Friday, January 27, 2017

Does Size Matter? A New Era For Print Publications //

Dear Readers,

When Jo Elvin disclosed that Glamour magazine would change and return to the traditional A4 print size, a part of me felt a little heartbroken. Perhaps I have thought too much into the style of this publication or I have fallen too deep for the way things 'used to be'. 


I have always been a nostalgic person when it comes to print magazines. My hoarding has enabled me to gather a hefty collection of magazines and it always interests me to look back at the way a publication has developed and evolved to pursue the trends of the time. 


In the February 2017 issue of Glamour, Jo Elvin talks in the Editor's Letter openly about the changes in common magazine trends. I may have been unaware of it, but the way we read print media is changing once again. More people are choosing to read their favourite publications at their own leisure, rather then during their morning commute or during their lunch break. Whilst I agree that this is true, I also still see the scurry of working women grabbing the latest handbag issues whenever I am traveling into London. I am interested to understand why Glamour saw such a rise in sales of the larger A4 magazine to the seemingly convenient A5 size.

Glamour have paved the way for women's glossy magazines and have always maintained a strong readership through creating content that women can pick up and read at any moment spare in their day. I trust their judgement and so I think their readers will too, even if they themselves, do not realise what they want quite yet.

I also agree with Jo Elvin's comment further into the letter that 'in a digital world, I believe a print mag is a truly comforting antidote to the noise of online.'

Satin Shirt - Primark Jamie Jeans - Topshop Boots - Primark
Perhaps I am curious about this revamp because I am currently creating my own magazine as part of my degree and we are at the stages of deciding what aesthetic, typeface, page size and paper quality we want to use, in order to attract our target audience. It might also have a lot to do with the fact that I live and breath magazines and not a week goes by where I don't buy one.


Whether you're set in your magazine purchasing ways or you're open to change, Glamour has you wanting to try something new with their 'Supersize' issues. Offering  their readers new content, Glamour can be seen experimenting with the new space in this month's magazine. There is definitely room for improvement, but I know as the journalist's and artists become more comfortable, the reading experience will most definitely come into its own.

Stay Sweet,

Alice xx




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Thursday, January 19, 2017

Outfit of the Day - Roaming The City //

Dear Readers,

I wanted to share with you one of my favourite outfits lately, which can take you from day to night with little effort required. It is perfect for those long days in the city which always seem to end with dinner and drinks at your favourite restaurant.

Due to the fact that the UK is freezing at the moment, I opted to add some layers and wear a turtle neck jumper from Next. I paired that with my new season Zara fur-lined suede jacket, Zara leather trousers, Dorothy Perkins pointed heels and Coach Rogue bag.

Zara Shearling Suede Jacket - Price Unknown

NEXT Tan Turtle Neck - Price Unknown

 
Coach Rogue Bag 25 in Glove-tanned Pebble Leather -£650


Zara Leather Trousers - £39.99


Stay Sweet,

Alice xx
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Monday, January 16, 2017

The Corset Belt - Missy Empire //

Dear Readers,

Now I have been on the hunt for a good quality corset belt for about a year now. When I have found the perfect one, it is either out of stock or far too expensive (Maison Margiela I'm looking at you). As much as I would love to splash out on a belt, I felt like my lack of frivolous funds and need for having one right now meant that I had to look elsewhere. 


But how glad I was when I discovered that Missy Empire stocked the 'Ava Black Corset Waist Belt'. Not only does the belt frame the waist perfectly, its super elasticity meant that it was giving me the curves I have longed for since puberty, and for only £14 too.
Ava Corset Belt paired with my new season Zara Jumper Dress

I also love that it gives the illusion that you've got the time and energy to lace up the front, when in fact its got a Velcro backing, so you can just wrap it around you and stick it down. The job was done with no fuss or need for another person to assist in my waist cinching. Satine eat your heart out darling. 

Party at the front, lazy at the back















Stay Sweet,

Alice xx
Black Corset Waist Belt
Black Corset Waist Belt
Black Corset Waist Belt
Black Corset Waist
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Saturday, January 14, 2017

Slope Style - Skiing in Samoëns //

Dear Readers,

On 2 January 2017 I packed my bags, checked in at Gatwick Airport and boarded my flight to Geneva. It was exactly what I needed for the first pages of my 2017 novel. 

Slaloming the snow-dusted slopes of Samoëns was exactly what I needed to escape the clutter of my degree, career and the undeniable perils of social media (although I did keep you all updated on my whereabouts). 

Standing atop a mountain breathing real air was incredibly self assuring and grounding. I really felt at one with the landscapes around me, particularly when my real skiing ability began to show and I'd faceplant the snow. 

Après Ski - Ski Jacket Topshop SNO, Salopettes Billabong, Mirrored Goggles, Milton Keynes Snow Dome Store, Thermals, Topshop SNO

Here are some pictures of my trip that I'd love to share with you:













Mum and Dad







Salopette Selfie






Stay Sweet,

Alice xx


 
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Friday, January 13, 2017

Dealing With Rejection & How To Overcome It //

Dear Readers,

Rejection can be an isolating experience for anyone, it can feel like the end of the world to lose sight of something you longed for or put effort into. Now I am not just talking about romantic rejection, I'm also talking about rejections we experience in our careers.



A number of people have made innocent comments that I have a lot of opportunities coming my way at the moment, and whilst that is true to some degree, it also isn't. For every one successful career move or article or collaboration, comes 20 or 30 rejections from newspapers, magazines and clothing companies. As much as people may appear to have their lives together with new and exciting opportunities arising, consider that they might have spent a lot of their time applying for hundreds of other jobs.

Dealing with opening a letter or email of rejection can feel heartbreaking and consecutive rejections can even make you lose your mind. I have seen the words 'unsuccessful' so many times in an email response that I almost began to believe it myself. The word alone makes me angry because it implies a degree of certainty, that those who are unsuccessful will remain to be no matter how much effort they put in. After self-assessing what this word meant for my development, I was able to realise being 'unsuccessful' now does not determine my accomplishments in the future, it merely steers me to look somewhere else.

As a Journalist in training, I have realised that there will be many occasions when I will be told 'no' or that my work is not good enough or that I am 'unsuccessful', but it does not determine the future I aspire to have and nor should any of you feel that way too. So if you don't get the call for the second interview or your ideas get scrapped, just know that this is the perfect time to move forward in a way you never thought was possible. Take this as a sign to be more adventurous or apply for a position you may have never considered.

The only way to deal with rejection is to turn it into something positive. Try to understand why things might have been unsuccessful and learn from those things.

Finally, the most important thing I want to stress from this post is that no matter how hard we may try sometimes, it might just not be our time and it may take a little longer to reach that goal we so desperately want. We will all experience moments of failure or rejection in our lives and we must take from these times and learn from them. Think of rejection as an inevitable concept that we must use to better ourselves.

Stay Positive & Stay Sweet,

Alice xx
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