.37

Macy's


Inspired by Charles Schulz’s Peanuts gang, and are a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas.
The windows are 3D representations of six iconic scenes from the animated television special, featuring characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and Schroeder among others.

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 17.12.19.jpg
SHARE:

Wednesday 2 December 2015

8 items that you must have in your winter wardrobe

Winter is back. It seems to come quicker each year, christmas lights are going up, we are struggling to get up in the morning as its colder and darker. So why not make it easier knowing your going to your wardrobe to get clothes that will fight the cold off whilst looking stylish too!

Her are my 8 essentials this winter...if you like any of the items just click on them to be directed straight to their website.

Faux Fur coat/jacket


What else can help keep you warm than a coat either covered in fur or lined inside with fur!!

5070201800_2_2_1Screen Shot 2015-12-02 at 16.03.03multifauxfurcoat_cindy.amanda_11.09.15_mc_5556935133346544201_018_d

A classic oversized snuggly hoodie

Perfect for lazing around in, running to the shops, the gym or to sleep in when the radiators are not fulfilling their role and a hood for the classic British rain.
Screen Shot 2015-12-02 at 15.49.53

A High neck oversized jumper

On trend and extra cosy, perfect layered up with a coat or jacket

5114349666666_003_d

Last but never least, a pair of heel boots


Just enough heel to give it some class but not too much that your feet hurt walking around the Christmas markets and visiting friends and family over the new year...and who says you can't have both of these, there too nice to pick just one!!

zara bootsimage1xxl
SHARE:

Tuesday 1 December 2015

Kylie's Lip Kit

1 minute. That was all it took for Kylie Jenner's new product to sell out. Most of us girls have been influenced by Kylie Jenner's make up secrets, the lip injection craze and her fashion influence in general.

We can't all afford designer labels and to have a glam team on stand by 24/7 when we need it, but we can afford her lip kit that is priced at $29.00 ( that's about £20 ) for a liquid lipstick that drys matte and a lip pencil!! 

CVFRzZtUkAE2Bss.jpg-large

There are 3 shades, Candy K, Dolce K and True Brown K. My personal favourites are Candy K and Dolce K! I love the packaging, it combines edginess, fun and will draw attention to anyone. Perfect shades for this winter...

Screen Shot 2015-12-01 at 19.47.29





SHARE:
© An Essence of Everything. All rights reserved.
Blogger templates by pipdig