Splurge, Spend or Save - Fancy Footwork

Across the fashion weeks, fashionistas have been wearing trainers whether they're your classic converse or some brightly coloured nikes, they truely are making a come back. Ridiculously comfy too compared to heels you can still look cool and stylish. I've just bought my pair of Superga's (so happy)  however I wouldn't mind a pair of Gienchi's if anyone wants to buy me a pair...?

Splurge

£245
Gienchi
Buy Me

I love the studs and the nice bold summery blue, pair with some skinny black jeans and a vest for a casual summer look.

£426

Ann Demeulemeesster
 Buy Me

I really like the simple contrast of black and white with the plimsoll look, these up close are delightful.

 

£430

Lanvin
Buy Me

Oooo hello tacky! These are either a love or hate but you've got to be careful to pull these off, don't wanna be looking cheap now.

Spend

£70
Adidas orginals x Ransom Pier
Buy Me

These are so cool! I love the espidrille hemp sole, easy to wear and perfect for the summer. If I were a size 6 i'd snap them up.

£50
Puma 
 Buy Me

Suede is a favourite of mine and especially in a nice bold colour, the gold logo is a nice touch.

£49.99
Vans
 Buy Me

Now I don't know anyone who doesn't own a pair of authentics these days, and these green wash are a nice new look.

Save

£37
Nike
 Buy Me

Boom! These are so bright and garish, do the sportmax trend with these and you will look shit hot.

£40
Superga
 Buy Me

These are the pair I bought, pretty simple but will go with absolutely everything. Effortless.

£35
Converse 
 Buy Me

Now if you don't own a pair of these you're a fool. Timeless classics which will never go out of fashion.

Pick of the Week - 26/03/12

£1475

Proenza Schouler

Buy Me

Intern for Ralph Pink

So since finishing at Browns I had a two week break after working over a month solidly. Killer but definitely worth it, I felt kind of bored after my 3rd day off so giving myself two weeks off was driving me a bit crazy. I'm back with Ralph which is so nice as I like to think of him as a good friend of mine so its pretty casual and a really nice environment to work in, plus he makes amazing food! I'm working on the same dress I was working on before which is a floor length dress made entirely out of buttons. However it's slightly more complicated than one would think as I have to evenly fade the button colours into one another. There shall be pictures once completed and when Ralph allows me to!

I also recently recieved an e-mail from Browns asking me when I was next available to do another internship with them! I was ridiculously happy and pretty pleased with myself. So i'm returning to work for them in February and this time I shall be working in the studio, I wonder what this will entail?

Check out Ralphs website and what he's being doing, its all very snazzy. He's also setting up his own website/business, with a potential job for me if all goes well. I'm sure i'll keep you updated, its all very exciting!

www.ralphpink.com/

WELCOME BACK & A FRESH NEW START from ralph pink on Vimeo.

Intern at Browns - The end of the beginning

So my duration at Browns came to an end on Friday. I have had such a good time working with them, the bridal team were so much fun and such down to earth people. It was quite the experience as I worked really closely with the owner of Browns, Caroline Burstein herself. You wouldn't expect the owner of such a prestigious fashion company to remember your name as an intern or even teach you the ways of the company, however she did and it was really nice.

Spending my days in the beautiful Browns Bride store I did things you'd expect an intern to do such as book appointments, take wedding dresses from one place to another, make dresses look presentable on the rails, serve drinks to customers and all sorts.

It was interesting to see how Browns had made such a name of themselves, as Caroline told me as I was making tea for some clients 'we want to show everyone we are the best' and that is what many of the brides to be agreed with. When I was booking appointments I'd get brides begging for appointments however due to popularity we were fully booked. Even when I said we were full we'd get them ringing out bell visiting the store to try their luck. When I left on Friday we were booked up on Saturdays until mid January which was pretty insane and most days during the week were fully booked which showed the extent of Browns Brides popularity.

However not everyday was the same, we had trunk shows on some of our days. This is where one of the designers we stock comes into our store and sets up their next collection exclusively for us. Meeting the designers was really interesting and understanding the concept and ideas of their dresses for someones big day. I got to meet Akira, a Japanese designer who focused on beautiful embellishment and detail, he was such a sweet modest man, a bit shy but so happy! Mira Zwillinger whos dresses were pheonomenal in the sense that the level of detail and hand work gone into each dress was insane yet beautifully light and etherial. Mira and her daughter were passionate people who played by their own rules, a bit wary at first they soon warmed and were really lovely people. I also met Peter Langner a german designer based in Milan who worked for Dior for many years. He was truely inspired by Dior using hidden boning in his dresses, the structured gowns held elegance that could be worn by Audrey Hepburn. He was a very focused lovely man who cared so much for his brides. Delphine Manivet was a true Parisian, so chic and utterly effortless just like the gowns she designs. She puts a blue button in the hem of each dress which has a carving of a pram in to bring the brides luck.

Akira

Mira Zwilinger

Peter Langner

Delphine Manivet

Browns is definitely a company I would like to work for in the future, they're a really close knit family company who really believe in the well being of their employees which is something I really respect. Although I didn't see all areas of the company I hope I will see more as future internships could arise.

Things I've learnt so far during my internship:

Try and always look presentable, fit in with your surroundings yet still be yourself.

Confidence is key, people will respect you so much more!

Don't complain, if there is a job you don't like, grow up and do it! Everyone's been there.

Stay focused, if you've asked to do more than one thing don't forget about the tasks you need to do.



Salvatore Ferragamo vs New Look

If you're a close friend reading this you know how much I love my portfolio clutch! The resemblance is uncanny. Perfect for fashion week coming up, and me being ultimately skint as well as my student friends, this is truly beautiful with it's bold Prince of Wales print.

Salvatore Ferragamo

$2390

New Look

£14.99

Intern at Browns - Bridal

So this week I started my internship at the Browns Bridal store which is where I will be completing the rest of my internship. It is GORGEOUS. Located on Hinde street off of Oxford street, the store is beautiful, luxurious and initimate . They have the most amazing selection of wedding dresses, shrugs, jewellery and shoes. Everyone is so friendly, my colleagues showed me around telling me about all the designers and what I would be required to do which was really helpful as I didn't really know much about the bridal world. 

We have designers such as Delphine Manivet who made Lily Allen's wedding dress, Monique Lhuillier, Carolina Herrera and many more.

All brides have initially booked appointments before arriving. When they come to visit the store, I greet them and offer them champagne and escort them to their fitting room/area which has sofas and huge mirrors everywhere. They have their own personal assistant who shows them around the two rooms which are filled with the delightful gowns. The first room is flourished with slinky evening styled dresses with Valentino, Rebecca Street, Oscar de la Renta and more. Ranging from short dresses to floor length with trains. 

The second room has the real huge princess gowns, some a little more crazy then others but equally beautiful. 

After the brides have chosen the select dresses they want to try on, we take them to her room where we begin our kind of mini fashion show in a way. I've been quite lucky so far, not met any bridezillas yet!

I didn't realise how prestigious Browns Bridal really was until I met people who flew over from Australia, Norway and Paris just to come and try these dresses and buy from us.

We have clients who are ridiculously rich, the dresses range between £3000 to £15,000. One bride her Dad is worth £256 billion! Can you even begin to imagine?! It's really interesting to get to know the brides, they are really nice and hearing their wedding plans are incredible. One having her reception at the swanky Savoy, another have 2 weddings, having a boat take her to her restaurant in a romantic candle lit decorated theme. 

There is no sense of snootyness or better than you feel, it's so warm and friendly and not intimidating at all. I've really enjoyed my first week!

Obviously I would have to post my potential wedding dresses...

Mira Zwillinger

Bespoke jewish designer

Alexander McQueen

From his last collection he made himself

 

Peter Langner

German designer based in Milan, worked for Dior

Intern at Browns - Womenswear

This week I started my internship with Browns, the luxury fashion family run store which recently hit it's 40th anniversary. I was suppose to begin in the Bridal store but was asked to work in the womenswear store instead for the week. I was given a very brief tour of the store and stock room, then got thrown in the deep end. Straight on the shop floor I had to learn where all the collections were, being able to name where each designer was located in all three shops with 3 different levels. With designers ranging from Balenciaga to Bouchra Jarrar and Laurence Decade to Golden Goose, they have the most devine collection of clothes and shoes! All the employees there have client books, so they already know most of the customers which step into the store, so they can provide the best service possible.

I would greet each 'client' and ask if they needed any help, if they did I would normally escort them round the store showing them collections describing how they would fit and feel. I found it very difficult at first as many of the customers want to be left alone, however if you proceed on commenting on pieces they pick up, you find yourself showing them around the store which is the service we at Browns provide. 

It's hard work and can be tad boring as i'm someone who likes to constantly be busy and doing something and seeing as its a quiet month not many sales were taken place, however I did learn alot about personal shopping. 

Throughout my time in the store there were some piece which I crave, everything is so expensive and its crazy how much people spend. It made me think Topshop was dead cheap and a pair of £200 trainers were affordable...

Here are my favourite pieces. 

 

Gienchi 

Denim bassball trainers covered in metal capped studs.

£235

Fendi

Wool blend coat with mink fur pockets

£1600

Marni

Georgette tank top with star print

£345

Erdem

Sleveless velvet shift dress

£745

Laurence Decade

Suede boots covered in small gold studs

£820