S T Y L E | How to Dress for an Interview in the Creative Industry

24 November, 2014
As graduation photos fill up my social media newsfeed, it seems a lot of people are going to be going through that post-graduate slump of going to interview after interview to find the job that will kick-start their future career. I remember those first few weeks after finishing university, moving home and trawling through job site after job site for the perfect opportunity.

It's been wired into all of our brains now that first impressions count for a lot. This is certainly the case when it comes to interviews.  With  interviews in the creative industry in particular, aesthetic is important. In fact, creative careers are all about visuals, so the way you choose to present yourself upon your first meeting with your potential employer is pretty damn important. It's not all suits and ties when it comes to creativity (unless you don it with a fedora)!

In fact, having more freedom in the way you're expected to dress for an interview in this industry can make it all the more difficult. I've drawn together some suggestions with a little help from Topshop for what to wear if you have a creative interview creeping around the corner...
Velvet Suit // Pinstripe Suit // Sequin Two-Piece

1. Suit Up

Completely disregard what I said before about it not all being about suits and ties. Now don't get me wrong, a tweed pencil skirt and blazer from M&S probably isn't appropriate, but if you've got a suit that looks like any of the above (kudos to Toppers for their suit game!), then whip that baby out. Team an on trend two-piece with a slogan tee and a pair of skate slip-ons to dress it down.


2. Short & Sweet

If the suit or tux is a little too androgynous for your taste, then opt for a statement mini dress teamed with a pair of ankle boots and wide brim hat would look perfect. Choose a bold print or statement shape that will stick in your potential future employers mind.



3. Culotte It Out!

Firstly apologies for the poor pun. Longline culottes are a gift from the gods for the smart casual look. They just seem to dress up even a simple t-shirt and trainers to create a more formal look. It's definitely worth investing in a pair or two, or three...

What would you wear to a creative interview?




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O U T F I T | Technicolour Dreamcoat

23 November, 2014


Jacket: Story of Lola via ASOS (available here) // Top: Zara (old) // Bag*: Bambie & Butler (available soon) // Bell bottoms: Forever 21 (available here) // Boots: Vagabond (similar here)

I love a faux fur jacket. I've been known to own an excessive amount of faux fur coats and although I began to cut them down by selling a few on eBay, I've started to build up the count once again. I actually went onto ASOS the other night to spend a voucher I had on a pair of trainers, but then this pastel rainbow sensation caught my eye. Needless to say the trainers were left behind (maybe next month!).

This colourful little clutch from the latest independent accessories brand on the block, Bambie and Butler, just so happens to go hand-in-hand with my faux fur jacket. The clutch is made from the softest leather and compliments any outfit. It's definitely one to go on the top of your Christmas wishlist!

I've been searching for a pair of bell bottoms that do not cost the price of my food allowance for the month for quite a while. I don't know who told the sellers of Depop that they should sell what is essentially a flared pair of leggings for £50 +, but I've refused to pay out that much. I was recently in Forever 21 and noticed this black, ribbed, velvet pair for just £17. Now, I'm just hoping they release more colours - purple would be divine!

SHOP THE LOOK:







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O U T F I T | His & Hers with FYT & Co

18 November, 2014
Leigh wears // Hat: ASOS (similar here) // Duster*: c/o Oh My Love (available here) // Dungarees: Dickies via Depop // Boots: Topshop (old) // Bag*: c/o FYT & Co. (available here)
 

James wears // Beanie*: c/o FYT & Co (available here) // Bomber Jacket: Topman (available here) // Shirt: Topman (available here) // T-Shirt: Topman (available here) // Jeans: Topman (available here) // Rucksack*: c/o FYT & Co (available here) // Trainers: Adidas ZX Flux (similar here)

This is kinda like a cheap man's The Kooples ad. Actually, it's nowhere near as classy or chic. 
 
Say 'hello' to the fella usually behind the camera! My other half and partner in crime, James, was given the full style blogger treatment as the FYT & Co gang treated us both to a bag of our choice from their AW'14 range. I was first introduced to FYT & Co a few months back when I attended a small gathering for a blogger's breakfast hosted by the brand. They're definitely a hidden gem in the accessories department as their bag designs mix up classic and contemporary unlike no other. For example, a lot of their rucksacks have detatchable iPad cases - genius!

James chose the Hawthorne Roll Top Rucksack, whilst I opted for the Drift Backpack in Burgundy, which can also be used as a carry bag too! We were both particularly impressed and amazed at how many compartment's the roll top rucksack had inside. James could probably fit all of of the possessions he owns in there. It'll almost definitely be accompanying us to Glastonbury next summer.

Also, let's take a moment to mention my white full-length Dickie's dungas that I nabbed from Depop for just £15! Now, I wanted a full length pair of white dungarees for LFW SS15, but didn't find any in time. Then who decides strut into Somerset House in a pair of white dungarees? Only bloody Alexa Chung. What a diva! Definitely stole my idea. Anyway, I managed to buy this pair after Fashion Week for an absolute bargain. They actually came with loops to hold paintbrushes and tools (decorator chic), which I swiftly cut off. And yes, I bought them from a boy.
 
Also, the guys at FYT & Co kindly threw in a surprise set of matching beanies (hence the cringey picture) made from bamboo cellulose meaning they are insanely soft. It's pretty much glued to my head at the moment.
 


SHOP THE LOOKS:
 









 
 
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M U S I C | November Playlist

16 November, 2014


Every Other Freckle // alt-j

This one's a little bit saucy from alt-J. But that's okay. Now, if someone would like to buy me Alt-J tickets that would be great!




Amsterdam // Gregory Alan Isakov

I've been listening to this song every single morning for the past two months.




Nick Mulvey // Cucucuru

A pretty old number, but I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.



Summer Wine // Lana Del Rey & Barrie-James O'Neill

One of my favourite covers to date. Queen Lana can do no wrong.

What have you been listening to recently?





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O U T F I T | Silver & Gold

14 November, 2014


Hat: ASOS (similar here) // Waistcoat: Charity Shop // Velvet Halter: Charity Shop // Skirt*: c/o Blue Vanilla // Boots: eBay

I know there is a rule that silver and gold should never be seen when it comes to jewellery, but what's the rule with a silver and gold palette when it comes to clothes? Even if it's still a fashion monstrosity, I decided to defy it. Rebel, rebel.

This extra voluptuous, baroque style skirt is by one of my new faves, Blue Vanilla, and it's perfect for this party season. I almost forget about these 70's velvet dream boots, which I bought for a cheap and cheerful £5 on eBay last year. I'm so happy it's velvet season yet again! Happy Friday!

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H A I R | Messy Half-Up Top Knot Tutorial with ghd

09 November, 2014




When ghd recently asked me to do a hair tutorial with their new rose gold styler I was pretty damn chuffed. In my eyes (and I'm sure a lot of others) ghd are the goddesses of the hair product world. My own original pair of stylers which I've had since I was 13 years old are still going strong. However, I couldn't say no to an upgrade in this gorgeous rose gold colour.

I was a little stumped when thinking about what I could possibly show as a hair tutorial as after all, I'm certainly no beauty blogger! In fact, most of the time I leave my hair natural, unbrushed and just let it do it's thing. However, when I had a think about what hair do I'm asked about most when I do make the extra 15 minutes effort in the morning it has to be the messy, half-up top knot.



To begin with brush your hair out as normal making sure all tangles, knots and hidden matted dreadlocks that have formed are long gone!


Using the end of a backcombing brush (or just a regular parting comb) make two partings on your head on each side and gather the hair on the top centre of your head all together and clip together away from the rest of your hair. We'll come back to this section that forms the top knot later.



Spritz your remaining hair with a heat protection spray. My all time favourite is the ghd Heat Protection Spray*. I was gutted when my previous one ran out a few weeks ago, but ghd came to the rescue just in time and replaced it with a new bottle for me!

Straighten the hair that isn't clipped; it's important to keep the top part of your hair unstraightened and messy to create as much volume as possible for the top knot.

Once you've finished straightening your hair, take the sectioned part on top and tie up into a high ponytail on top of the head so you resemble a member from a 90's girl band (see above).


Backcomb the shit out of that ponytail until you look a little something like this...


...And we're done! Only kidding.

Wrap the ponytail around itself until it forms a 'bun shape'. This usually takes me two or three go's to get it right, so be patient if it doesn't wrap around right the first time and try again. Once you've got it, don't let that bun go and secure with about 193838474 kirby grips. I usually spritz my hair with a bit of ultimate strength hair spray to ensure that top knot stays!


...And ta-da!

Let me know if you try a messy, half-up, top knot.




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O U T F I T | ETTE Clothing

08 November, 2014
Dress*: c/o ETTE Clothing // Hat: ASOS (similar here) // Waistcoat: Boot sale // Boots: Vagabond (similar here)

ETTE Clothing have been one of my favourite online vintage stores for quite a while. I'm pretty sure the two gals behind the brand have an identical taste in vintage clothing to myself as I love everything they seem to pop online. Well worth a visit if you're a wannabe 60's or 70's baby like myself. 

When this cream maxi, flare sleeved dress landed on my doorstep from the girls at ETTE I almost wept with joy. Although it may not be quite appropriate for this season I couldn't wait to slip into it and prance around a forest pretending I'm Stevie Nicks (a common past time of mine). It'll definitely be accompanying me to Glastonbury next year too.


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