Visual Merchandising

I have an interview a week today for a Visual Merchandising Assistant Manager, how scary and exciting. I know my chances are slim, in fact very slim, as I do not have much experience. But hey, if you don't try, you'll never know, right?

So I've been doing some research, and I am really liking what I read, one blog I found Diary of a Visual Merchandiser is definitely worth a visit if your interested in visual merchandising as a career. She uploaded a video about the job, which is great and actually made me lol. (it does take the mick, however, is worth a watch!)

So there are many elements to the job, one of the important ones is the store's window. The window of a store, is to showcase the brand, it is a silent sales person. I searched #visualmerchandising on Instagram, and it brought up loads of photos. I had a quick look through, and these are a few that caught my eye, which is the whole point isn't it? Catch our eye, attract us to enter the store and spend our dollar. 

The future of visual merchandising? Digital and filmed images? More interactive due to technology advances and the popularity of social media? I don't think actual products or mannequins can be replaced tho, as letting the product do the talking is the best way to promote it. So maybe the above things will just help enhance the power of visual merchandising making it more entertaining. 

From now on, any visual merchandising I see that is inspirational, or that I think 'wow' I am going to start taking a picture of it so that I can put together an 'inspiration folder/ book.' And any visual merchandising that I actually do, I will take a pic, for evidence and start a portfolio! This is great advice from Diary of a Visual Merchandiser, which I am going to take on board! 

So what do you think, is visual merchandising for you? Or if this is already your career, do you love it? Any tips for me ;-) 

x

Yay for the midi...

I love midi dresses and skirts, I'm quite short so they are better for me than a maxi dress/ skirt. I love throwing on a midi and a baggy t-shirt or shirt, as it is comfortable and stylish. The majority of my midi dresses are quite figure hugging, which at the minute, is my worse nightmare!

So this sale steal from Topshop is my new fav dress, as it isn't tight fitting, it is comfortable and doesn't need much styling to look good, today I forgot to put a necklace on whilst rushing around before work (no excuse I know, one should never forget a necklace!) but I got away with it. I love the finish at the bottom, with the length being longer at the back...

I got my white Zara bag for my birthday in March, and have only really started using it, I was too scared to get it mucky! It is a perfect way to tap into the 'white' s/s13 trend, I would love to dress head to toe in white, or have white trousers but for me, they it is just not practical, (boring I know) I can't trust myself not to spill something on them! Haha. Infact, talking about white, I purchased some gorgeous white shorts ages ago, and have still yet to wear them. That must go on to my to do list.

The varsity jacket was a brilliant find, when doing the food shop in Asda, I always check George, just in case, and this time I was extremely glad I did. I bought it quite a while ago now, but it literally goes with everything, and is a good way of updating older clothes.

Mac is one of my fav makeup brands, and this particular lipstick is my fail safe, I got it when I had grey hair, I think it would suit any hair colour to be honest, and is a perfect 'in the day' lipstick colour, not too dark and not too bright.

Dress: Topshop

Denim shirt (around waist): Topshop

Varsity Jacket: G21 range at George @ Asda

Socks: Urban Outfitters

Flatform Hightops: Schuh

Handbag: Zara

Sunglasses: Asos

Lipstick: MAC, 'Up the Amp' shade

What's your favourite item atm?
x

Sale Splurge

So recently, I have been feeling the 'I have no clothes' scenario. I do not have much disposable income this month, therefore can only buy sale or if I know I am going to get my wear out of the item. I saw this on Instagram the other day, and thought - 'that is sooooooooooooo me.'

This week I have been a lady of leisure, lunch dates on Monday and Tuesday, dinner date Wednesday evening... I have consumed lots of lovely food, but I am now trying to healthy eat and exercise, as towards the end of completing my degree, the healthy eating and exercise went out the window! (There's always room for a food shot.)

Tues my lunch date was in Nottingham, and us girls cannot have a lunch date without a little shopping!

First attempt at a selfie: (haha)

 

T-shirt: Asos

Jumper: Ebay

Skirt: Topshop

Socks and Necklace: Urban Outfitters

Coat: Topshop

Bag: Zara

Boots: Jeffrey Campbell from Office

Phone case: Ebay

 



The vintage shop COW is a shop I visit every time I am in Nottingham, and usually walk out with at least one purchase. The shorts were a steal as they were reduced. Originally, I wasn't a fan of the fringe/ tassel trend, but these shorts aren't too ott, or in your face. I don't exactly know what I'll wear with them yet, especially as I'm not going on holiday, but I'm sure I'll figure something out, and will post the outfit photos at a later date....

Cow Nottingham:  

 

 

H&M Nottingham:

 

This jacket wasn't in the sale, but if you hesitate in H&M the next time you go back for it, it won't be there! I think its the perfect statement jacket, tapping into the monochrome trend, without over doing it. I will prob wear this during the day with jeans and a tshirt and with my yellow Zara bag, for a splash of colour. The beauty of it being black and white, with only thin stripes is that I'm going to be able to throw it over more a less anything. Plus black and white is timeless.

 

 

Office Nottingham:

 

We went into Office with the intention of looking at the sale, it wasn't that impressive however, these beauties were...



 



As it was raining heavily this morning, my jog got postponed, so me and my sister thought we'd hit the Topshop sale nice and early! There was something of everything reduced; t-shirts, trousers, leggings, jeans, dresses. After a good look through the rails and about an hour trying on (prob a slight exaggeration there, but it wouldn't have been the first time I've spent an hour in their changing rooms! lol) we got the best buys I thought that were there...

 

 

The Dungarees:

 



I have already done a post on dungarees (take a look) and I have had my eye on this elephant one from Topshop for a while, and it has finally gone into the sale. (YAY)

 

 

Colour Play:

 

 A neon orange statement skirt, that I will wear in the day with a t-shirt, sandals (weather permitting) or boots, or in the evening with a tank or cami tucked in with heels.  I couldn't resist the fun vibrant jumper, which has obviously taken inspiration from the Kenzo jumpers everyone is wearing, but with that price tag, I doubt I will ever own one. One can dream tho. The black maxi skirt is an investment as can be worn now and in the winter with chunky knits, the slit is a bit sexy, eh?

 

 

Back to Basics:

 

These are just everyday items, that every wardrobe will welcome, obsessing over the neon orange, so a chunky knit in that colour is perfect for this 'cant make my mind up' weather. It can easily be tied around the waist, if the sun does decide to appear for an effortless stylish look. The grey jersey midi dress, will take me from day to night, so that couldn't be left on the rails. We 'ummmed' and 'arrrred' about the skirt, but decided this could be worn with the over sized boyfriend t-shirts previously blogged about...

 

Finishing Touches:

 





Statement necklaces can update any look, and I love to wear as many rings as possible! So here is the bling... (p.s how cute are the zebra socks.)

 

 



Have you hit the sales yet.... you know you want too

 

x

Say what?

I can't believe I'm only just blogging again. I literally drowned in my Uni work... hardly slept, was ill and extremely stressed! But it's all over now, and I'm just awaiting the results! The only spare time I got towards the end, was to eat and go to work! So blogging was out of the question, even though I really wanted too.

No excuses now tho.. So here is the first of many to come as I am now a lady of leisure, Ha, I wish. Its all about the job hunt now. I have managed to have some chill time tho, which has been nice, spent alot of time catching up with the fam and playing with my nieces and nephew. Obv I went out and partied hard on the day I handed in my last assignment, I was out till the club turned it's lights on! Say what? I know, so unlike me.

All my hair has been chopped off! A very spontaneous decision, but I love it...

Since my last post, my shoe collection has grown, and a few new items of clothing have been added to the wardrobe. :-)

So here are the photos to sum up the past 3 months. Say what? I didn't realise it had been that long. Opps.

New Hair:

Theme board for Branding module: 

(one of my favs!)

The day I handed in my dissertation!!!!

Food Love:

Alot of tasty food has been consumed celebrating 'finishing Uni.' It needs to stop now, I need to get back to healthy eating and exercising. (We'll see how that goes!)

New shoes in my life:

Converse - Schuh

Jeffrey Campbell - Office

Reebok - Asos

Nike - Schuh

Platform Sandals - Schuh

Celebrating the end of Uni:

Love this Topshop jumpsuit

SHOTS........

Drunk isn't the word...

A chance to wear our sunnies:

Family Fun:

Loving a splash of colour:

Skirt - Asos

Croptop (bought in a big size, to wear baggy) - Topshop

Bag - Zara

Shoes - Schuh

Tshirt - Asos

Demin Jacket - Vintage

Trousers - Topshop

Jeffrey Campbell Boots - Office

Bag - Zara

Dress, Sleeveless Jacket and Necklace - Topshop

Bag - Zara

Jeffrey Campbell Boots - Office

My sis and I share wardrobes, whether we both like it or not! 

Love this orange skirt and necklace.
All from Topshop

I should be in Barcelona, for the Sonar festival, but I couldn't go this year. :-( I need a holiday, we have had about a week of sun, and I think that is all we are gonna get guys....  I wanna wear summer clothes and sit in beer gardens! 

x