Sneak Peak into the World of Personal Shopping

Last week I began an internship at the Selfridges store in London, my internship is based in the Personal Shopping sector of the store. The styling avenue has always been one I have been intrested in and having being able to delve into a unit at uni called Fashion and Styling it only developed my intrigue more.

So having secured the internship I arrived on Thursday morning in some high waisted grey trousers with lace detail around the waistband, a simple white vest top and a tailored black blazer. Oh and my biggest regret to date a pair of heels, I wasn't sure how much walking would be involved so I stupidly wore heels only to end up walking like a cripple with a fire happening on the soles of both my feet.

Making my way up the escaltors to the second floor I walked under the archway entitled 'PERSONAL SHOPPING' in pink lettering. At the desk I was greeted by a young women who was the person who was showing me around. It was very Devil Wears Prada with someone manning the reception desk at all times. Entering the back courters I was greeted by a throng of immacutalety dressed women, all of whom greeted me by shaking my hand and introducing themselves.

Name after name was reeled off to me, desperately trying to remembering each name I was excited for what the day entailed. A briefing for the days events and appointments commenced, followed by three songs that I was told are blasted every morning before the shoppers are allowed in the store. It is suppose to motivate the staff, the feeling was that the music just became annoying as it was so loud and the final song 'Get this party started', was considered a debatable 9am music choice.

I was informed that as an intern my role was to just help where needed, my tasks included serving clients drinks ranging from tea and coffee to coke and champagne depending on their request. I also had the job of replenshing the shop floor with the clothes that were either deemed unsuitable or weren't needed by consultants (personal shoppers).

I was paired with a consultant for her 10am appointment, the brief sheet informed her this lady was looking for smart clothing for work, and she was keen to buy staple pieces that would be versatile. After scouring the shop floor with the client and consultant we were clear on the look she was going on. After collecting around 30 pieces of clothing it was back to one of the suites (as pictured right) to try on the clothing. Over three hours later and countless changes in sizes the client was happy with her purchases, £4000 later it's fair to say she had a new work wardrobe.

I have not had much experience at working in retail so I was surprised at the at the ease clients seemed to part with there money. Initially when you book an appointment you are informed of the £1000 minimum spend, however this is something Selfridges are trying to change, to make it accessible for more people.

After assisting the consultant with her appointment I was taken to Alterations in the Fashion Workshop department to collect clients garments. This is an additional service Selfridges provide, anything from removing pockets to hemming trousers and changing buttons. Each adjustment on individual garments is individually priced. I also took a wonder around the store to familiarise myself with the layout and the brands that are stocked, starting with Super Brands such as: Stella, Pucci and Givenchy all the way through to the high-street brands.

After finishing my first day I was excited to return back for another jam-packed day, highlights of the internship so far include Kelly Rowland's stylists coming in last minute on Sunday afternoon. They were in a major rush to find some black cigarette style trousers/leggings to be worn in the evening. The stylist informed me that she was filming the X-Factor that evening so needed the outfit for then, the two men selected 4 different styles of trouser and purchased them on Kelly's credit card, what wasn't needed would be brought back.

I hope you have enjoyed the snippet of life as a personal shopper, before I was weary to the expensive clothing and now I get to be in the presence of it all day every day. I have eyed a few items I would love,  but a girl can dream!!

Stay tuned for my instalments in the life of a personal shopper...
xx

Celeb Interest: Kelly O

So I have been wanting to post about this lady for a while now. Kelly Osbourne has had the ultimate transformation in terms of body. I see her featuring in all the weekly magazines looking frankly ridiculously good.

When the contravestional television show 'At home with the Osbournes' was aired Kelly was a more rounded individual than what appears in front of us now. I respect her a lot for having the will power to change and become the person she wants to be.

Her style has dramatically changed and she has been compared to Madonna and is often seen mimicking some of Madge's previous looks.

Here are some pictures which I feel reflect Kelly's former self and some that showcase her new style and figure...

Now she has even dyed her hair a shade of blonde to fit her bombshell look. I am always intrigued when stars manage to change there life and have a lot of respect for them. Kelly is one of the few who has managed such a transformation and good luck to her!

WAG wannabe, maybe think again..

Imogen caught in super injunction battle.

So a topic that is very much in the public eye right now is the dreaded 'super injunctions'. Imogen Thomas has been exposed to the limelight again, this time for all the wrong reasons as she has been caught having an affair with a high profile footballer.

Having watched both of her exclusive interviews on 'This Morning' it is apparent that what she is going through is very hard to deal with. Coping with the shame of having had an affair, and dealing with it on here own is testing to say the least. 'Mr.X' is not on the scene to talk to or to see due to the severity of this case, so Imogen is left to fight this battle solo with little support.

Imogen claims that the affair lasted for 6 months and she was 'in love' with the man, she is insistent she never wanted any of this to happen and knows that having an affair with not only a married man but also a family man is so very wrong but it cant be undone now.

So who is worse off 'Mr.X' or Imogen? Without a doubt I would say Imogen, not only has she been publicly named and shamed but also put under a gagging order. She cannot reveal the name of the individual involved unless and until the super injunction is lifted, which due to the high profile of the celebrity involved is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Imogen has nothing left to do but to sit and wait and hope the hype around this case will die down in time to come.

Some argue that super injunctions have been given to people very easily in cases such as these. Due to the celebrities involved and the amount of money they are prepared to shell out NO isn't really the answer they are looking for.

However it leaves those less well off who want there name and status protected out in the open to take the brunt of the backlash. While the cowedly and wealthy get to sit back and watch it all unfold, I think the supreme court should discuss and re-establish the uses of the super injunction, and consider the aftermath effect.

All thats left to be said, is that at the end of the day if someone a celebrity or ordinary person has done something wrong then surely they shouldn't be offered protection.. Instead they should be left to deal with the consequences of there actions.

Feel free to add your comments about injunctions, Imogen or any of the above...

x

Guilty Pleasure

INDULGE 

So I have decided to make my blogging a regimental staple in my life. So once a week hopefully each Thursday I will have a 'Guilty Pleasure' which will be something I am lusting over or want to admit looking at!!!

So to kick this sector of my blog off I went to Brent Cross last week and was having a wonder around Fenwick store and stumbled into All Saints.. Not a shop I usually look in if I'm honest, everything seems to be either made with a cowl neck or excess fabric both of which I'm not overly keen on!!

So anyway I was wondering around when I came across them gem of a find amongst the layers of fabrics. This skirt is a really statement piece and the photo really doesn't do it justice. It is hand embellished to create the wonderful 'tribal' design.

Of course the down side is that this skirt sets you back a little at £165. However I really do think it's one of those garments that could be worn time and time again guaranteed to back an impact every time.



This is the link if you want to browse your self:
http://www.allsaints.com/women/skirts/aztec-skirt/dust|coral/wsk006-2479
It also comes in a darker colour way.


Please do let me know what you think of this skirt and whether it is worth the investment, I am not looking to purchase it anytime soon but I may be looking for it onEbay when it's no longer in the shops.

Also just a quick mention about an online site I found today whilst browsing its called: www.notonthehighstreet.com it really is worth a look if your looking for something quirky!!

Until next time keep shopping!! x

Russell Brand Reveals All..

I am a big fan of Piers Morgan's Life Stories show and last night I indulged in his latest instalment that featured Russell Brand.

I have always been curious as to Russell's outlandish lifestyle and how he got where he is today and I was intrigued to find his lack of father figure is partly to blame for his wild lifestyle. I never really pondered the thought of how a lack of parenting could affect your life so much, but I guess it's your parents who help mould you into the person you become. And then its up to you and the paths you choose that depend on where you end up in life.

Russell was adamant that he was different from a young age, he was rebellious and found himself breaking the law a lot. I also didn't realise he was tee total as well as drug free now living a 'clean' lifestyle. He almost seems to have done a full circle in terms of lifestyle from being a drug addict to being happily married. But it made me question whether someone can truly change....

Yes he seems to have got the drug use and alcohol abuse out of his system but who's to say it actually ever leaves your system... If you've been inclined to go there before, what will stop you revisiting it, in those moments in life when it all gets too much or you find out devastating news. As a former addict will you always be walking a tightrope of temptation avoiding stumbling if not falling off all together...

So I wonder what you think, is being 'clean' a life long cure or will you find yourself revisiting your guilty habits.

What do you think? I am curious to know other peoples thoughts about this.

Better late than never..

Right so it's been some time since I blogged, Christmas has been and gone as has New Year and also my trip to New York!!

So firstly I will attempt to sum up my trip to New York, it was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed it. On arrival I made my way in a renowned yellow taxi along with a couple of friends to the Australian bar in Manhattan, here the atmosphere was buzzing and the people were almost over friendly. We indulged on beer and cocktails whilst the cricket was being streamed into the bar, not wanting to miss out on the precious hours we had in New York we walked towards Times Square.

Times Square lit the streets several blocks away like a menage we were propelled towards the glaring lights, when we got there I was astounded at the view, it was like walking into to daylight but in the middle of the night. Despite the time becoming rapidly and rapidly later the shops still remained open, when they say the city that never sleeps they really mean it! Wondering through the bright lit streets it was hard to believe that just hours before I was sat in Heathrow airport waiting for the flight to leave.

A brief amount of sleep was had and then a light breakfast and the city was set to be explored. A quick jump on the subway ensured for easy travel all day getting off near central park and strolling to the Ground Zero site which was a surreal experience, and although I didn't go in the museum of remembrance to be at the scene of the falling of the twin towers was humbling. With the carved tribute in the wall with the names of all those service men and women lost their lives making it become more real, its hard to believe that in that site once stood the tallest buildings in New York.

After leaving Ground Zero I was booked onto a Sex and the City tour, we embarked on a 3 hour tour on a coach that took the keen fans to the must-see NYC sites. This included the public library where Big and Carrie (were almost married) and the restaurant where Big and Carrie held there pre-wedding dinner. It was something I would recommend to a group of girls who are SATC mad!

In the evening I went to Pacha NYC, David Guetta was doing a DJ set for Pacha's five year anniversary week. The tickets were very expensive but worth it for the atmosphere, the club was not as big as I expected but was spread over two levels, a balcony on the upper level allowed for people to view the downstairs dance floor. It was buzzing in their but I personally think they allowed too many people in the club as a stages in the night you really couldn't move!

On the Saturday I awoke fresh faced from my night out ready for another day of adventure, I went to visit the Empire State building and after scaling the to the 72ND floor I embarked on going out to the view point. It is the coldest I think I have ever felt, when the wind blew I felt so cold I could of cried, I know this sounds ridiculous but its true. After this I went for a spot of shopping on 5th Avenue/Soho/Canal Street.

After what can only be described as a manic dash from Brooklyn (me and Lucy ended up there by some terrible mistake) to Manhattan we was on the coach to the airport. I actually thought we were going to be stranded in New York and having Kristian standing on that street corner was a welcoming site... I wanted to cry but clearly didn't!!!

But it was a great experience and one I would love to do again, this is a few months delayed due to work commitments but hey you get the idea...

Anyone who hasn't been to New York must go!!!

I am currently writing my next blog piece so it won't be too long a wait for the next one :)

xx

NEW YORK, NEW YORK....

This is currently how long my hair has grown to, I am desperately due a cut but I am liking the length for the time being!

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of...

The countdown has well and truly began, it is 5 days until I board the plane and fly off to New York, with the hectic workload I

haven't really allowed myself to get too excited about it but as its quick approaching I am becoming very excited.

I leave on Thursday (2nd December) returning on the Sunday/Monday. I have been trying to organise and think about what I will be doing whilst I am out there.

Having never been to NY before I'm planning to do all the sightseeing including the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Central Park, Rockefella Centre, Empire State Building ohh and The Sex and The City Tour!!

I have been thinking about what to pack for my trip to NY, I am trying to pack as light as possible as I want to shop and bring as much back as possible. Bearing in mind I

haven't even started my Christmas shopping I plan to get most of it out there.

I have invested in a couple of essentials for the trip including a fur coat which I have been wanting for a long time now. I managed to find one in a new vintage shop that has just opened up down the road from me in Southampton. I have attached a picture of myself in it, its over sized so I have belted the coat for a more defined waist. However it can be worn loose as well, there is also a picture of it loose.

I will be wearing this coat on the plane to save my suitcase and also for warmth. I have also purchased some black high heels for the trip to NY this is because I haven't got any court shoes that would be suitable at uni for nights out in NY. I managed to find these beauties in TKMaxx, anyone that knows me will know I love TKMaxx and swear by it. I always manage to find different

items in there which your unlikely to see anyone else in.

Along with these items I plan to take a couple of dresses for nights out, one pair

of jeans, my jopper type black leggings, cream cords, several pairs of different tights, a couple of skirts, two blouses, one smart blazer, boots, brogues, going out handbag, jumpers, jewellery and anything else I can think of. This is just a rough list I'm certain more will get added when I actually think about it.

Until I go to NY I have to concentrate on my work and getting as much done as possible, I'm sure I will blog about my purchases and my adventures....

Much love

April x x x x