First year is done!

It seems like only a month ago I left my home country and moved to the UK to start Uni and a new chapter of my life. I would have to say, this was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I cannot believe I have already finished my first year of university, time passed so quickly! I remember like it was yesterday, walking around the city, getting lost every day, not understanding the British accent for like 3 weeks, feeling completely alone and alienized, having no one to talk to, crying every night and thinking why the hell did I do this. But knowing how much I wanted this I simply could not give up. And I am so so SOO glad that I didn’t.

This year has taught me so much, both professionally and personally. In my FCP course, I have learned a lot about the Fashion industry, about marketing, promoting, I have discovered some really exciting, interesting and helpful things. Even though I have always been interested in fashion, I have learned more in these 8 months than I did in the previous 19 years of my life. And, of course, being away from home and everyone I know has made me 110% stronger and independent. I had to overcome a lot of challenges and that was not an easy thing to do, but I am proud to say that I stayed strong and did everything I had to in order to move towards my dream. Also, being able to see my family and friends only 2 times in 9 months made me appreciate everything a lot more than I did before.

If you have dreams, chase them, don’t be scared, step out of your comfort zone and do everything you can to achieve them. Do not listen to people who say that you cannot do it. I know for other students who are reading this post it probably seems like a joke that I am making such a big deal of being in this University and in the UK since no one takes the first year seriously. But if people knew how hard it was for me to get here, how much I had to work, how many things I had to sacrifice and how many people from Lithuania wanted to get an opportunity to study in the UK but didn’t, how hard it was to leave everything I had 1500 miles behind and come here completely alone, they would understand why do I feel so proud and blessed. I am grateful for every opportunity that I had and for everything life has put me through, because it made me a million times stronger. So, anyone who’s reading this, NEVER be scared of chasing your dreams, because if you want something badly enough, you will work your way through it till you achieve your goals.

Crayola makeup

Yes, you have read that right. A worldwide known brand Crayola, which makes crayons, colouring pencils and basically everything you want as a kid, launched a makeup collection and that is what everyone is talking about.

They made an incredible 58-piece collection. You can find eyeshadows, highlighters, lipsticks, blushes, brushes, all in a wide range of colours. They are selling them on ASOS and the prices are ranging between 15$ to 40$. Not gonna lie, for a line of makeup that looks like children’s toys, that is a lot.

The packaging looks (and probably is) so cheap but obviously, it is all about the products. However, although I did not try the new line, I have watched some videos on youtube where huge beauty gurus reviewed this collection and they were disappointed. Apparently, the pigmentation is not good, the packaging is cheap, some items come broken and it is hard to use them or blend. It is really cool to see brands expanding to new sectors and creating such a buzz over a new line but sadly, not everything works. You can take a look at the products right here.

Brand collaborations

Collaboration between brands is very important because by doing so brands can reach a new audience, expand their brand name and target new consumers. A successful brand collaboration depends on a few things. Firstly, both brands have to be complimentary, this means that they must have similar values and target audiences but not be competitive. Secondly, they both have to benefit from the existing market of the other, each brand has to offer something the other does not have. Finally, it is essential for brands to share the same core values and main goal, like reaching a new audience and gaining growth.

There are a lot of different types of collaborations. Brands can collaborate with celebrities and release a limited edition line like Adidas did in 2017 by collaborating with a famous American rapper, singer-songwriter Pharell Williams.

Obviously, fashion brands collaborate with each other, usually a high-street and high-end brands releasing an exclusive line of high-quality items. These collaborations are always very anticipated because the prices are lower than usual high-end products and people are looking forward to having something unique, well-made but still affordable.

        Erdem x H&M

Although probably the most exciting collaborations are the ones that combine different market sectors. People often expect to see a luxury fashion brand collaborate with a high-street brand or another similar fashion label but they do not expect to see them collaborating with beauty, interior or lifestyle brands.

                      Dolce & Gabbana x Smeg

Abel fragrances

During this module, I have been doing a lot of research into the fragrance sector. One of the brands I have recently discovered is called “Abel”. Abel fragrances was found in 2013 by a New Zealander called Frances Shoemaker. This brand is based in Amsterdam and it made the world’s first natural perfume. The perfume is unisex and made 100% from natural ingredients. After spotting a gap in the market for modern natural perfume, Frances Shoemaker decided to come up with her own brand.

Abel’s perfume is innovative and interesting because the natural ingredients let the scent to evolve on your skin, mix with your natural body chemistry and that way create a unique scent. Also, it is very concerned about sustainability and the environment. They believe that indulgence does not need to have a negative impact on the earth or its inhabitants. Since it is a natural brand, the aesthetics are really minimalistic, clear bottles with white caps and a simple minimalistic packaging.

The brand’s consumer is someone who cares about the world, the earth and loves nature, someone who is interested in a holistic lifestyle and loves natural ingredients. I think it is really cool that people are creating brands which have a positive impact on our world and its future.

House of Hackney

For my final Uni summative brief, I had to look into some brands and chose the one I liked the most. After doing some research, I chose House of Hackney, which is a luxury British interiors, fashion and lifestyle brand that was found in 2011 by a couple who could not find the interior details they wanted for their house. After spotting a gap in the market, Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle found a brand which offers traditional homeware with an edgy and eclectic twist. House of Hackney is a brand that celebrates colour, print and texture and shows that bold print can work in any setting.

One of the most important things to this brand is sustainability. They make products that have longevity and are made to last, both in aesthetics and quality.  This brand is really eco-friendly, they believe that beautiful, well-made products shouldn’t cost the earth. Also, House of Hackney is constantly collaborating with different brands and artists to create unique designs or spread them around in different sectors. It has collaborated with brands as & Other Stories, Reformation, ASOS, La Coqueta and designer William Morris who made a special print for the brand. Its consumer is an outgoing and playful person who cares about environmental issues and loves nature, enjoys a maximalist approach, patterns and bright colours.

House of Hackney’s award-winning flagship store in London is one of the most gorgeous retail establishments in the city. Opened in 2013 it stores the brand’s inspirational mix of iconic interiors, fashion and accessories. The whole store is maximalist and colourful, all the prints can be found under one roof. You can find rolls of paper, fabric, trays, mugs, fashion, collaborative designs, sofas, armchair and much more. The shop perfectly suits the brand’s “more-is-more” aesthetics. The store design shows a very smart juxtaposition of black and white floors and dark walls against all the colourful and bold products of House of Hackney. By using this kind of interior design they make the patterns stand out and be even more noticeable. Because of the monochromatic aesthetics, the vivid designs of the brand become extremely highlighted and eye-catching.

Maison Margiela Spring Couture 2018

“When I returned to designing, I was taken aback by how everyone was seeing shows through their phones,” John Galliano said at a preview this week. And he is right. Everyone is taking pictures, filming, making live videos, no one is just admiring the clothes with a bare eye. This wonderful designer took advantage of it and designed “colour changing clothes”.

As the models walked, the audience was asked to turn their camera flashes on when they took pictures. The result was phenomenal – the naked human eye saw one thing, but the camera showed a completely different colour palette. Speed, technology, and the fast-forwarding fractured chaos of modern consciousness were the subtexts of this couture collection. It is amazing how by integrating technology into garments designers come up with extraordinary ideas and exceptionally looking clothes. I am absolutely in love with this idea and really hope that this will become a trend one day.

Gucci in Soho

Nowadays, people tend to buy clothes online instead of going into a shop and browsing through items in real life. According to Gucci chief executive, Marco Bizzarri, millenials are not interested in the retail experience anymore because the retail experience is just not interesting. The new Gucci store in Soho looks nothing like the usual luxury brand retail store. All the intimidating black-suited security guards in front of the door, the overly friendly and attentive staff, separate sections for differently priced items and the |”extreme luxury feeling” might be appealing to millionaires and rich middle-aged women, but definitely no to the younger generation. Those details are “snobbish” and create distance between a brand and its customer, said Bizzarri.

The new Gucci store is completely different. There are plenty of sofas to admire the merchandise, dresses and sneakers are hanging around on simple, plain brick walls, there are pipes showing, old-ish looking wood pieces and rusty metals. The store associates are hired for their ability to tell Gucci’s story. The eclectic vibe is a way of an “experiential” retail, where brands try to give customers a reason to visit the actual shop instead of shopping online. It is meant to give the customers a stronger connection to the brand.

“Bizzarri said he wanted the store to feel “inclusive,” with customers encouraged to handle merchandise themselves or just spend time inside, even if they don’t buy anything. Customers can listen to a house music documentary on custom-made cat-eared headphones, check out a preview of an upcoming collaboration with Dapper Dan or use augmented reality to design their own bag or shoe.” – BOF

Honestly, I am not a fan of this interior design, especially for a brand like Gucci. Right now they are redesigning all their stores to fit with Alessandro Michele’s aesthetics and some shops look truly amazing, but this one is just not my cup of tea. I get that luxury stores can be intimidating, I, for example, being so young, feel extremely uncomfortable when I walk into a fancy shop and everyone is looking at me, but I just do not think that this kind of aesthetics suits a brand like Gucci.

Save our species

A few months ago a well-known fashion brand Lacoste made an amazing collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and releases limited-edition polo shirts in order to fight for wildlife conservation worldwide.

They chose 10 endangered species and made their iconic polo shirts replacing the crocodile logo with the endangered animal. The number of polos produced for each series corresponds to the remaining population sizes in the wild. For example, there are only 40 Burmese Roofed Turtles left in the world, so they made forty polo shirts with a green turtle logo instead of the well-known crocodile.

On their website, you can also find information about the animals, saying how many of them are left on earth, a description and why are they endangered. I think this is a truly wonderful collaboration and it is very nice to see major brands like Lacoste care about the world and take initiative in charities to encourage people to do the same.

Met Gala 2018

A few days ago, one of the years most awaited event was held – Met Gala 2018. This fundraising event has been held for 70 years and is one of the most extravagant and fashionable events ever. Every year it has a dress code witch its guests have to follow. This year the theme was  Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. Celebrities were inspired by religion and some of them really outdone themselves and looked absolutely breathtaking. And, of course, others missed the theme completely.

    Rihanna wearing Maison Margiela by John Galliano. She took inspiration straight from the Pope and have to say, she slayed it.

       Ariana Grande wearing Vera Wang. Her dress resembled the famous Michelangelo’s painting “The Last Judgment”. This piece was astonishing, definitely one of the evening’s highlights.

          Don’t even know what to say about this haha… Beyonce 2017 Grammys vs Cardi B 2018 Met Gala. WHY.

                   I am not a fan of Kylie’s dress either, the zipper looks super cheap and the design is just weird. Travis Scot’s militaristic jacket tho looks really good!

      Kendall Jenner was wearing Off-White with Tiffany & Co jewellery. This outfit was really beautiful, simple and elegant.

            Gigi Hadid wore a beautiful Valentino dress, honestly, this was one of my favourites! She took inspiration from the church’s colourful windows.

           Kate Moss looked very untrendy in this Saint Laurent dress… I really hate the top part and think it’s so outdated.

      Winnie Harlow wearing Tommy Hilfiger. Stunning girl in a stunning dress. Love the headpiece as well!!

           Cara Delevigne in a beautifully designed Dior dress. I love all the details and the crown covering her face.

          Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in a Ralph Lauren dress, she looks like an angel, the sequins and the cape looks just perfect.

    Another angelic dress worn by Kate Bosworth.

                  I like Amal Clooney’s dress from behind, I think the pattern is really nice and trendy but I’m not a fan of those trousers.

 Absolutely in love with Madonna’s look this year! Jean Paul Gaultier did an amazing job designing her dress and the headpiece is just fabulous.

          Again, love the bottom part of Jenifer Lopez dress but the cross is too tacky for my taste…

    Looooove this elegant white Prabal Gurung dress!! Sometimes less is more and this simple piece looks extremely elegant and sophisticated.

     Another one of my favourites – a Versace dress worn by SZA. The coloour, the cut, the material, everything looks mesmerizing.

            And this pink dress looks like some kind of a misunderstanding… Neither the color nor the model looks pleasing, and the coat makes everything even worse.

             This look is incredible! A black and white dress designed by Marc Jacobs made Janelle Monae stand out and once again showed that you don’t need tons of sequins and beads to shine.

      Jennifer Connelly’s outfit looked like three different dresses sewn together, honestly, that’s not a good look.

                  I like this warrior look, it suits Zendaya perfectly.

            Ohh I live for this dress! I love Blake Lively as an actress and this piece makes me like her even more haha. I think it is absolutely stunning and she looks like a goddess.

Obviously, there were a lot more outfits to talk about but I tried to narrow it down to the best ones (and the worst haha). I always feel inspired by Met Gala’s themes and the fashion of the event and look forward to seeing it every year.

 

CÉLINE

I was browsing on Pinterest the other day and saw this beautiful picture of a Céline store’s interior. I know that marble is old news now, it has been done and over-done but these stores are still breath-taking. I love how aesthetical they look, so neat and sophisticated, minimalistic yet loud. These colourful marble blocks bring life to the store, it looks modern and playful. I really like this kind of interior and I think that it looks extremely luxurious and eye-catching!