That Chanel Advert,

This advert makes me smile every time I see it. I love the way Chanel is creating nostalgic feelings by presenting us with old Hollywood style stage performances. The colours themselves are highly decadent and suggest a uber glamour feel. It's the attention to detail, the pearl swings, the orange fizz performing a saute battu and the kick line working in perfect unison. This evokes images of Fred and Ginger dancing in ballrooms lit by moonlight or The Tiller Girls dressed in sequins in feathers. No doubt thousand of little girls around the world after watching this advert will try and recreate in a Kellogg's Blue Peter esque  finger puppet theatre. This is so much more than an advert, it's not purely trying to sell you something, it's a celebration of glamour and finesse all of which Chanel stands for. Every woman knows that a well manicured hand can lift your mood and complete an outfit. Chanel is offering you the chance to be a part of the legendary brand without breaking the bank balance. 
The music choice is genius "Little Bitty Pretty One" is so cheerful and very very catchy. Yes of course it does all remind us of the "magic" scene from Matilda but who cares?! It makes us want to sing, dance and jump around and if a nail polish can make me do that, well I'll be first in line at the counter!


xoxo

My Week of Wonder

I won't lie to you, this week has arguably been one of the best weeks of my life!!!

Starting last Saturday: I won the a competition posted in Vogue for the BAFTAS and Lancome where in which I got to take myself and a friend to the Style Suites in The Savoy Hotel, usually reserved for the nominees. We had a make over by the Lancome artists and sipped copious amounts of champagne and indulged ourselves on rich chocolates. The photographers took lots of snaps of us and we came away with a fantastic goodie bag with:

• Lancome Regenerist Night Cream
• Lancome Primer
• Lancome Eye Make-up Remover
• Lancome Dolly Eyes Mascara
• Lancome Colour Rich Lipstick

Pretty good, eh!?

Well after leaving the Lancome suite, Kasey and I decided to peak into the other suites. We had the pleasure of meeting Charles Worthington and his stylists in a mirror clad room. Next we saw the Aspreys diamond selection and the Ginge and I fell in love instantly with an Emerald Ivy piece. The suites were all individually designed and were all stunning as they faced the river and the sun shone brightly through the huge windows in each room. 

So here we have it, Ginge and I at this point are all dressed up, make up done and full of champers. So we decided to head to the American Bar. I had a vodka Martini with olive and Ginge had a raspberry concoction. We sat for an hour absorbing the atmosphere and enjoying the olive selection. Later on wondering along South Bank, dressed in fur coats, heels, dresses and sunnies; I think it's fair to say we looked like Eddy and Patsy! We fell into another bar at the BFI and enjoyed Amaretto and vanilla cocktails with brown sugar and cinnamon frosting (delicious) whilst watching people at the weekend book sale. I think it's fair to say we all know where this day is going....we were D.R.U.N.K. Happy Hour made sense, we headed across the river to Embankment to a cool little place called Opal, and hallelujah it's HAPPY HOUR! Cocktail after Cocktail, jug after jug. Miss Amanda shows up to join in the fun. We danced, we laughed, we flirted with Parisian men. Good times had by all. Wonderful day...horrendous hangover! Chocolate and a bowl of olives does not a meal make!

Sunday...pretty uneventful, hungover, ate half a box of cereal, made a roast dinner!

Monday: I attended the "Madame Tussauds Love Shack Valentines Party" in aid of the "Merlin's Magic Wand" a good night was had by all, we drank and to be honest we danced like lunes!! The tunes were good and the company better! The blush room was decorated like a 50s American Prom, balloons and floating candles in the waterfall...amazing!

Tuesday: The day all singletons hate!! Valentines Day has crept upon us again. I went to work, enjoyed observing the men on their commute home frantically run between Hotel Chocolat and the florist at London Bridge Station. In M&S I did in fact see a man pick up a cauliflower in a fit of despair. I understood his thinking it has flower in the title, I can work with that. To be honest if a man bought me a cauliflower I'd be very happy....you can't eat flowers!!! I'd make a lovely cauli cheese and snuggle down with him on the sofa, it's a win win! However, I came home to find my housemate Craig had bought me some lovely pick roses and bought wine, we made dinner together and enjoyed the delights of Bridget Jones. So I sat with a gay, eating carbs and chocolate, drinking wine, crying over Bridget Jones....Low point...nah, this way no one gets pregnant!

Wednesday: I attended a Superstar magazine in association  with London Fashion Models. A networking event held in Baku, on Sloane St. Everyone was dressed up to the nine and mingling with one and other. I met photographers, designers and models a like. The complimentary cocktails with pomegranate undertones were to die for. Luckily for me I stayed sober and make some great contacts.

Thursday: Not much happened, early night: sensibly!

Friday: LFW began and I couldn't control my joy when a photographer from Wednesday's fashion event emailed me asking me to accompany him to a show for LFW for Francesca Marotta.....but more of that to come! Squeee! After the joy that was my 1st LFW SHOW!!!!! I went to a manager's leaving party from Madame Tussauds and it was Friday, so many a drink was had!!! I found myself dancing like a maniac to a Whitney Tribute in 2 Brewers in Clapham Common surrounded by Drag Queens and the rest of the gay community. They were lapping up my Yellow brocade tulip skirted dress, under which I places a simple white silk long sleeved shirt and paired it with a black and gold Versace esque belt and high heeled buckled ankle boots. They loved it in fact, so much so that I met a director by the name of Damian Foxe and we talked for a while and he invited me to help him on a shoot.....Amazing!!! I hope I came off well, I was clearly on the wrong side of sober...that Gordan's gin will get you everytime!!

Saturday:  Lazy day, shopping with my housemates and a nice early night 

Sunday: I woke up late and had a prep day for Bertie and I would be attending "The What's On Stage, Theatre Awards" at the "Prince of Wales Theatre" so we got all dressed up, I had "Some Like it Hot" playing whilst I painted my nails aubergine with a gold glitter finish. I wore a black vintage beaded dress complete with cropped black blazer, opaque black tights teamed with VERY high maroon Miu Miu heels. We had a fantastic night and thought Sheridan Smith, Alan Davies and Jenny Eclair did a fantastic job. Drinks were had and Kimberley Walsh of Girls Aloud fame complimented my dress. She looked fantastic in a strapless red cocktails dress complete with nude sling-backs. But I was well behaved as it was a school night and headed to bed nice and early!

So that's my week, my liver and bank account hates me!! But god, it was worth it! xoxo

  

Interns Ahoy!

Dear Fellow Interners,

A lot of people of recent have been asking me just what's its like to be a intern, in particular a fashion intern. Speaking honestly I can say they are pretty difficult to come by. Following sites such as http://www.fashioninsight.co.uk/ and http://www.fashionunited.co.uk/fashion-jobs/search-results/intint These two sites have proved very useful to me, offering me a huge selection of what's really out there. Besides applying to jobs and sending numerous CVs out to anyone who utters the word fashion or internship. Blogging is a fantastic way of being noticed and even making money. People such as http://www.bryanboy.com/ has gained international fame with his hard hitting, witty and stylish approach to blogging. The same goes for http://www.thestylerookie.com/search?updated-max=2011-04-06T23%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=5 Tavi, started at the tender age of 11, she is now the editor of Style Rookie Mag and attends fashion shows all around the world. Blogging is about giving you personal view of the fashion world. You don't need photos from the front rows, as many of us don't have access to these. Instead post shots of what you like to wear/watch etc taken inspiration from Vogue's "Today I'm Wearing" and showcase you're own personal style. After starting your blog you need to showcase it, Twitter is the perfect platform to gain followers and post links to your page, so jump on the tweeting bandwagon, it's addictive and may take over your life but if you want fashion news from say NYFW within 2 mins of it happening over there, Twitter is definitely the way to go!
Once you've got the intern ship, you need to:

• Do your research, look at the company and find out the day to day running.
• Plan your outfits, you're working in fashion, people take note!
• Be careful what you say about the company online.
• Don't stop applying for other positions
• Make friends with your boss and people within the fields who could help you climb the ladder.
• NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK, go along to that event/lunch/coffee meeting etc
• Update your CV regularly with things you are learning.
• Keep a diary, to keep you organised and keep you up to date.
• Be patient, don't expect to become Anna Wintour over night!
• It's not going to be like "The Devil Wears Prada" as much as you might think/wish it would be.
• Don't neglect your friends and talk fashion all the time, they won't thank you for it.
• Go that extra mile for your boss, see what she does and plan ahead.
• Keep a sense of modesty but receive compliments when given
• Have fun, this is the most happening and exciting industry in the world!!!

There you have it, my guide of what to expect and how to get into the industry. My twitter @Cloella is regularly updated with experience and the pros of my position in a showroom agency. I myself am still looking and working towards working in publications.

Good Luck, have fun and work hard!

Cloella xoxo

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