Moda Handbags

It has been just over 2 months since I left Moda in Pelle, to take up a Trainee Buying position at Next. In my new job, I am working in the Home department, working on Downstairs Furniture. It is a total contrast to the shoes and handbags I have grown to love!Whilst I have left Moda, I still keep an eye on their website and love to see the new shoes, boots and bags coming in! I got particularly excited to see the new handbags over the last few days. I spent my last few months working with the Junior Buyer developing a range of handbags. This was the first time I felt I had a real input into the decision making on the product. I helped prepare the design briefs and saw as the samples started to come in. There are now some on the website, and they are looking fab! I think I am going to have to treat myself for the Christmas

party season! Here are my favourites below...

It's the end of an era...

Since finishing Uni, I have been working on the Customer Services department at Moda in Pelle... this was just a temporary role because my heart is in Buying, but unfortunately they don't have a suitable full time role available for me. So I began applying like mad for graduate and entry level Buying jobs. I applied for the trainee scheme at Next last year and they got in touch at the perfect time! The assessment centre was in July, and a week later I was offered a job! They confirmed my start date (the 26th September) 4 weeks ago and since then my life has been extremely hectic! I now have a house in Leicester and a pile of boxes ready to move!

With new starts, comes goodbyes! On Friday I had to say goodbye to everyone at Moda. Although I am very excited about my new job, I am also so sad to be leaving Moda behind. I have been there for 3 and a half years, working in various departments and with some very lovely people! On my last day, they presented me with some gorgeous gifts including a doormat for my new home and gift vouchers for Cath Kidston.

So whilst I have a million things to do before the move... I can't help but ponder over what to spend my vouchers on! I will certainly enjoy filling my new kitchen with some gorgeous goodies!

Happy!

It is three weeks now since I finished Uni and handed everything in (I was mega busy in the run-up to hand-in, and have been busy enjoying my freedom which is why I've not blogged in forever!)

It literally feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders! And more importantly I'm feeling happy, and free, and enjoying myself!

So for the past few weeks I have been working my usual Thursdays Fridays at Moda in Pelle. I have been working on a slightly different project which I am enjoying a LOT! I'm hoping that I will be able to start full-time in the next few weeks! Will keep you posted.

I've had some good nights out recently, and plenty more planned in the next few weeks! Mostly catching up with friends I haven't seen for a while! I've also been having a serious spring clean; I've put all my Uni books for sale on Amazon, and had a ruthless clearout of my wardrobe which is now all on ebay!

I am also super excited this week because my Mum is coming home on Sunday! She has been away in South Africa for 10 months and she is back for a 3 week holiday! It feels like Christmas but better... so giddy! To make it even more exciting, we are going away to Marrakesh for a weeks holiday whilst she is home! We are staying in a luxury spa hotel, about 20mins from the centre of Marrakesh. So we're going to have the perfect combination of a chill-out girly holiday, with some culture, shopping and good food! I am planning on taking plenty of photos and will blog about it once I get back!

So that's it really... just a quick update on what I've been upto and why I've neglected my blog!

xxx

British Bridal Exhibition 2011

I have spent the last two days working at the British Bridal Exhibition in Harrogate. I got the work experience through a tutor at Uni who is the owner of Eternity Group. He and his wife own the company that has a range of collections including Bridal gowns, Bridesmaids, Mother of the Bride and Prom. Eternity Group was exhibiting at the three day event, and I was able to go along and help dress the models for the catwalk shows that took place four times a day. I was very excited to be going to the exhibition, as it will be a great insight into the wedding industry, and should help with my bridal footwear project.

Eternity Group were showing 97 wedding dresses from their collection. They had four models for each catwalk, and a team of 7 people helping to dress the models and collect and return the dresses onto the rails. The first catwalk took over an hour, but by the end of the day we'd managed to shorten it to 45 minutes as we got used to the dresses and which ones fitted the models best. I found I was best at handing the dresses to the dressers, and then re-hanging them afterwards.

Although it was an exhausting experience, everyone was lovely, very friendly and welcoming, and I really enjoyed myself! I'd love to go back again in September!!

Something Blue goes live...

As part of my project, I have been designing a website for Something Blue Bridal Footwear. The proposal for my project is to create a brand specialising in wedding shoes. I have decided that I will launch the brand as a wholesaler rather than retailer, as this made the accounts business plan a little simpler for me. This also made the website less complicated, as I wont be creating an online shop, instead an online catalogue of the collections. So my very clever boyfriend has turned my Photoshop documents into a real website! There is still some work to do, and some more products to upload.... but I am too excited not to show it off!

Would love to know what people think! I still have a while until my deadline so if there are any good idea's I can make changes to make it better!

www.somethingbluefootwear.co.uk

Pizza night!

When I was younger, we often used to have 'pizza night'. We would each get to make our own pizza's, choosing the toppings and decorating them ourselves. So yesterday, I suggested to Christian (my boyfriend) that we make homemade pizza's for our tea! My idea of homemade, is buying the base, and then just adding all the toppings, but Christian got really into the idea, and decided not only to make the dough for the bases, but also he made the tomato sauce from scratch!

It took ages to prepare the dough, but the rest of it was easy! I was in-charge of chopping the veg (I can't be trusted with anything else apparently). But then it turned out I was a master in making dough balls with the left-over dough.

Although it cost about five times more than a supermarket frozen pizza, they ended up being the yummiest pizza's I've ever had! And we'll def be doing it again!

Here are some pics of the whole process...

Warning: these images will make you hungry!!

Making the tomato base...

The perfectly chopped veg!

A little helper!

Preparing the dough...

The base, nice and round!

My awesome dough balls, and dough ball initials :-)

The pizza's!! Guess which one I made!!

ASOS addiction

I am the first to admit, I have an ASOS addiction. I check their 'new in' section as often as I check my emails and facebook! I decided to restrain myself this time, and limited myself to around £30 (with student discount)

After a bit of an issue with Parcelforce, my order is now waiting for me at the Post Office... so I'm going to drag myself out of bed soon, and take Primrose for a walk with a detour!

Here are the things I chose... I will let you know what they're like!

Leopard scarf - £15

Vintage stud earrings - £6

Wave ring - £6

Swallow stretch hairband - £6

Models Own nail polish - £5

Moda in Pelle

I'm bound to be biased... seeing as I've worked for them for over three years now... but I am loving the new Spring/Summer range from Moda in Pelle. It is like Christmas every week when I see the new styles arriving into the office, ready to go into stores. I think this collection demonstrates a positive move for Moda, going for a mix of cutting edge fashion, alongside some more classic Moda in Pelle styles. I've put together some of my favourites below! They can all be found online at www.modainpelle.com.

Something Blue...continued

I've had a couple of days off work... and have used it to do some extra Uni work, and try and get on top of things. I have been particularly focussing on my shoe designs for my Bridal project (see post from last week) and trying to finish the collection. Here are some of my latest styles...

I would love you hear what you think... I am a bit nervous to be publishing my designs as I've no idea whether they're really any good or not. But in terms of my style/design skills and also my CAD and illustration skills, any thoughts are much appreciated!

Holiday wish-list

It is 14 weeks and one day until I go on my holiday to Marrakesh... and I am already counting how many sleeps! So whilst I'm sat, pondering over my dissertation, and finding any welcome distractions... my latest favourite is to start putting together a holiday wish-list.

I'm going away for a week, with my Mum. We're going to an all inclusive spa hotel for some pampering, but it's still within walking distance to the centre of town, for a bit of 'culture' and of course the famous markets!

So first on my list... swimwear.

Now usually I would wear a bikini... but since December I haven't been going to the gym (lack of time and funds) and I have been seeking comfort from Uni stress in Haribo (my ultimate weakness) so I have decided I will be going for a swimsuit.... and lucky me, there are loads of gorgeous summery styles appearing!

Today I spotted these, modelled by Crystal Renn for J-Crew. Inspired by 50's designs, I think these are just perfect... I can't decide which one I like the best, so these are now both officially on my holiday wish-list.

Something Blue...

I'm currently in my final year of Uni, and it seems to have taken over my life. Alongside a Dissertation and four smaller modules, we have a Final Major Project. This can be based on anything we like... but with the idea that it would/could work as a 'mini business'.

I decided to base my project around bridal shoes aimed at fashion-forward brides. I spent two years on the shop floor at Moda in Pelle, and often met brides-to-be who were looking for shoes for their wedding that wasn't the traditional wedding styles that you often find in bridal boutiques. Whilst there are designs out there... they tend to come with a hefty price tag. So with this in mind, Something Blue Bridal Footwear was 'launched'. I keep getting told I ought to do this for real once I graduate, and it's something I will consider. I love working on my sketch book, and coming up with designs. But the business, especially the accounts side of things are just a tad scary for now!

Anyway... here are some of the designs I have been working on so far... would love to get some feedback!

Introducing Primrose...

So as I mentioned in my first post, I've got a Jug (Jack Russell x Pug) dog, called Primrose. She's two now, but still as hyper as she was when she was a puppy. She is the perfect little companion,very loyal and makes me and my boyfriend laugh a lot.

Here are a few pictures, so I can share the cuteness...

Work work work...

Although I usually work in the Buying department at Moda in Pelle, for the past two weeks I have been helping out in PR and Marketing. With a huge focus being put on the marketing, especially online and social media, they needed an extra pair of hands until something more permanent has been arranged. And seeing as my course is Fashion Marketing, I was picked to help out. At first I was a bit gutted that I'd be leaving my team behind for a few weeks... but the girl in Marketing is great, and I've found myself quite enjoying it!! I have been updating the Facebook and Twitter pages, and preparing graphics which are uploaded onto the website. On Friday I created an email graphic that was sent out to the entire database (eek!). I've posted it below... and I have to say I'm quite pleased with how it looks!! I'll be in marketing for one more week, before heading back into Buying. I think it's been a really useful experience and an eye-opener into another aspect of retail!

LFW

So twice a year London Fashion Week rolls around, and every time it does, I vow that by next season I will be there! But yet again, I'm not! Instead I'm sat at my laptop trying desperately to focus on my dissertation. And as usual I found myself distracted... first by Facebook, then a biscuit (or three), then looking on Twitter, style.com and other websites at the reviews of LFW so far! I am insanely jealous, but keep thinking my time will come. Perhaps by the next one I will be living at London and will somehow blag my way in!

Anyway, I have had a peak at some of the headline shows, and am particularly impressed with Mulberry. I have always had a thing for their bags... but never really had a lasting impression of their clothes. However this season they really stand out! I love that they designed the collection around 'Fantastic Mr. Fox', and most of all, I love how wearable all of the designs are. No doubt we will see some Mulberry 'influenced' designs on the high street soon!

Here are some of my favourites...

Hello...

I have tried blogging before, as part of a module in second year... but I never really got into it! But I have decided to give it another try... so here goes!

I'm 23, living in Harrogate (near Leeds). I work part time at Moda in Pelle as a Buyers Admin Assistant, which I love. I am also studying for a degree in Fashion Marketing and Retailing, which I will finish this summer.

My life is pretty much taken up with work and Uni at the moment, which I will be sure to fill you in on regularly. But I am looking to the future, hoping to move to London to start a full time job, and failing that, I'll pack my rucksack and disappear around the world!

One more thing... I have a Jug (Jack Russell x Pug) called Primrose. She entertains (and distracts) me most of the time... so you'll probably get to know a lot about her too!

Hope I don't send you all to sleep with my blogging... wish me luck!

xx