Wrapping Up 2012

What a busy past few months I've had. I checked my blog today and was actually surprised to see that the last time I posted on here was November 21st. Unfortunately my posts have been few and far between lately, namely because I have just done the first semester of my 4th year at university, and the work-load has been rather tricky!

I want to focus on New Year's resolutions. This year has restored my faith in making New Year's resolutions and achieving them, so needless to say my outlook has changed.

At the end of 2011, I made two resolutions:

1. Start my own blog
2. Get an internship

I achieved both of these by May, which is great! I can now say that setting realistic New Year's resolutions is definitely worth it, and feels so rewarding when you manage to do them. A few years ago I stopped making any resolutions at all, because prior to this I would always make the same ones (that I'm sure many people do), such as "do more exercise", "eat healthily", "cut down on chocolate". I always flopped after a month and so gave up on resolutions altogether, thinking to myself that they were a waste of time and that I wouldn't be able to stick to them (I'm talking mostly about the healthy eating here).

However, I now realise that it's not about 'keeping something up', or 'sticking to something'; for me it is about setting goals that I feel I will be able to achieve. In fact, looking back on the past 12 months, I have achieved way more than I ever could have imagined when I put pen to paper last December and decided on my New Year's resolutions.

To sum up, I'm going to recount my best accomplishments, and personal highlights, of 2012.

1. Becoming a news editorial intern for Her Campus Illinois
2. Being involved with College Fashion Week Illinois - I was Greek Ambassador for Chi Omega, and was on the on the Philanthropy and Social Media committees
3. Modeled in the main runway event for College Fashion Week, wearing inspiring student-run labels such as GOCA Designs
4. Started my own blog
5. Completed a year of study at the University of Illiniois; I'm now an official alum of the university
6. Opened a branch of Her Campus at the University of Nottingham, of which I am Co-Editor-in-Chief

My new New Year's resolutions? None for 2013. I'm faced with my final semester at university, the dreaded dissertation (!), and graduating, so it seems sensible to focus primarily on my work for the time being. Are there such things as mid-year resolutions? I hope so. Time to get creative in June.

- A.T.

Fragrantly Fragrant... Alien by Thierry Mugler

Not unlike many other women, I love fragrances. I like the way the smell of a perfume can bring back memories of a certain place or time in your life. I've been through so many different perfumes in my life because I like to change every so often, and explore what else is out there. The past couple of years, Lacoste Touch of Pink has had me hooked. I first started wearing it in my first year of university and the smell has stuck with me throughout. I'm almost certain I'll be getting another bottle of it this Christmas, too, and I can't complain - I won't be ready to break off from it any time soon.

Recently, though, my sister was given a bottle of perfume whilst at work (it's one of the perks of her job!). She didn't like the smell so gave it to me. I loved it. The perfume is Alien by Thierry Mugler. Whilst my Touch of Pink fragrance is fruity, fresh and flirty, Alien is a warm blend of muskiness and sheer femininity. One or two sprays is enough for the smell to stick on me all day, unlike Touch of Pink which I feel wears off after an hour or so, and I feel the scent fits this time of year perfectly. It's the hint of musk that makes it so perfect for winter.

Additionally, I got a free bracelet inside the perfume box - I'm all for free gifts but I'm not entirely sure this one will be worn outside the house. Time will tell!

Whilst Thierry Mugler is one of the less popular perfumes when you compare it to the likes of Gucci or Calvin Klein, I'm glad my sister brought it to my attention because it's one of the best smells I've discovered in years. I'd liken it to Ghost Deep Night and Dior Pure Poison, both of which I've had before. All three are deeply seductive because of the musk, and yet smell fabulously feminine. My rating: 9/10.

- A.T.

Style Spotlight: Bib Necklace

One trend that has successfully transitioned into Autumn/Winter this year is the bib necklace, otherwise known as a 'choker' or 'collar' necklace. Browse any online retailer right now, from Forever 21 to Chanel, and you will find an assortment of necklaces in this style. In summer it was all about the bold African-stylee or floral bib necklaces, but as we head into the darker months it is clear to see how the trend has evolved to fit the season. Cue dozens of choker necklaces hitting stores recently, with thicker features and more metallic colours to match our wardrobes.

A bib/ choker necklace is one thing I felt I needed to enhance my wardrobe this winter. I'm all for the oversized plain jumpers and comfy leggings, but after stumbling upon this piece of jewellery I felt it would add a splash of colour to my outfits. The mix of colours on the necklace and gold exterior make it perfect for this seasons style, and the shapes on the necklace adhere to another trend this season: geometric shapes. Dark silvery greys and golds are in perfect fitting with the metallic revival of this season; 

My necklace:

(Primark, £4)

Designer options:
(from left to right: Lanvin, Chanel, Kenneth Jay Lane, Glossy Queen)

There are a handful of ways to wear the bib necklace, and I'm thankful that it's use isn't constrained to being worn on a night out. To go to class one day this week, I found myself wearing the necklace with a white oversized tee, turned up jeans, loafers and my black duffle. The outfit was warm enough for the weather right now and the necklace added just the right amount of colour that our otherwise dark outfits this time of year need. 

1. Black duffle coat, barbour.co.uk
2. Dark skinny roll-up jeans, hm.com
3. Brown loafers, aldo.com
4. White burnout tee, topshop.co.uk
5. Choker necklace, in Primark stores only

Below are some other outfit suggestions for the bib necklace. Here we have a chameleon trend that I'm confident will continue into next Spring. If you decide to buy one, remember that oversized, statement necklaces work perfectly with plain outfits - sometimes the necklace is all you need to set off the outfit.

           Try teaming a necklace with a knitted jumper

Matching the necklace to the tone of
your top works perfectly, as seen here
at Donna Karan

For a more glamorous look, try a gold bib and
use bronze tones with your makeup

Wearing a white top makes the necklace
more of a statement feature. Think contrast.

Heading out in the cold? Wear the necklace under
a coat, leaving the top buttons undone so it
still shows.

Bib necklaces transition perfectly
into nighttime, too. Try tied back
hair to accentuate the necklace.

There are a handful of trends to be fond of this season - and to thank designers for - from leather, to metallic,  to psychedelic patterns and oversized clothes. Whatever the trend, one characteristic sticks out: boldness. Embrace this whilst you can, and look fit for the season with a statement bib necklace. On a final note,  remember that you don't have to break the bank to get one - I found mine in Primark! 

- A.T.

'This Time Last Year' Syndrome

Since returning to the UK in June from my year abroad in America, I have faced many struggles, and still do; from settling back into home and university culture, dropping the American phrases I picked up - e.g.: "trash can" - and coping with a grieving process due to having left the friends I'd made during the year. I could go on and on. Doing a year abroad and coming home to the life you used to live is a more complicated process than you can imagine.

One particular problem that I don't envisage getting rid of for another 7 months is the 'This Time Last Year' syndrome. Take today, for example. My American friends had their last day of classes for a week and have all gone home for Thanksgiving Break. Realising this, I immediately thought, "oh, this time last year I was in my room packing to go to Daytona Beach for a few days". It's like I'm reliving what's in the past a year later - except I'm not actually reliving it. Whenever I find myself actively submitting to the 'This Time Last Year' syndrome, you'll find me going onto facebook and having a look through pictures, as was the case about half an hour ago when I looked through my Thanksgiving Break photos.

Not only did I go to Daytona Beach for 4 days with two of my friends who came to Illinois with me from Nottingham; I spent the second half of the week with a lovely friend of one of the girls I was with, at her house in Minnesota. It was an amazing 3 days and we got to look round Minneapolis and be huge tourists at the Mall of America, as well as having a real American Thanksgiving dinner! 

To the warm...

(Daytona Beach, FL)

And to the cold...

(Minneapolis, MN)

The whole week was a nice breather and temporary chance to reflect on the amazing 3 months we had spent in Illinois already. And from there, the year flashed by in an instant. The reason I can't see the 'This Time Last Year' syndrome slipping away for another 7 months is because, until next June, it won't have been a year since everything ended; since I flew home, said goodbye to my friends and the life I had built, and returned to the UK to resume life as normal. Except it hasn't been normal again.. Not yet. I've still got all those months left of thinking what I was doing exactly 365 days ago; and even when I eventually pass the year mark, I'm not sure my nostalgia and longing to be back there will have diminished.

One comforting thing is that I'm not alone in having the 'This Time Last Year' syndrome. I'm with a bunch of people here in Nottingham who spent the year in Illinois with me. Whilst it will never be the same, having them here is very lucky and means we can reminisce together, which we do. A lot.

- A.T. 

MadeBySarahMay on Etsy

Just like Pinterest caught on like wildfire earlier this year, Etsy is the newest website taking the internet by storm. Don't be fooled if at first glance you think it's simply another version of Ebay. Etsy is unique in that it is a booming marketplace for handmade items, as well as supplying it's shoppers with art, fabric, cool garden ornaments, jewellery, and much more. The items you will find are unique, and put a vintage-twist on the ordinary 'home-made-goods' store. For the handmade room decor lover: Etsy is perfect for you, and a new shop to add to Etsy's thriving repertoire is MadeBySarahMay, a store which boasts vintage room accessories such as bunting, mobiles and handmade cushion covers amongst other cute gifts. I don't want to ruin the surprise too much for you, though. I interviewed the girl behind the designs, Kimberley...

Q: Your shop on Etsy gives off that classic vintage British vibe. Is that what you were aiming for?

Kim: Yes, definitely. I love the feel of vintage British style and I try to bring this across with my fabrics and items.

Q: It seems that 'British vintage' is having a comeback, especially after this summer. You've timed it nicely!

Kim: Yeah! There is a big revival of vintage and what I call 'shabby chic' - examples would be British flag bunting. I try to follow what is popular and also come up with my own ideas.

Q: So you put your own spin on ideas you like. What inspires you when you are thinking up designs or things to make?

Kim: The classic country cottage - cute furnishings, a warm homely feel, and generally being in the countryside. The countryside in West Yorkshire (where I live) gives me great inspiration for my shop and inspiration for 'homely' gifts.

Q: Are there more works in the pipeline that we should look out for?

Kim: Absolutely. I'm getting very into making cushions covers, using lots of ribbon and organza, and experimenting with texture. Nearer to Christmas I will be bringing out lots of little ornate gifts that will be perfect to give as presents - I'll make sure they are easy on the wallet though! I also want to try screen printing and creating my own fabrics, but that's way ahead in the future.

Q: Sounds good! Taking a step back, what age did you start making things? Has it always been an interest?

Kim: Around the age of 6, when my grandma taught me how to knit and cross stitch. I've always loved it but I didn't realise that people would want to buy it until recently. I originally used to make little felt animals - it's safe to say I've progressed a lot since then!

Q: Definitely. Do you make custom items?

Kim: Yes I do.

Q: What has been your favourite custom item you have made?

Kim: I made some personalised bunting for a christening. Making custom items is something I want to add as a feature in my shop soon. I always try to mix people's ideas with my style so that it feels like my own work and personal to me as well as my customer.

Q: How often do you craft? I'm assuming it's a hobby on the side of what you do day-to-day?

Kim: Unfortunately it is just on the side, but I craft all the time. My bedroom is full of little projects I'm working on - and material! I always have projects on the go - I like to experiment with different patterns and ideas. I love coming up with designs and seeing them turn into something really pretty and unique.

Q: Where would you like your shop on Etsy to lead to?

Kimberley is interested in the holistic way of life

Kim: For now, it's a good base for people to find and contact me for simple gifts. In the future, I want to do more personalised items.

Q: And the dream?

Kim: To have my own little craft shop. But that's way down the line!

Q: Well the best of luck with that! Just so we can get to know you a little better, tell us a bit about yourself.

Kim: Ooh, where to start? I'm a Yorkshire girl
at heart. I love my family and friends, and my two dogs. I'm an archaeologist, and have worked all over the country. I'm also a vegetarian, I love yoga, and am very interested in the holistic way of life. I also love travelling and get away whenever I can.

Q: I'm now going to ask three random questions. #1: where is your favourite place to go on holiday?

Kim: Cornwall - it's so rural and beautiful, and I have some family down there. I love the way of life - it's so chilled. I used to live by the sea so I always feel at home when I'm there. It's great.

Q: #2: Favourite type of ice cream?

Kim: Ben and Jerrys half-baked ice-cream.

Q: #3: Favourite band?

Kim: People In Planes/ Coldplay. I can't choose!

Q: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. Do you have anything else you want to share before we conclude?

Kim: Thanks for the publicity! Haha. Also if anyone has any ideas, feel free to get in touch with me for a chat, and please check out my shop!

---

With 100% positive feedback under her belt, Kimberley has a lot to be proud of with her online store! Here are my favourite picks of the items that Kimberley is selling at the moment.

Knitted Kindle Sleeve

Pair of Hand Stitched Fabric Hearts

British Flag Bunting

Cosy Knitted Cushion Cover in cream

Sparkly Snowflake Tree Decoration

The link to Kimberley's Etsy site is http://www.etsy.com/shop/MadeBySarahMay. As Christmas draws nearer, I recommend looking here for both decor and cute gifts!

- A.T.

Style Steal: Belt-Style Bangle by Cartier

One noticeable element of all the high street shops is how they try to re-produce designer styles. I have walked into Topshop many times and seen some form of footwear or handbag that looks exactly like a designer brand I had come across in my ELLE magazine earlier that month. Walk into another clothing store, and you'll probably find the same items that Topshop tried to copy. It's satisfying to find these items of clothing in the style of designer brands. They are not replicas as such, but more copies in that they are similar in shape, colour and minor details, but with the clothing stores' own spin on the designer make. Being a student, I naturally love this, and will root through clothing stores to find these gems. There is a limit though: if something is a bad copy, or looks cheap, it's not worth buying just for the sake of it.

Whilst shopping the other day, I was looking in H&M and came across a bangle which my sister had been wearing at the weekend. She was so excited to tell me that it was exactly like the belt-bangle that has recently become available at Cartier. I googled this and the bangle did in fact look just like the Cartier version. I love Cartier's range of jewellery, and this bangle is another popular item by the eminent French watchmaker-jeweler. I don't have anything like it in my closet, so I'm looking forward to wearing it because it's different. My sister wore a gold one, but I'm more of a silver person so I went for the silver bangle.

The H&M bangle (£3.99):

The real deal (from Cartier, £2,200):

It's such a steal at £3.99, and brand new to H&M, so definitely worth getting before they go out of stock! I'll be on the look-out for more style steals like this and will report back on here soon.

- A.T.

Exciting News: Say Hello to Her Campus Nottingham

As you may or may not already know, during my second semester abroad at the University of Illinois, I was taken on by Her Campus Illinois as a news editorial intern. That was a massive moment for me - I had been, to put it lightly, rather obsessed with Her Campus when I discovered it in my first semester and was aching to find a way to get on the team. I loved the idea of Her Campus - not only did you have a page online dedicated to and for your college, but you then had access to 1000's more articles on everything you can think of - fashion, beauty, music, general news, health, etc. It's like your favourite magazine but you don't have to wait a full month before reading new articles. Additionally, once I realised how big a deal Her Campus was in the U.S., it made me want to get involved even more.

During my second semester, I was lucky enough to be offered the position of a news editorial intern, and one of the girls who was on the HC Illinois team suggested that when I go back to England I should open a branch of Her Campus at my university there. I laughed - that would be way too much work - and put the idea aside. That was until I got home and thought: I might actually do that. I applied with a girl who studied in Illinois for the year with me, and whom I will be moving in with soon. We got the okay to open a HC Nottingham and are now preparing to launch it at the beginning of next month!

After many negotiations with the Her Campus Design Associate, she came up with this awesome banner for our school's page:

Even more exciting was getting our domain name - www.hercampus.com/Nottingham!

I'm super excited to get going with Her Campus Nottingham and to build up our team of writers, bloggers, photographers and editors! This is my and Maddie's first leadership role, so it's going to be a huge challenge but we are ready for it!

- A.T.

Welcoming Autumn 2012

Reflecting back on the past three months, I've had a bit of a whirlwind summer. I left my home in Champaign, Illinois, in early June, saying goodbye to one of the best years of my life, returned to the UK and my family, and then took off again in mid-July and spent just over a month traveling around Thailand and Vietnam. And now I'm back, with many tales to tell and so much done that I get a little dizzy if I think about it all at once. It's been an awesome summer, but autumn is just around the corner, and I can't help but get really excited about that.

One thing that excites me the most about Autumn is the change in the clothes I wear. Autumn welcomes back the over-sized jumpers I've had folded away in my closet, the always comfy black leggings, and the gilet and boots combo I've missed wearing. (More excitement is not having to prep my legs for wearing shorts everyday, and a chance to hide my not-so-tanned-anymore body).

I've been inspired to make an Autumn 2012 wishlist after buying the September issue of ELLE magazine which came with a free ELLE Accessories mini-mag. Designer brands aside, it's reassuring to find that Topshop, Miss Selfridge, H&M, and all my other favourite high street stores haven't failed to deliver in their 'New In' autumn items. I have to remember that I am back in the UK now and will have to make some sort of effort to be that little bit more stylish this autumn, hence this wishlist I have compiled. (Emphasis on wishlist - I'm not sure my student budget would appreciate me buying any of this).

On Campus

1. The coat

My method has always been to buy a new coat every other autumn. It's an absolute essential for an Autumn closet - not too thick, and a classic style so I'm able to carry it into the year after. My favorite find is this Zara parka, with a removable fur collar.

2. Boots

Equestrian style is in again this autumn but I feel like going against the trend when it comes to boots. It's usual to see the 'riding boot' everywhere - knee high, comes in brown/black, leather material, etc etc. These suede ankle boots from Dune still adhere to a trend that's in this autumn - studs -whilst being a change from the standard riding boot that you usually see people wearing.

3. Jumpers

I really do like my oversized, ridiculously comfortable jumpers ('sweaters' for my American friends). I didn't have any trouble finding them online! This is my favourite find, from Miss Selfridge.


4. Jeans

I always try to have a few good pairs of jeans in my closet as I do actually prefer wearing them to leggings. However, sometimes they can feel quite restricting, especially when sat down in class for hours on end. I discovered these and found a compromise - high waisted soft jeans, from Topshop. They feel like and have the thickness of jeans (but they aren't jeggings, thankfully), and are super stretchy and soft like leggings.

5. Handbag

I have an unhealthy obsession with handbags and I absolutely love the Longchamp Pliage large shopper bags. They have so many pros - they look really nice, the bag is waterproof, you can fit a tonne of books in there, and a zip is always helpful when carrying your laptop around. I've seen a lot of dark green whilst browsing A/W'12 collections, so this colour choice is a safe bet.

Going out

Autumn tends to affect the going out wardrobe too. It's not a good idea to wear a thin, bright, flowery playsuit when autumn hits - it's probably going to look like you can't let go of summer, and an alcohol blanket might not save you when lining up outside a club. Here are my favorite finds.

1. The 'tights and shorts' combo

I do love going out wearing shorts with tights and killer heels. High-waisted shorts are so flattering and make a change from the standard bandage skirt you see in all the clubs. These grey studded shorts, from Miss Selfridge, would look perfect with black tights, plain black heels, and a deep-coloured strap top, such as wine red or dark green.

2. Heels

A good pair of darker heels is also essential for autumn. I love these colour block heels, from Miss Selfridge. Perfect for with or without tights, and the blue stops your outfit looking too grungy. Also available in nude.

3. Bodycon dress

I love wearing bodycon dresses - they can be very flattering. The bodycon style has been in for years and is a recyclable trend, so why not embrace it? If you feel like going against the dark autumn look and wearing something that pops, this red cotton spandex dress from American Apparel is perfect, and the long sleeves will save you from getting too chilly!

4. Wet-look leggings

Not everyone is a fan of wet-look leggings, but with the trends this autumn heading more towards grungy, gothic styles, and faux-leather, I feel that these leggings would fit in nicely. They look awesome on, teamed with heels and a loose top (maybe one that covers your bum if you don't want it showing!). ASOS.com has these ultra wet look leggings which I would definitely consider.

5. Necklaces

Collars and choker necklaces are very popular at the moment. I'm loving these two chokers, both from Topshop. Simple but a statement at the same time. Beaded tube necklace left; snakeskin bunting necklace right.

Overall, the main idea is to embrace the grungy trend this autumn and don't think that choosing to go dark means going boring. All the fall catwalks were saturated in dark colours, so look to any fashion magazine to help you put together an outfit. Simple accessories like big necklaces or a studded bag will add to your outfit, and a great idea is to team bright jumpers with dark jeans - you don't have to go dark with all of your clothes!

- A. T.

Trend To Try: Fedora Hats

I'm always looking for new accessories that I can try out - last year I got a fur trapper hat, the year before I tried out a snood - and when looking online at the accessories sections of different shops recently I noticed that fedoras seem to be very popular. They were also brought to my attention when I was reading an article on Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and it featured a picture of her wearing one. I then googled this, and loads of pictures came up. Although fedora's are usually attributed to summer style, they are just as perfect for autumn, too. Try a beige or dark coloured felt fedora teamed with a biker jacket and jeans, and it will work perfectly. Unfortunately, straw fedoras will only work in summer.

I have picked out fedoras currently available in the UK (ranging from very cheap to very expensive!):

1. Miss Selfridge

2. ASOS

3. River Island

4. Miss Selfridge

5. Emilio Pucci

6. Gucci

7. Burberry

For outfit inspiration, I've picked out photos to show the different ways that a fedora can be worn.



  

  

Final judgement on the fedora? Definitely a trend worth trying. If you are cautious about wearing one as we head into autumn, pick a darker colour and it will be more suited to the outfits you are likely to wear. Additionally, don't be put off thinking that only designer brands offer the best fedoras - most high street stores will try to create hats of a similar look to those that are designer, so watch out for those.

- A.T.