An FCP Trip to London

Yesterday, we made our first FCP trip to London to carry out "research" (or crying over how my student loan doesn't stretch to the price tags in Selfridges). Our main aim was to explore how our given trend (in my case, a knotted waist) was communicated through retail and worn by the consumer, however it was also an opportunity to explore London and see how fashion in general was being communicated within the shops.

We visited Camden, Shoreditch, Spitalfields Market, as well as the obvious two - Regent Street and Oxford Street! Each has its own style and atmosphere about it, which helped us make comparisons within our research.

We also made quick stops at Liberty, including their Christmas shop! And also Burberry with their world famous and absolutely incredible flagship store. Christmas or not, there's something magical about visiting designer stores, from the innovative visual merchandising to the experience created by the store assistants. I would definitely recommend making visiting stores like Burberry when you're in London, because their use of technology within the store is something entirely different from the typical high street.

"If you're curious, London's an amazing place" - David Bailey

Georgia.xo

Is Fashion Falling Out Of Fashion?

This week Interbrand released their 17th annual survey of the world's 100 most prestigious brands. Unfortunately, one of the key points of the survey was the slowdown in demand for fashion and the increasing demand for technology brands such as Apple, Samsung, Google and Microsoft, which all sit within the top 10.

Fashion labels which proved to have the biggest struggle were Prada, which dropped from 69th place (in 2015) to 81st place, and Hugo Boss, which didn't even get a look in this year. Burberry dropped by 9%, as did Tiffany & Co, however high street brands such as Zara (+19%) and H&M (+2%) did go up in the world.

The San Antonio Express reported that "nearly a third of the list is composed of automotive and technology companies", which poses the question: Are fashion labels falling out of fashion? Or do they just need to up their game just a little bit further? 

With the likes of see-now-buy-now and more interactive shopping experiences, such as the Ted Baker window display in collaboration with Google, it's proven that the fashion industry is becoming more innovative by the season, however could it be something else that the consumer is now demanding?

Like wearable technology? 

We can already see glimpses of this flowing through the catwalks. For example, Hussein Chalayan partnered with Intel for the S/S17 season, dressing models with connected accessories which sent biofeedback to project their stress levels on the wall next to them. It's relevant and it really connects with today's society who are busier than they ever have been before. Whether it sells or not is a story for another time, however with the results from the Interbrand survey, it is clear that consumers are becoming bored and they are ready for technology.

So, what do you think? Are you ready for wearable technology or just preferring to spend your money elsewhere these days?

Georgia.xo

An Introduction to FCP and My First Thoughts

 (Photos of the sketchbook are my own - images within the sketchbook are both primary and secondary sourced from Google Images and magazines)

A week ago, I began my Fashion Communications and Promotion course at Nottingham Trent University and I honestly don't think I could have picked a course more perfect for me! When I say to people that I'm studying a Fashion course they automatically assume I'm designing or looking at textiles, but that couldn't be far from the truth. The basis of the course is looking at how brands communicate their products and messages to the consumer, and I guess with both studying Media at GCSE and A-Level, and writing this blog, it has me written all over it really!

During the summer we were asked to present our favourite fashion communicators through the mediums of digital, print and retail. Each of these was relatively easy for me, because while I am very much part of generation Y with our love of technology, I also love the idea of a physical text and the ability to go into the store and get an atmosphere around what you're buying and being able to physically try and feel the products there and then.

Digital

1. LiketoKnow.it ('click-now-buy-now' Instagram and website service)
2. Chloe Helen Miles (fashion and lifestyle blogger)
3. ASOS (e-commerce store)

Print

1. Stylist (free, weekly, British magazine)
2. Glamour (women's lifestyle magazine)
3. Betty (independent women's lifestyle magazine)

Retail

1. Burberry flagship store in Regent Street (British luxury fashion house)
2. ALLSAINTS (British apparel retailer)
3. Bershka (high street retailer) 

• For the 'Retail' section I could have also chosen Ted Baker due to their new collaboration with Google. The customer can speak a statement (displayed on the window) into their phone, using Google's voice recognition search tool, to reveal prizes and offers, which the customer can access within store. 

I really think I am going to suit this course down to the ground, due to the fact that my Business Studies and Media Studies background looks quite similar. The tutors all seem lovely, as do the rest of my "course-mates", and I'm really excited to see where this is going to take me! 

Georgia.xo

Candy K Review

This may be one of the most exciting blog posts I've ever written.

Kylie Cosmetics did a restock on my birthday and I didn't care about how much I had in my bank account, I was going to get one; I was so determined! I honestly don't know how I managed to get one to be honest. At the time they went on sale, we were sitting in a pub where there was hardly any internet data whatsoever, and each internet page took a good few minutes to load, so I was 100% expecting to be told that the product had been sold out when I eventually got to the checkout. But then I got to the bank details... and I might have let out a small scream!

As you've probably gathered I brought Candy K. It's $29 for the actual lip kit and then $14 for delivery, which works out about £30 over here in the UK. Luckily I didn't get the customs (is it customs?) charge that I've seen a lot of people getting once their purchase reaches the UK, but that may just be because I only brought one... I don't know. But it only took a week to come, which was a lot quicker than I was expecting.

The box is very distinctive with the 'trademark' drips and then when you open it you have a note from Kylie and your products! Candy K itself is the best matte lip gloss I've ever used and as excited as I am about it, that's not an exaggeration. It goes on really easily and one coat is enough, and it smells like vanilla! I was a bit worried about eating and drinking (because I put it on just before lunchtime) but only a small amount came off and I don't know how to really explain it other than saying it it began to blend in with your natural lip colour as you went further into the mouth, but it was still obvious that you were wearing it and it lasted into the evening. It also doesn't dry out your lips like a lot of matte lip glosses do, and I really like that because I suffer from dry lips quite a lot.

The only thing I would say about this that may be slightly negative is that you need to make sure that you have a lip pencil sharpener, because it doesn't come with one. I don't know if I was expecting one but for the price you'd think the pencil would come with some sort of sharpener or end that you could twist to refresh it. But generally, I don't have a bad word to say about Candy K and Kylie Cosmetics.

Georgia.xo

And Now I Guess I'm An Adult

 Petite Strappy Lace Bodycon - Topshop - £39

Nostalgia Tie Waist Navy Tan Playsuit - In The Style - £29.99

It's been a week and I still don't feel any more like an adult. I'm eighteen now, but I look about 15 and I still don't know how to iron! It's kind of one of those "oh f*ck" moments when you realise that you're responsible for every single little part of your life from here on in. 

I had an amazing 18th birthday though. There was obviously a party, and then the family get together to make up for it, and then on my actual birthday me and Harry, and mum and dad went to the East Sussex National spa. It was so nice to just relax after such a busy bank holiday weekend and I'm definitely going to become a member to one of those health clubs once I'm balling!

I brought a gorgeous lace bodycon on Topshop for the occasion, as well as an equally as gorgeous playsuit from Charlotte Crosby's Nostalgia range on InTheStyle.com. A few days before Dad was up in London running around trying to find the Topshop dress while I was on the phone trying to find stores where I could hold it and wait for him to pick it up. Who knew one dress could cause so much stress?!! But you've got to turn 18 in style right??!!

P.s... I brought myself a cheeky birthday present (you might have seen my excitement on Twitter) so keep your eyes peeled for a very exciting post!

Georgia.xo