Pageant Princess

Wow first post in a long while. I've definitely been concentrating on my Tumblr more. Oops. So there's a new trend launching this week in work called Pageant Princess. It has a 'Good girl gone bad' feel to it. In this trend you'll see a lot pretty lace, puff ball skirts, pastel/sickly colours and motif/conversational prints on tees. To turn all of this on it's head you will then see a clash of leather, studds, ripped/dip dyed denim and sheer orgazna which gives the evil feel to it. I think this trend will be a big hit especially with the younger Topshop customer. As they're still able to buy their pretty dresses with a young feel to it and then teaming it with a leather biker jacket will make them feel a tad older and cooler. For the older customer shopping this trend I can see them accessorizing it with black lipstick, dip dyed hair, liquid eyeliner, glitter bomb nails, Dr. Martens and pretty lace socks. I think this trend almost has a Japanese street style feel to it. I hope it's easy to merchandise!

This trend also takes a nod towards Meadam Kirchoff's Summer/Spring 2012 collection. There is no leather in this collection but works the pretty pastels well and has a real Harajuku feel to it. There was a trend -that is no more in Topshop, that was called 50's Diner which was all about the polka dots, 50's skirts/dresses and played on the American diner look. I can also see where this trend has evolved from 50's Diner as some of the pretty dresses and playsuits from 50's Diner will be coming into Pageant Princess.

Some outfit builds I've put together for this upcoming trend

Topshop

(Embellished cropped tank £40.00, Leather biker jacket £160.00, Nail varnish £6.00, Bag £25.00, Organza skirt £45.00 and Biker boots £180.00)

 

Meadam Kirchoff's Summer/Spring 2012 collection

Pageant Princess has now fully evolved into itself and is in full swing. If you take a trip into your nearest Topshop you will see pastels on pastels, feathers, embellishment, short shorts, lace, jersey blazers, metallics and frills. This trend has no moved away from the 'good girl gone bad' feel, getting rid of all biker jackets, boots, leather and all things black. It's now the ultimate girly trend!

 

Topshop
(Lace frill top £28.00, pearl collar necklace £14.00, sweetheart leggings £25.00, lemon blazer £40.00, pink heels £65.00 and pink button down shirt £32.00)


I think it would look great if the lace top was worn over the button down shirt, with the lemon blazer over it to add layering and textures. I'd add a really dusty turquoise nail polish to this look to finish it off. 


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Tumblr

So I have had more than a week off work and have no touched this blog once. I am so bad. However I have really changed my Tumblr and it looks great! After a lot of thinking and browsing other blogs I have decided that I don't want this blog to be like all of the other blogs out there that post pictures of "What I wore today" (when they clearly wouldn't step out of the house in some of the outfits they've put together) and "What I bought today -bargain!" (when really a Mulberry purse, a pair of Jeffery Campbell heels and Mac make up really aren't bargains. They're so expensive and in reality the average girl out there can't afford products like that). 

So as I've posted a lot about Topshop and my job, why don't I base this whole blog around the challenges and dilemmas I face in work on a day to day basis? Genius. For example, when I was unsure of the South Pacific trend and how to merchandise it, I researched into other designers that had used bright, clashy colours and patterns in their work. I looked into how celebrities and models were wearing these prints and how they accessorised their outfits.  Finally when it came to merchandising that trend I felt that I understood it more and was able to do my job successfully. Hooray!

Like I said I've been working on my Tumblr a lot this week and I was asked by TheJanuaryProject how I ended up in the job I'm currently in. I told her and talked her through what I do daily and she posted it in her blog. It turns out she's doing research on how people have got to where  they are in their current occupation and what they hope to do in the future etc. Anyway, here is what she posted on her blog about me-

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

"As you know, the underlying purpose of The January Project is focused on exploring, dreams and inspiration. This year I am writing up my personal journey and summarising what happens in monthly posts (to find out what happened in January click here). But I am also fascinated by other peoples experiences. I am always asking ‘Just how did you get to where you got to?!’

So it seems only right that I share my findings with you… I will be posting a series of interviews exploring how different people find their way into a certain role, career, hobby or place in their life. Whether it be through study, experience, chance encounters, a ‘friend-of-a-friend’ I’m on a mission to find out. How exciting! Here is a little taster… 

Just the other day I found out a bit about the career of a Visual Merchandiser for Topshop after finding the blog AmyVictoriaMitchell and Tumblr http://avmitchell.tumblr.com/. Amy’s blog offers a really interesting take on collections and how to actually wear them. I messaged Amy to ask a bit more about her role and how she got into it. This was the answer:

‘I’m a Visual Merchandiser at Topshop and in Topshop there’re four trends -at the moment they’re called Surf Luxe, South Pacific, 50’s Diner and Spring Equinox. They all have their own identity and my job is to keep the look of the brands fresh and shoppable. I create outfits on rails, fixtures and with in the walls that inspire the customer and make them want to buy the products. I make sure all size ranges are out through the day and that there’s always enough stock out on the floor. There is also another side to VM which is the mannequin dressing and window displays. I used to do all the mannequin dressing and window displays in Marks and Spencer but now at Topshop, I only work with in the merchandising. I don’t have any qualifications that have lead me to this job. I did used to do Fashion and Textile Design at MMU but never finished Uni. I’ve always been interested in fashion and hope to stay with in Visual Merchandising and styling.’

I thought it was really interesting and just shows you don’t always need qualifications in the area you want to forge a fantastic career in. After further discussion Amy said she wanted to turn her blog into a ‘problem solving/fashion troubles sort of blog’ so follow to find out!

Look out for the first full interviews in the February Summary due to be posted on 29th Feb!"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Cool eh? Also if you're pretty broke like I am right now and you're looking for some bargains please visit me Ebay site here or my friend Rebecca's online store here

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Outfit of the Week

(Jeans £38.00, Lipstick £8.00, Top £14.00, Ring £10.00, Denim gilet £38.00, Rucksack £36.00, Earring £7.50, Underground creepers £100.00, Hoodie £26.00)

Apologies for posting only outfits created from Topshop. As I work there, I'm constantly putting together outfits in my head all day and feel the need to share them on here. I will branch out soon and maybe even start posting a few pictures of myself on here. Who knows? 

Acne -Colour?

I am totally in love with Acne's RTW SS12 collection. I love the splash of bright colour running through the primary colour palette of whites, blacks, neutral and earth tones. The whole collection has an airy, light feel to it. The shapes are straight, clean and tailored yet remain extremely feminine. I barely wear colour on a day to day basis, however I'm trying to push myself to incorporate colour into my outfits. The way Acne have done it in their collection is inspiring and I will most definitely be doing similar things with my clothes. To add more colour you can always experiment with nail polish, lipstick, socks and sometimes jewelry -although I like to keep my jewelry simple wearing only a few silver rings and silver studs. Adding colour this way is very understated yet adds that extra detail to complete your outfit. 


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Ps. If like me, you can't afford Acne, try the Acne outlet here

South Pacific

 Topshop
(Bomber jacket £48.00, Shoes £90.00, Shorts £30.00, T-shirt £18.00, Rucksack £30.00, Nail polish £6.00)

 Topshop
(Vest £18.00, Nail polish £5.00, Jeans £38.00, Bangles £16.50, Blazer £65.00, Shoes £42.00)

Peter Pilotto RTW SS12 Collection

Proenza Schouler SS12 Handbag collection 

 Altuzarra RTW SS12 Collection

 Mary Katrantzou RTW SS12 Collection

Like I said before I work at Topshop and I'm a Visual Merchandiser; I've been put on a trend called South Pacific. The whole look is very clashy, bright and full of prints including Hawaiian hibiscus, leopard and baroque. I'm finding it pretty difficult to merchandise as I am not a bright dresser. I stick to my blacks, greys, whites and neutral tones. I realise that to merchandise this trend correctly the colours and patterns have to be wild and clash a lot, however I still need to be able to create credible outfits for the Topshop customer to wear. So, to help inspire me I've been looking at designers such as Peter Pilotto, Proenza Schouler, Mary Katrantzou and Altuzarra. 
Also! I just found my old blog that I thought I'd lost from University. I created whilst I was doing a project called 'Laundry' it's a very poor attempt at a blog. In fact, my whole first year of University was a very poor attempt. Bad times. Anyway, if you want to see it, click here.