oh so jem

Friday, 18 December 2015

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.

Friday, 20 November 2015

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!

Tuesday, 6 October 2015

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.

Thursday, 17 September 2015

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.

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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.

Thursday, 27 August 2015

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.

Wednesday, 26 August 2015

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.

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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!