How hard it is to get into fashion and creative industries? (video)

Review: Ravi Famous, London

Ravi Famous is a new womenswear fashion brand based in London. Their prices are really reasonable; plus there are some discounts on offer and there are some really great pieces of clothing and so in this blog post I'll review some of them..

I got this Hailey Fitted Dress from them. I really like it because it's very simple but stylish still. It kind of reminds me of a posh look I used to see in Yves St Lauren clothing campaign ads, where posh rich boys and girls were all dressed up in a similar clothing, that reflected their unique, posh lifestyle.

It's   dark blue navy colour. It has   white  collar attached and white buttons statement at the front. 

The dress is available on sizes S/M and M/L. 

It's possibly not a perfect season for dresses apparently, but when you like something, the sooner you get it - the better.  

There's nothing worse than not buying something now and regretting it later as it might be no longer available. 

If you like this dress or would like to see some more quality pieces of clothing with an affordable price tag, have a look at their website yourselves. :)

University of Sunderland students spend a day with Channel 4

"The Power of We" Blog Action Day 2012 Entry:


The University of Sunderland got a chance to hold a special 4Talent Days session with Channel 4 at the Tom Cowie Lecture Theatre this Thursday, the 11th October. It has united those interested in creative industries and want to become a part of a “4Talent family” that will hopefully help them build  a career in the media.

A dozen students from various backgrounds came along to listen to Priscilla Baffour's inspiring talk about all the opportunities 4 Talent can offer across the board, new media, TV, film4, online, journalism and many more.


What are 4Talent Days like?

For those who have never heard of them, as it is stated on Channel 4 website, 4Talent Days are events where they "spill the beans on how their creative industry works", encouraging new, young people, who have fresh ideas and bright minds to join their team through placement opportunities that might lead on to something bigger.


Who are 4Talent Days for?

They refer to anyone who is over 16 and who wants to break into the media or creative industries."We never say ‘you must have this’ or ‘you must be like that’ – we love it when the group is really diverse. All that matters is that you’re truly passionate about our industry, and that you’ve got a bit of raw talent that sets you apart from the crowd," reveals Channel 4 website.

What it was like to attend the 4Talent talk in Sunderland?

Priscilla Baffour started her talk straight to the point encouraging us to think out of the box. “You are all here at the university at the moment, doing fantastic job - doing your degree -  but it is all about what’s next. While you here what you guys can do to get yourselves prepared for work in a big media industry.”

Priscilla was very artistic and friendly. “Do you guys have your phones? I want you to take the phones out, I want you to use your phones - I want you to get tweeting!”

She pointed out that now we can do so many things ourselves using social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube) for promoting ourselves and we should all take advantage from that. “You can put your content out there and you don’t have to hang around and wait for someone to give you that job!”

She also shared examples of people who made it and who are now "getting millions" and I’m sure that inspired some students who haven’t thought of using social media tools much more professional before.

Apart from honest responses and advises guest speaker Priscilla Baffour gave us, what really surprised and inspired me was how much some people working in the media and creative industries can be determined to help and assist to young people. Especially it helps those people who have nothing yet, but who are at the same time willing step by step to get all that so needed experience in the creative industries. 

Attending such inspiring talks can definitely be a life-changing experience for some students. Miton Gafur, doing his second year of a Media degree in Sunderland, said: I've always wanted to work for Channel 4. This masterclass was really useful. Now I'm at least one step forward and who knows."

Josh Coles, Media Production (TV & Radio) graduate from University of Sunderland, said the talk was really encouraging. "Finding the right job in the media is very difficult, it requires both, knowledge and relevant experience.  It gets easier once you're in the row and that's what Priscilla was basically saying."


Now as we’re part of 4Talent family - what shall we do to kickstart career in creative industries?

Now we know it’s very competetive and hard to get into. Thus, it’s changing so much. We were inspired and taught to be really out there networking, meeting loads of people like Priscilla, not being afraid to talk to people you admire, as the worst thing that can happen is that they’ll say “no”, speaking to colleagues who are over there, knowing what’s going on in the media industry and who can we meet and get information from. And even more importantly before that we need to know exactly what we want to do.

Autumn Notes:

How to create an edgy going-out look

Obsessed with...Lana Del Rey

Personal Fashion Memoir: "The Higher the Heel, the Closer to Heaven"

It started when I was a little girl gloating over the gorgeous dresses on the television screen, when I first saw Miss Universe beauty contest. For somebody else it would have been the actual dress, but for me it was more about that subtle and inspiring feminine walk, which my bittersweet memory muscled in on. I’ve always wanted to be that girl - confident and beautiful - ever since. I felt it was something about the footwear.  And now, I know, that it was all about the heels... 

by Raminta Paukstyte

Falling in love with them came gradually, though. Switching from the black leather steel toe boots to high-heels wasn’t easy for a 16-year-old-punk me. Something radical should have happened, but there was nothing - just a dramatic, ultimate fashion contradiction. I started attending a modelling school at the age of 16 and here the confession continues...

That was the first time in my life I was not sure what I was doing, but, I absolutely loved it. We were taught various things, including dancing, acting, posing, that helped me to obtain and develop self-confidence in the role of model, although I found catwalk lessons really challenging sometimes. In the very beggining, it was quite embarrassing to appear on a catwalk with such a confidence as if you were a diva (making sure everybody believed you actually were), while everyone was watching you, especially while other girls secretly laughed at me. 

I knew some of them did. There was even a reason for that. I was the only girl in the group who never stopped wearing military leather steel toe boots. The thing is, I never wanted to be the girl next door. I thought I’d rather look cool. I’m sure I did. 

I couldn’t tell anyone and kept hiding the fact that I was carrying heels with me to my classes, so that I wouldn’t lose, what I thought, was my own identity. That’s how my very first experience with high-heels started. Poorly and cautiously. 

"I couldn't tell anyone and kept hiding the fact that I was carrying heels with me to my classes, so that I wouldn't lose, what I thought, my own identity was"

I would never have guessed I would be soon running about the busy streets of one of the fashion capitals; running in circles from one metro to another, catching and breathing hot air from the buses. holding a map in my hands and, at the same time, having twelve-centimetre-high platform wedges on, when thermometer showed no less than 33 degress. That all happened after only a year.

I lived and worked as an assistant in a modelling agency in Milan. This city made my reinvention possible. Living there became an endless catwalk that worked even stronger than a scary mirror hall. It didn’t even matter that italians were already shorter without me even wearing heels. “I’m living in Milan“ - I kept repeating to myself.  I became aware of that and didn’t go back to my teenage look again. 

Now my boyfriend comments, with reproach, “Why do you nearly always wear heels?“ I know that on occasions like this I appear to be an inch taller than him. However, that doesn’t stop me wearing my beloved platform shoes. I love them... both. And why shouldn’t I? I am not yet Miss Universe, but I am, at least, confident and beautiful. 

Stiletto Nails – trend to try now

Lana Del Rey on uk Vogue, March 2012 

It might be difficult to understand how in the middle of nowhere some old-fashioned trends are welcome back again. It happened only very recently when stiletto nails have pushed the round and squire shapes from the top, but it feels strong. Especially after celebrities took on it, scarily sharp and long stiletto nails are officially on and it’s very much likely to become a long-lasting trend.

When we’re talking about long pointy nails, we no longer associate them with Cruella’s de Vil as it is not that type of thing.  Now, after being captured on the hands of Rihanna, Fergie, Lana Del Rey and Lady Gaga it is much likely to be seen as the hottest way to emphasize and sharpen our feminine fragile beauty and self-confidence.

Lana Del Rey is one of the biggest inspirations of how to follow the trend. Even though not that much time passed since we first heard and saw Video Games and felt obsessed by her talent and extraordinary beauty, it's official: Lana’s Del Rey obsession is on. She colours her long, pointy nails in bright red, in yellow or gold. We love.

When it comes to the season, for the summer we see bright red, orange and yellow palette. Much darker colours, such as dark blue, purple, brown and black may appear for the next season. It is a well-deserved prediction, as it would be a perfect match for this autumn/winter’s femme fatale look, seen in Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana and many other collections.

Not sure how it would look on you?  That’s still worth to have a goal.

Fashion always requires some efforts so there’s no excuse not to.

Barbour designs 2012 Ne1’s Newcastle Fashion Week Promotional T-shirt

NE1’s Newcastle Fashion Week promotional event will be taking place on Monday, the 30^th of April in the exhibition park, in the heart of Newcastle city centre. All the profits that will come from sale of Barbour designed NFW T-shirts will go to Metro radio’s charity, Cash for Kids.

Taking the British countryside as their inspiration, the Barbour has designed commemorative NFW T-shirts and pendants that are aimed for fashionistas who want to get their hands on a piece of NFW memorabilia.

The upcoming Newcastle Fashion week 2012 is predicted to be massive this year. As the press release has announced, it will start from Saturday 26^th of May and will run until Sunday, the 3^rd of June.

According to Sandra Tang, Newcastle Fashion Week and Digital Co-ordinator, NE1’s Fashion Week will be massive this year, as “ it will be upholding even more events when it did last year”

A young fashion designer, Suzanne Porter, said: “It’s fantastic to be showcasing my collection again - I’m sure that every year NFW will get bigger & better".

Another person in charge of this event, Sara Ragan, said “Last year, New1’s Newcastle Fashion Week’s Limited Edition T-shirts were sold out three weeks before Fashion Week even started.”

This year, demand for the exclusive celebratory T-shirts is likely to be massive, thanks to Ne1’s collaboration with international heritage and lifestyle clothing brand, Barbour.

Merchandise will be available exclusively in Fenwick from 1^st of May 2012.

APRIL'S FASHION GIVEAWAY # (open worldwide)

My first fashion blog giveaway - Ginatricot top.

 

Size - universal. Length - really long. (not enough to cover your bump though) And the best thing about it - it's free. and I am willing to send it for you for free, wherever in the world you are.

All you have to do is to follow flyforfashion with my new Google Friend Connect gadge and leave a comment here or write me to my email address peaceandlovekurt@gmail.com with your google name, real name and email adress with a 'fashion giveaway' subject line. The winner will be chosen randomly just before the 1st of May and that will be announced here in this post.

Liz Lamb: "Long hours, no lunch brakes, but if you enjoy it - it's worth it""

Career in fashion journalism is not all easy glamour - it can often mean hard slog. Raminta Paukstyte talks to a journalist who discovered how true that is.

Not everyone has a legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour in his or her family to open the door to a career in fashion. Liz Lamb, blogger and fashion & beauty writer from the North East, currently working at ncjmedia, for the Evening Chronicle, The Sunday Sun and The Journal Live Blog knew that well but that didn’t stop her. Liz shares her own experience, how she went to long far distances to achieve what she really wanted.

Long black leather shoes

 

That was a really funny story how I've got those shoes: 

I was in my way to uni; perhaps it was a first time I was not running late so I was going very slowly and when I felt I'll be too early an idea topped up into my head to go to have a look  to any of the high-street stores. New look was in my way. At that time I felt that one of my heels (poor quality shoes but at that time I really wanted them and ordered them online from chinese online store) is not stable and I felt uncomfortable about that.  This is how my  already slow catwalk into super-slow walk. 

Can men and women really be 'just friends'? (+VIDEO)

 

Photography by: Raminta Paukstyte

“We’re just friends.” Whenever I hear this statement it leaves me looking like Mr Bean at his last attempt to smile. Not necessary because I don’t believe it can be true, and not even because I remember ambiguously claiming it myself only several months ago, while I must admit it was not exactly true. As we all know well, exceptions are like love - 'always in the air'. We hear many cases, stories, glories about it, but there is always a big room for debate – can men and women be ‘just friends’?  

Surely, being too categorical and flat about close friendships between opposite sexes is not ideal for a greater analysis about this issue. However, having a strong belief from personal experiences that it’s not possible for men and women to be just friends because of sexual reasons as well as a dozen of people and psychology lecturer’s opinions combined, this feature challenges and unravels that matter from its ground.