Escape from New York

I’ve been in hiding.  I know that is really no excuse for the lack of posts the past few months but that’s the best one I’ve got. 

This summer was absolutely amazing, to say the least.  I had the most fabulous internship and spent the summer months wiling the days away at photo shoots, late nights in Brooklyn and weekends in Cape Cod.  But a break was needed.  And so I fled.  Took a Virgin Airlines flight to London and decided to study abroad for a semester at the University of Westminster. 

So here I am now, in London, and completely in love. 

It took me a few days to get over culture shock.  Taxis, money, and pizza were among my biggest concerns but I am proud to say that I have moved on and adapted pretty well to this new culture. 

Case in point, yesterday I was bored, so I dyed the ends of my hair lavender. 

The area I am living in is the Lower East Side equivilant so granted that may have had an effect on my choice of color.

My weekends have taken me to Paris, Wales, Belgium, and Amsterdam (see photos below), I honestly couldn’t be luckier. 

I miss New York (and obviously my friends and family) more than I can say.  Yesterday my mother sent me a care package consisting of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, candy corn, the New York Times Magazine (food & drink issue) and T Magazine (winter style issue).  I devoured the magazines, read them cover to cover, and a few articles twice.  I didn’t realize how much I had missed the style of writing  and journalism I had grown so accustomed to in America. 

But enough about New York, I will be back in a few months, and I just know I will be longing for London, so for now enjoy the pictures from Wales, Brussles, and Amsterdam (London ones will be up shortly).

Wales

 

 

 

Brussels, Belgium

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amsterdam

 

 

 

 

 

AIE Editorial

It’s been an obscenely busy semester, I will have to leave it at that in lieu of a lengthy apology.

I saw this editorial online a few weeks ago, this was the last photo shoot I helped out with when I was interning with Heathermary Jackson.  Last week I was able to assist on three photo shoots for Vogue so hopefully I will be able to post those in July!

The photo shoot was for AIE magazine and featured the sickeningly beautiful couple comprised of Behati Prinsloo and Jamie Strachan.  The shoot was in the hallyway of the stylist’s apartment and was super fun and 80’s inspired.

So You Want to be an Editor

It should be no surprise to you by now, but I want to be a fashion editor.  If I could live in the magazine section of Borders or the Conde Nast  library (which I got to play in a few weeks ago) I would, in a heart beat. 

As my last post stated, we had an Assistant Editors panel last Monday night hosted by Ed2010@FIT.   We brought in five assistant editors and bombarded them with questions about the industry, their education, internships, and most importantly advice they had for us.  At the panel we invited Adam Risman (TIME), Brooke Danielson (Glamour), Allison Watters (ELLE), Ashley Afriyie (Marie Claire), and Alison Girschick (ELLE).  They were absolutely amazing and gave advice that I started following the next day I was at my internship. 

These are some of the points I found most helpful or enlightening:

“Look at internships as job tryouts” -AR

“Once you show your boss that you are more than willing to do the menial tasks, that is when you get to move up” -AR

“Find that one editor that really believes in you” -AR

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“Always observe what is going on and ask if there is anyway you can help, always reach out, be one step ahead of the editor”-BD

“Have confidence and integrity, respect yourself and the people you work for”-BD

“Be careful about what you Twitter, Facebook, blog…”-BD

“The best part of my job is sitting through the run throughs, hearing the editors thoughts”-BD

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“Editors take notice of the small things”-AW

“Have excellent time management and a strong skin, and you will stay late most nights”-AW

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“Take initiative and go the extra mile, lose your summers, learn to multi-task”-AA

“Always print out at least three copies of your resume, never put your picture on it”-AA

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“As an assistant editor, you are at the bottom, everything is your fault”-AG

“You have to want to be there”-AG

“Attention to detail, do everything with a smile, and have determination”-AG

“If you make a mistake, fix it, in a creative way” AG

Your New Friend, Ed

*Disclaimer, I am doing this post because I strongly believe in Ed2010 and shamelessly promoting it, not to show off winning their trustfund (though I am obviously happy about that).

Ed2010 is an aspiring magazine editors best friend.  It is more than a club, it is a way of connecting with the magazine and fashion industry in a way I never thought was possible.  As well as the city chapters (and the main group of course) there are also on campus chapters at schools across the country.  My freshman year at FIT also happened to be the first year Ed2010@FIT was in existence (the four club officers who started it at FIT all have assistant jobs at well respected magazines now).

I was Secretary of FIT’s chapter of Ed2010 for a year and then this Fall semester I stepped up and became President.  The club meets on Tuesdays at FIT and we often have amazing guest speakers from magazines like ELLE, Teen Vogue, Nylon, Real Simple, Marie Claire, Glamour, and Time.  Most of the club members have internships at the best fashion magazines in the country (Vogue, ELLE, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, Glamour, etc.) and we are all great at sharing internship tips and advice, and of course contact information.

People are always asking me how I got my internship at Vogue, and though the question really bothers me I simply say two things, Ed2010 and hard work.  I found out about four of my five internships from their constantly updated internship list.  Through my connections in the Ed2010 club I was able to get my ELLE internship which I really feel paved the way for all of my future ones.

Ed2010 also has this amazing “Trustfund” which unpaid interns in the city can apply for and get the chance to win $1,000 just for working hard and writing a fabulous essay, of course.  I found out about a month ago that I was this semester’s winner, and was elated (though maybe not as much as my parents were).  I have squeezed 16 credits into two days, intern at Vogue three days, and I work at Anthropologie on the weekends (shopping money) so getting appreciated for my time and effort is very flattering and really makes me strive to do my best work.

(Also, I was interviewed for the website which you can check out here.)

So everyone please visit the website if you are interested in magazines whether it be editing, styling, writing, or design it will definitely be worth your while.  And if you attend FIT come to one of our meetings: Tuesdays 1-2 pm room A336.

PS: We are having an Assistant Editors Panel Monday April 11 from 6-7:30 pm in room D523.  Check out the poster made by the lovely Nia of Live Glam or Die (our Publicity Officer) for more information.

Decisions, Decisions

I need a pair of black boots, not necessarily motorcycle, but along those lines.  Lace up is preferred and between the ankle and mid calf.  I have the perfect pair in my head but I have yet to find them anywhere for a good price.  I already have a pair of tan suede ones from about 4 years ago that I wear at least twice a week.  The are so comfortable and go with most of my wardrobe, and I don’t mean to replace them with these new black boots, more like give them a friend!

You may remember the Franco Sarto incident when I bought a pair of shoes too small (for an amazing deal) and couldn’t wear them because they didn’t fit.  It must have been magic at the store because I could barely get my foot in them when I brought them home and ended up selling them at Beacon’s Closet.

I have found two pairs at Free People which I think may fit the bill and live up to my standards.  I don’t want them to look like everyones else’s boot, I need a twist, something quirky to make them my own.

First up we have the Ryder Zip Boot.  I like the touch of red on the zipper, and my only concern is that they are a bit shorter than what I wanted.  But maybe since I already have medium height boots these would be fine.

The second boot is the Ann Arbor Boot which is more like the classic motorcycle/hipster boot.  I like their height better than the ones above I just worry that they look too messy.  Kind of a strange word for a boot but that is the best description I can think of.

They are basically the same price and I seriously need a pair of them asap.  They are a staple I should but somehow don’t have.

Thoughts? Preferences? Or if you have another suggestions that would be welcomed as well.

I See Paris: Part 3 (L-Y)

Admittedly, this post is very late.  But better late than never right?  These beautiful clothes still need to be shown even though Paris Fashion Week ended a few weeks ago. They are beginning to slowly trickle in to magazine’s fashion closets.  Editors are using their best sweet talk to persuade PR companies to let them have these pieces first and assistants are dueling over who gets to feature the Louis Vuitton French maid outfits before the rest.  So below is the rest of the best if Paris Fashion Week.  It’s pretty crazy that there is only a bit more than five more months until it starts all over.

Oh, Lanvin and Alber Elbaz, how I love you so.  This season was a but subtler than the past but his gorgeous pinks and oranges rule the runway once again.  Now who do I contact for one of those amazing “Why yes I am a celebrity” hats?

The show in general was a bit kitschy for me but the huge pailette skirts and dresses are really amazing and made it all worth while.

Nina Ricci is consistently one of my favorites, season after season.  The ultra femininity without looking at all childlike or weak is very impressive.  Peter Copping is a design genius in my mind and is right up there with Mr. Elbaz in terms of women’s clothing.  The soft baby blue-gray color is too pretty, I want to dye all of my clothes that color.

Rochas designer Marco Zanini has this innate ability to take very vintage, retro shapes and fabrics and make them overtly modern and luxurious.  Who wouldn’t want that snow white furry dress for a blisteringly cold December day?

Stella loves her spots.  The Fall trend of polka dots is absolutely solidified with the Stella McCartney collection.  The designs are actually very wearable, even the see-through spotted jumpsuit.

I wouldn’t consider Valentino one of my favorite designers, but I thought the collection above is the best I have ever seen from the house and I would give a kidney (you only need one right?) to own the 6 looks above.  The designers at Valentino made a leather dress sweet and completely sin-free.  Impressive, no?

Fur and capes.  Enough said.

My Weekends: Chelsea

Chelsea holds a dear place in my heart.  Not only is it the home of my school, FIT, it also has the most darling side streets, both my favorite French restaurant, La Grainne Cafe, and my favorite bakery, Billy’s Bakery, and of course Chelsea Market (though that may be Meatpacking technically).

apricot jam crepe from La Grainne Cafe, perfection

protection from windy 10th ave.

here comes the sun

lipstick all day, every day

dilapidated empire diner

one of my favorite bookstores

children's books

i love doors...

baby gated door next to the one above

i showed this same apartment building months ago. the red door draws me in. i need to live there.

how does this happen? what French maid is running around the city without their feather duster?

slider at popburger

lovely visitors

 

My Weekends: The Village & Nolita

I like to walk, a lot.  I also love to take pictures of what I see, as you can tell from previous posts.  It seems like every weekend I am now exploring a new part of this amazing enchanting city I live in.  Two weeks ago I wandered around The Village and SoHo.  There was brunch, chalked up sidewalks, and beautiful architecture.

the best brioche French toast I have ever had, in one of the most darling restaurants in the West Village, Elephant & Castle (click on the picture if you don't believe me).

The plates at Elephant & Castle (with eggs benedict on the side!)

Greenwich Village, I love these quiet almost European side streets

Heading into Nolita now, such a French building

Nolita

my favorite street in New York, Elizabeth St. in Nolita

open air restaurant in Nolita

coming here next, Nolita

and here...

Washington Square Park

street art

the arch

A Love Letter to Spring

I am one of those weird people who really like Fall and Winter.  Maybe it is because I was trying to be unconventional as a child, being different by not saying the Summer was my favorite season.  I love the layering and the rich colors.  Sweaters and heeled boots.

I am over it.  I need warmth and sun and to put my gloves in hibernation.  Spring is now my favorite season, I blame the clothes at Vogue for this.  The bright colors and floral prints have brainwashed me into crawling out of my black cashmere wardrobe and into oranges and pinks!

I got out of Vogue surprisingly early one beautiful March day and just had to go outside and enjoy the weather.  It is just my luck that the weather always turns colder/grayer/rainier on the weekends and I never get to bask in the glory of the weekday weather.  With my new black camera in tow, a trip to the roof of my building was very much in order, below are the pictures.

This is basically my ultimate Spring outfit.  Cozy sweater over a short dress or skirt and a pair of heels is absolutely the way to go.  The sweater I bought at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market, the nightgown was my great grandmother’s, belt from Zara, clogs Jeffrey Campbell, and jewelry is mainly vintage.

 

The location:

The Clothes: