Hello Again! And Hello to Missguided's New Collaboration!

It's been a long time since I sat down to write a blog post but after a pretty hectic year last year with lots of ups and downs, I think I needed to take a big step back from everything! I had gotten to a point were blogging started feeling like an extra pressure - another thing on my todo list rather than being an enjoyable outlet to share the things I love or have an interest in. I was spending the little free time time I had typing away on my laptop and felt like I never spent anytime with friends or family. I think this started to show in my blogging style as well, with time in between posts being further and further apart and the content being more about throwing some images up rather than having any writing (which was one of the main reasons I got into blogging in the first place!)

Although life is still busy, it is very different to how things were a year ago. I graduated from University last July and was lucky enough to start my first full time job in Marketing last August. I love the job, its a lot of work and constantly on the go but it definitely doesn't get boring! I am really lucky to be working in Marketing so soon after finishing Uni and it definitely proves hard work pays off!! It is in the Education sector which is obviously a little different to the fashion industry that I ultimately want to work within, but the knowledge and experience I am gaining is fantastic!

As much as I love the job, lately I have been missing my connection with the fashion world. I no longer work in retail, my precious access to WGSN is no more (sob!) and other than my monthly dose of Vogue & Elle I am starting to have serious fashion withdrawals! I started to feel a pull towards blogging again, so here I am!

So - for my first post back I thought I would share some of my top picks from the new celebrity collaboration that I am most excited about!

Hot online retailer, Missguided have teamed up with non other than the 'Schermazing' Nicole Scherzinger for an explosive new collaboration Nicole x Missguided...

Click on the image above to check out the preview video for the launch...

I have been a fan of Missguided for a long time now. Their fresh, vibrant style, their affordable prices and the fact they are a brand that originated close to home in the North West have made them one of my favourite online retailers. I even worked as an intern for them a couple of years ago at Manchester Fashion Week and seeing how lovely everyone was behind the scenes at Missguided HQ just reinforced for me, what a fabulous brand they really are!

This new collaboration marks an exciting step forward for the brand - launching with such a big name and may even be paving the way for more fabulous collaborations with our favourite online retailers (fingers crossed!)

So here are my top five picks from the new collection:

A cool mix of faux leather and cut out panels makes this jumpsuit a seriously hot contender in the style stakes! At £50 this is actually one of the pricier items from the range, but definitely worth every penny!

I love, love LOVE this! The halter neck on this jumpsuit is totally flattering and the simple monochrome style teamed with the plunging neckline gives this outfit the right mix of class and sex appeal - the perfect look for a few cocktails with the girls, all for just £45!

Besides lusting after the convertible in this shot - I am totally getting on board with the mesh panelling to mix up this black crop top and pencil skirt number. The fishnet panelling is a nod towards the sports luxe trend that is going to be big for the Spring/Summer 2014 season - (which you can also see represented in the fishnet sleeved crop tops in the Nicole x range). Fishnet crop top: £20, Midi Skirt with Fishnet Hem detail: £20.

Cobalt blue is the key colour in this range, featuring across a series of signature styles adding a serious colour injection to the entire collection. Another figure hugging body con dress at £45, with some serious cut out panels will be motivating me to stick with my morning sit up routine (or at least start one...!)

White can be a tricky colour to pull off - especially with my pale skin tone! However, it is the perfect shade as summer approaches, and I am hoping after my early holidays in May, I will have a lovely golden glow to carry me through our British Summer - and this will be the dress to set it off. I also love how the mesh panelling detail accentuates curves to really define the hourglass female shape and at just £35 this is an absolute steal!

Now I'm just faced with the dilemma of which one I buy first...!?

What do you think of the collection? Let me know what your favourite look is I'd love to hear from you!

(Images from www.missguided.co.uk)

Done and Done! My final Uni experience!

OK! So this is the first post I have actually sat down and done in a long LONG time! I have been super busy finishing Uni (Forever! Sob!) and covering staff shortages in work so have had very little spare time! Thankfully the staffing issues have been resolved and my final hand in for Uni has been and gone, so I can finally concentrate on my blogging a little more full time.

My first post as an almost-post-grad (my graduation is not till next month, then its official- EEK!!), has to be about something that has been a massive part of my life for the last three years, and that has to be my Uni course! I wanted to share my thoughts on why I feel it has been a worthwhile way to spend the last three years from my own personal point of view. With the cost of University being sky-high right now, many people are put off at the idea of investing so much money into something with no guarantee of a career at the end of it. This is completely understandable and I am one of the lucky ones that was not hit by the increase in fees, however, I have found my University experience invaluable to my career path. If anyone is sitting on the fence at going to University to do a creative course such as this then maybe this will help?

For those that don't know I studied Fashion Brand Management at UCLAN (The University of Central Lancashire, in Preston). The first thing I want to point out is, it is not a design course. Many people see "Fashion" and automatically assume- but this course is tailored to those that want to make an impact in other areas of the industry such as Buying, Marketing, Styling, Journalism and Merchandising. It covers a broad spectrum of modules with many past graduates going on to be successful in many coveted positions in big name companies such as Adidas, Littlewoods, Missguided, ASOS and many more! Fellow students from my course have already landed top internships with the likes of New Look and Jimmy Choo! It offers incredible opportunities and has taught us some amazing skills that are essential tools within this industry.  If any of this sounds appealing, then perhaps this is the course for you?

What I felt I have learnt (from the many sleepless nights pre-deadline!) is how hard-working I actually am! I have improved my organisation, my time-keeping as well as practical skills within IT such as Photoshop and InDesign. I would never have thought to start this blog had I not become interested with the social media world following a second year project at Uni. Most importantly I found a direction that I wanted to move forward with in my future. This was something I did not have fresh from finishing my A-Levels- or even when I applied to do the course! I had it in my head styling was my future and that was the industry I wanted to pursue, however, very quickly into the course I realised it was not really for me! Don't get me wrong- I love putting an outfit together, and I also love assisting with shoots but it was not my strongest area. I realised PR and Marketing are what I really am good at and actually enjoy doing to the point where it does not feel like work! I realised I have a deep passion for writing but also researching and using everything I find and putting it into something creative which is why I feel the PR world is where I belong and is therefore what I am currently pursuing. However, I have to say my placement was a massive help at reaching this conclusion, but thats a whole other post!

So to that end, I thought I would show off some of the images from my final campaign...

Final Stand...

My project was based upon the brand Pandora releasing their own Fragrance line. I used a very talented model in my shoot, Gemma Louise Dyson, (check out her Facebook page here) and makeup artist Emily Walsh (check out her page here) to create most of the promotional artwork I have displayed. The bottle I used for the product shots was Stella McCartney's Lily Fragrance with a lid I adapted myself and photoshopped. 

However, my campaign was just one of many! If you are interested in beginning a course such as this, or even work in industry and want to check out some of the latest talent in the North West, UCLAN will be holding a Degree show displaying all third year work. The private viewing will be this Friday, however, it will be open to the public on the following dates:

• Sat 15 Jun (10 – 3 pm)
• Mon 17 Jun to Fri 21 Jun (10 – 6 pm)

Visit the UCLAN site here for more information and the link to the free parking permit. 

I hope you can make it! Don't forget to check out my stand (second floor of Victoria Building, room 204) I would love to hear your thoughts!

Kate 

xx

Exciting News... #MCRFW 2013!

Last night I posted that I would have an exciting announcement to make, and boy do I!

I have been DYING to share this for a little while now and I am really, really excited!!!

.... drumroll please....

Fashion Fallows has been selected by Manchester Fashion Week organisers as one of their influential blogs for 2013- meaning I will be covering the event next March! Amazing, right?!

I was so honoured to be approached to do this as it is such a fantastic event and showcases some of the best fashion brands and talent that the North has got to offer! Being a nothern girl myself, I am in full support of anything that showcases the awesome fashion talent we have up here!

I actually took part in MCR Fashion Week 2012, helping out last years sponsors Missguided during their fashion show and it was an incredible day! I got to see some amazing clothes and everyone who attended the event really enjoyed themselves! Of course last year I was technically working so didn't get to see as many of the catwalk shows as I would have liked, so I am SO excited to be coming to the 2013 event as a guest and be able to take everything in!

Check out this video of the 2012 event to get an idea of what MCRFW 2013 has in store!

 

I hope you are all just as excited as me!!

 

I can reveal that the Makeup Sponsors for 2013 will be Lancome - Love it! And that tickets for this event will be on sale sometime in December (dates to be confirmed.)

 

In the run up to this event I will be dedicating at least one blog post a week to all things #MCRFW related, so expect lots of new and exciting blog posts in the future!

 

If you do want some more info on the event right now then head over to their website and check out what promotions they have going on right now! They have fabulous daily themes under their 'Yours Fashionably' campaign, such as Model Monday (Trust me... you will want to check this out- Hawwt men alert!) and many more. Today (and every Thursday) they will be featuring their #MCRFW Street Style, so if you need some style inspo then check out what the stylish ladies of Manchester are rocking today! Or why not get involved yourself and share your streetstyle?! Take to Instagram and snap yourself with the hashtag #MCRFW and my username @Kate_Muzza and I will retweet my Favourites on twitter! Or leave your comments below and tell me what you are wearing today and from where, I'd love to hear from you!  

 

Much Love Xxx