MAKE UP PRODUCTS I USE EVERYDAY

I thought a post on my current make up routine was much needed as it's been a fair while to say the least, and I have been introduced to some great products during this time. 

MAC Studio Fix Fluid mixed with Revlon Photoready Skinlights face illuminator in Pink Rose
Adding the Skinlights to my foundation gives a lovely fresh glow, particularly helpful when you're running around on very little sleep - which I have somehow had a fair share of practice at over the past year.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light
Everybody's holy grail concealer. This stuff has been made by angels and sent from heaven to cover dark circles to spots of all sizes. Absolute star!

Revlon Nearly Naked Powder
I always used to steer clear of powder - the thought now makes me shudder - as I have such dry skin, using powder would only dry it out even more and would make it visible, the last thing I wanted. I don't use this everyday, as if my skin is quite dry as it is I'll skip this step however it's great to use to set my base make up.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer
I actually use this a contour rather than a bronzer, and it's just the most perfect matte brown that would suit every skin tone.

MAC Pro Longwear Blusher in Blush All Day
A beautiful matte blush in a natural rose tone that is perfect for everyday where. Since buying this in New York I haven't used another blush since!

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish highligher
I find this gives such a lovely natural highlight which can also be built up for a more intense look.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Taupe
This is amazing - my brows are quite full naturally and I only ever fill in the front to make them even and this does the job perfectly!

Benefit Roller Lash mascara
Roller Lash is definitely giving They're Real a run for it's money with the added bonus that it isn't such a mission to remove!

Benefit They're Real mascara
My beloved mascara, I'm now on my third bottle (is it a bottle?) of this, nothing quite gives my lashes the same effect!

This is my everyday make-up with the exception of eyeshadow - I'll either sweep a natural nude shade all over my lid or will use the gorgeous matte shades from my Naked 1 palette.

LONDON CALLING

Living so close to London is definitely something I took for granted before I moved to Nottingham. It was always so close and easily accessible living in the South East (takes 40 minutes by train) whereas on the coach it takes a few hours.

I absolutely love the buzz of living in a city, there's always something to do and going on and London is no exception. As a course we stayed in a hostel just round the corner from St. Pancras/King's Cross so we were on the doorstep to the tube and everything we may need.

We started off our trip in The Breakfast Club with the best breakfast I think I've ever had. After waddling out we then explored Oxford Street and Regent Street, viewing the Digital Disturbances exhibition at the Fashion Space Gallery and wondering round (and drooling over) the Burberry flagship store.

Ben Eine's "Your Not My Type" exhibition at the StolenSpace Gallery on Brick Lane (it pain's me it's "Your" and not "You're") was incredibly inspiring as was Liberty in Fashion at the Fashion and Textile Museum.

It was a brilliant few days in the capital with lots of laughs, window shopping and a lot of walking!

RESPONSE TO MARCELO MONREAL

After discovering Marcelo Monreal's work I couldn't wait to try and reproduce my image in his 3D cut out style. I took a black and white photograph of the beautiful Emma Watson from her ELLE Spain shoot and experimented with a range of floral prints I had previously pinned on my Pinterest board, oh so print. Whereas Monreal cut out the flowers for his collages, I left the print as a whole which I feel still gives a really interesting composition. I'll definitely keep this technique of photo manipulation in mind for future projects.

You can see my post on Marcelo Moreal's work, here.

MARCELO MONREAL FACES[UN]BONDED

Brazilian artist Marcelo Monreal creates stunning collages by splitting a model's face and imposing an array of blossoming flowers in the empty spaces. Called Faces[UN]bonded, Monreal reveals a part to someone who is hidden. I think his work is absolutely stunning, and it really connotes a message of beauty is within. He truly captures, by exaggerating the exotic colour range of flowers, that no matter what your exterior presents, inside everyone is beautiful. (Although if I looked like Cara Delevingne I'd say I was pretty beautiful on the outside too).

Image source and Image sources

Although I wouldn't get anywhere near the results of this, I'm definitely going to give this technique a try! You can see more of his work on Facebook and Instagram.

Britain's Spending Secrets

It's amazing what you can find out about someone when they start talking about money. Many are happy to share what they have bought with their money, for example showing their new car, phone or even lipstick, but less so when the nitty gritty of what exactly we spend our money on in terms of finances etc.

Having recently watched the two part series on BBC One, Britain's Spending Secrets presented by Anne Robinson, it was incredible what the topic of money can bring out in people.

Source

REFLECTION ON MY FIRST YEAR AT UNI

After completing my first year as a Fashion Communication and Promotion student, now is the perfect time to reflect on the course and my myself in regards to the work over the past year. Back in January, I reflected on my first module, Visual Awareness in this post. Now having completed my second module, and the year I feel I can now fully reflect on my strengths and weaknesses.

The second module, Creative Networks heavily revolved around group work and you can read my post on this, here. In regards to my strengths and weakness I identified after the first module, due to the nature of the work set some were developed and improved whilst others were not required. For example, with the Fragrance Advertising Analysis I was able to express my strength and passion for graphic design and writing, but throughout the module the need for a mood board, a weakness of mine, was few and far between – and when needed a group member who was more suited to do it took the role. At times the deadline for a presentation or booklet had quite a quick turn around, creating more pressure – something I feel can be a blessing in disguise in terms of quality of work.

STRENGTHS & LIKES

I love the graphic design element in all of the work, from studying magazine layouts to recreating them and producing my own work in InDesign.

AREAS TO IMPROVE

Throughout the year, and in particular the second module, I obtained a whole range of brilliant and fascinating books, which I aim to study this summer. My goal is to not read them all cover to cover, but sit down and really delve into them, gain inspiration and apply this knowledge to future work. Making time for this is not very easy but I hope to finish my summer looking back and really see I made an effort to read more.

ACTIONS TO IMPROVE

In between work and other activities, even if for half an hour a day I will try to dedicate to sitting down with a book and indulging on it’s content. I now own a substantial range of inspiring books, from graphic design, advertising and marketing.

KEEPING THE PASSION ALIVE

I hope to visit several exhibitions in London this summer, and to also practice and develop my Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign skills, making little booklets and magazines, as well as developing some basic illustration skills.

ACTIONS TO REACH MY GOALS IN THE FUTURE
I feel like I have slipped away from books and reading, and spend far to long scrolling aimlessly on social media - even admitting how boring it can sometimes be. Going back to reading magazines and books is my current aim, as it is the industry I want to venture into.

You may have gathered by now that I'm all about the graphic design and layout of my work, I'll spend hours moving an image and a line around, a pixel at a time to trying to make it "perfect". In my feedback for my Creative Networks module you can imagine I squealed at the comment, "Visually strong with good images and infographics".

Using my blog to fulfil my passion for English and writing, receiving, "Excellent blog – really interesting, insightful, reflective, looking beyond course content to wider industry and culture – great stuff" also really makes everything I do seem worthwhile, and reminds me how lucky I am that I do what I love.

WHAT IS LUXURY? ...not this!

Not this exhibition!

When I went to visit the brilliant Alexander McQueen exhibition at the V&A I also went and had a look at the What Is Luxury? exhibition which was also in the V&A. 

At the beginning of summer I'd made a list of exhibitions I'd wanted to see and this was one of them. Luckily it was at the V&A because I would have been fuming to have gone up to London just to see this on its own. What a disappointment! In all honesty I hadn't read up or looked into it at all but wow, was definitely not worth a trip just for that. With a title like it had I was expecting a really "wow" display of items and objects, beautiful things that were desirable and were lusted over. I vaguely remember a big circle of sand and some mechanical device hanging above it, a chair made of plastic and a vending machine of medical treatments. Actually, I'm not even sure what it was, that's how memorable it was!

If you're bored and have some time to kill at the V&A, go and have a drink or browse in the shop. 

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN SAVAGE BEAUTY

On the 1st of July I visited the Alexander McQueen exhibition, Savage Beauty at the V&A in London. Having had it booked for months, and hearing so many raving reviews and comments about it I was almost bursting with excitement.

Source

Louboutin: The World's Most Luxurious Shoes

"You don't need it, you want it. It's a desire" - Christian Louboutin

I couldn't have out it better myself, of course I don't need a pair of £600 red soled shoes - who actually does? But I certainly wouldn't turn a pair down (any offers are welcome, I'm a size 4).

I knew next to nothing about the designer of the most expensive shoes in the world, so enjoyed watching the Channel 4 documentary, Louboutin: The World's Most Luxurious Shoes with no previous knowledge of him.

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THE JAM: ABOUT THE YOUNG IDEA

On Friday 31st July I went to Somerset House to visit The Jam: About The Young Idea exhibition with my dad for his Father's Day present. The Jam is one of his all time favourite bands and when I first heard of the exhibit I knew I had to treat him with a day in London (top daughter points!)

NEW BEAUTY ITEMS

A peek at some new beauty products that I've been loving recently.

My MAC Collection

Over the last few years my make up collection has possibly quadrupled (whoops!) and I thought I'd dedicate a post to my MAC collection.

First try at KIKO make up

For my birthday two of my friends bought me some KIKO products, a brand I was yet to try. A store has recently opened up in Nottingham and I hadn't had a chance to go down and have a look so I was excited to finally see some of their products. 

MAC LIPSTICK COLLECTION

Once upon a time I wrote this post, gushing over my first ever MAC lipstick (Pink Plaid). If anyone told me back then I would own 12 (eek!) in the next two years I don't think I would have believed them. But here I am, writing a post about my MAC lipstick collection!

VALENTINO RAINBOW

KENDALL AND KYLIE FOR TOPSHOP

KENDALL AND KYLIE FOR TOPSHOP by ohsojem featuring a long sleeve crop top

Topshop maxi dress
£62 - topshop.com

Topshop long sleeve crop top
£45 - nordstrom.com

Topshop america shirt
£44 - nordstrom.com

Topshop high-waisted denim shorts
£39 - nordstrom.com

Graphic Design x FCP ft. Little Box of Fragrances

We collaborated with 2nd year students studying Graphic Design, pitching our brand and packaging ideas for them to create a mock up. We created a booklet of our brand which I spoke about, here. Here are the results from our collaboration:

Little Box of Fragrances Website Home Page

Little Box of Fragrances website home page I designed and created on Photoshop.

Little Box of Fragrances Double Page Spread Advert

Little Box of Fragrances double page spread advert I designed and created on Photoshop.

Little Box of Fragrances Mobile Site

Little Box of Fragrances mobile site I designed and created on Photoshop.

Little Box of Fragrances App

Little Box of Fragrances app I designed and created on Photoshop.

Chanel Chance Eau Vive advert

I recently saw the Chanel Chance Eau Vive video on several occasions whilst flicking from video to video on YouTube. To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan. I do quite like the art direction of the advert, however I don't really feel like it fits with the Chanel Chance brand. Although the classic oversized big bottle appears - as bowling balls, launched down the alleys - I didn't feel it worked as well as the previous campaigns. 

Woah. Garage Magazine.

When I see the icon for an app in a magazine that I am meant to download and hover over the page to bring something to life or access a video, I always ignore it. Always. I just want to read the magazine, I don't want to get all technical and interact with it.

That was until I discovered the eighth edition of Garage magazine. With the use of the Garage app you can bring the cover stars to life - 5 models, Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Lara Stone, Binx Walton and Joan Smalls. The models are all wearing Beats headphones and were photographed by Phil Poynter, with the art direction of Chaos Fashion and the make up artist was Pat McGrath.

"Small Change, Big Difference" advertising campaign

"What's your favourite advert?" is a question that always makes me stumble. Every time I am asked that question every single advert I have seen, enjoyed or hated escapes from my memory and I'm often left gawking. Of course, some are unforgettable, like the Cadbury's gorilla playing the drums or the beautiful John Lewis Christmas adverts (the Snowmen, the Bear and the Hare and the Penguins). One thing that I find incredibly astounding is the fact that these adverts have made their way into my mind and I can't forget them. Connecting with an advert with an emotion, whether it makes me smile of tear up (the Snowmen got me, they really did) is a pretty incredible thing.

I recently discovered an advertising campaign called, "Small Change, Big Difference" by fashion photographer Calle Stolz teamed with Saatchi and Saatchi for Cordaid, a non-profit organisation.

MyButterflyLove - Fashion Shift Magazine

MyButterflyLove is a shop on Etsy which sells beautiful 3D realistic butterflies for home decoration. The owner is a family friend and whilst I was studying at sixth form I helped out, hand cutting the butterflies and bringing them to life.

I was absolutely thrilled to see these gorgeous butterflies featured in these stunning photographs from Fashion Shift Magazine. 

"Fashion Shift is an international fashion photography magazine, based in the UK. We're dedicated to promoting the inspirational work of the emerging creatives and established professionals within the fashion photography industry."

Here is the link to MyButterflyLove.

"What the Caterpillar perceives as the end, the butterfly sees as just the beginning. Aside from being beautiful, butterflies are often considered to be symbols of hope, beneficial changes, new beginnings and even spiritual salvation."

Little Box of Fragrances visuals

Little Box of Fragrances mobile site

Here are the visuals I made for our brand, Little Box of Fragrances. As a group we were not satisfied with the outcome of our collaborations with the Graphic Design students so I created the following visuals.

My (new) favourite magazines

Magazines has and will always be a huge part in my life and I can't imagine life without them. Discovering new and more independent magazines is a particular favourite of mine, as I feel they offer a closer connection to you as the reader than some of the bigger mainstream titles.

Whilst browsing in WHSmiths a few weeks ago I came across, SUITCASE, and after a quick flick through scanning the pages, before I knew it I was on my way to the till and I had purchased it. Travel and fashion, my two favourite things and what I aspire to be part of. Travelling the world is a goal I wish to pursue and I hope to work in a fashion (not just meaning clothes, beauty and anything desirable) so this magazine seemed perfect.

After a recent trip to Ideas on Paper in Nottingham I also discovered two more magazines that were me all over: Zeum and Caboodle. Not only was the content - including fashion, photography, artists, illustrations and crafts - perfect for me, but the overall design and layout of the two publications were beautiful. I had never felt this connection with magazines such as iD and Vogue, and I had only ever felt this way about Company magazine, and I was heartbroken when it came out of print. 

Having shown my new purchases to several friends, they have all said that if I were a magazine, I would be a mixture of the three!

Here is a little more about each magazine taken from their "About" pages on their websites to see if you fancy taking a look into my, which I can confidently confirm, my favourite magazines.

SUITCASE
Travel & Fashion

"SUITCASE Magazine is a multi-media publication that is re-imagining the role of the travel magazine. Saying goodbye to the impossibly luxurious and the underwhelming tourist clichés, and embracing the eclectic and adventurous appetite of a generation of creatives and entrepreneurs, SUITCASE exists to change the way you travel.

Through a quarterly print magazine, a constantly updated website, apps and a series of pop-up shops and events, SUITCASE aims to immerse you in the fabric of a destination, helping you explore with insider knowledge and acting as a point of entry for cultures around the world."

ZEUM
Pretty is as pretty does

"Zeum is a biannual print publication made in Toronto, Canada and printed and stocked in the United Kingdom. It focuses primarily on fashion editorials and showcases work of young upcoming artists and photographers. Also, it’s kinda girly."
CABOODLE
Love, life, laughter, colourful, dancing, making, adventuring, fun times!

"Caboodle is a bi-annual print compendium of all the wonderful things in life. More than ‘just a magazine’, it offers inspiration, attainable aspiration and information for those with a sense of adventure and a curious spirit.

Filled with beautiful photography and illustrations to engage with our creative readership, along with exciting editorials and features, Caboodle is fun and colourful, with a sense of humour and optimistic nature.

With a focus on the handmade, restored and beautifully designed treasures that craftspeople, worldwide, have to offer, Caboodle seeks to showcase the unique over the uniform via print and an online blog.

Caboodle appeals to anybody who can see the value in a simpler, more pleasant lifestyle.

From crochet to cocktails, it offers a little bit of what everybody fancies, with a kindhearted and encouraging ethos.

It is, in essence, a lovely magazine designed for delightful, artistically minded people who have found themselves saying, “I could make that”.

Caboodle is designed to be a beautiful keepsake, to be displayed on bookshelves and read again and again. Each issue brings exciting crafts and recipes to inspire our readers and can be referred to often."

Group work reflection

I would say group work is like Marmite. But you don't really find many lovers of it, do you? As a whole, group work is despised by many. There's always the fear that one won't pull their weight and be a bit of a let down. Or worse, more than one person.

It's all about the clutches

Everyone loves a clutch bag so why not make it a statement one for summer? Made on Polyvore.

Snapchat wit

Fragrance adverts are often wonderful and weird. To sell a fancy bottle of coloured liquid does take some doing, which is why there is often a narrative or story behind it. A few weeks ago we had to analyse a range of ads in a "Snapchat wit" frame of mind. To begin with, it was quite tough and I almost felt bad for ripping an advert apart, trying not to think of the real story or al of the hard work taken to achieve it. For example, I captioned the beautiful photograph of Natalie Portman for the Miss Dior perfume with "Waiting for bae". Once the first few were out of the way, it became much easier and we let our imagination run wild.

BLEACH LONDON - Total Bleach and The Big Pink

I'm pretty sure every girl at some point has thought of dyeing their hair a crazy colour, from dip dying it blue, going a silvery grey or becoming a pastel haired queen. I acted on this growing temptation, and I now have pink hair! If you want to find out how I achieved this pink carry on reading...

Everybody Street

Today we watched a great documentary directed by Cheryl Dunn on street photography and the photographers behind some of the most inspiring and creative snapshots in and around New York.

"digital manipulation kills photography"

Several photographers discussed the issue of digital photography. For years film was the only way they could capture a moment, but in the digital age we are currently living in a revolution in photography. 

With digital photography, everybody's a photographer now. Whether it's captured on a DSLR or an iPhone, the photographers said the outcome of the photograph will be mainly contemporary.

"change is inevitable"

Shooting with film costs money, for example each shot could be worth 50 cents. However with a digital camera and a 32GB memory card, you could take thousands of the same moment, all a millisecond apart.

"it was beauty and the beast, and sometimes the beast was beautiful"

One photographer captured his images on the subway, commenting that he would have 10 second affairs with women on the subway, and then never see them again. 

I think one thing I'm going ot take away from this film is not to hold down the button on my camera. Almost treat it like a film camera; don't review the image and only take one or possibly two photos.

Now I want to get my hands on a film camera, a bunch of film and roam the streets of New York! Although maybe I'll be better off starting with London...