Back to Black

Admittedly, when we first saw the new YSL black lip we gulped, ew, who's gonna wear that? But give it a few months and we're getting used to the idea. And we reckon it will become the cult look of the new season. Not surprisingly, YSL thinks so too, hence it's releasing its limited edition YSL Gloss Pur Black, a thick syrupy onyx-hued gloss without the merest hint of sparkle. Believe it, this is serious make-up. Pre-order it now or regret it forever.

What's on our radar this week: Monogramming

Much has been made of Miu Miu's leather initial pins that the models wore on the a/w catwalk. We want to wear our initials too! So we're thinking monogramming -sweaters, underwear, pyjamas. And while we're at it, why not luggage, notepaper and pillowcases? Towels! Wallets! Or a monogrammed hankie. Would it be cool to wear one in a T-shirt pocket? Or just wrong?

At last!

Just as the preppie-punk look reaches its tipping point we bring you the news that Urban Outfitters will be selling the original and best Bass Weejun loafers for autumn/winter. Perfect for teaming with plaid kilts, woolly tights and a boyfriend-sized stripy mohair sweater.

How to get started as a fashion journalist/editor

This comment came from 'Meagan' after Discotheque Confusion posted an interview with Navaz:

"As a regular reader of Discotheque Confusion, and a hopeful future editor, I was very excited to read your post. I'm 16, and living in Toronto. I currently volunteer at a local newspaper, blog, write for The Fashion Spot, and am applying to Ryerson University's journalism program (one of the best in North America, and the best in Canada). I was wondering if you could help me out with some questions I have?"

Meagan: I know you talked about this briefly in the interview, but what matters more, when it really comes down to it: Creative directing abilites, or writing skills? I haven't taken any art courses, but I certainly have an eye for styling, but I'm unable to design myself. However, my writing skills are very strong - but are they that relevant? I feel like without the art school cred, I'll go nowhere!

Navaz: Hi Meagan! Personally, I wouldn't get hung up on 'art school cred'. Experience is all when it comes to breaking into this industry and as you've no doubt heard, at the beginning it's who you know, not what you know, although skill and knowledge come into play once you're through that door. Is your blog nicely laid out? Brush up on your Photoshop skills to show off your talents. Even making a physical scrapbook can show that you have 'the eye', otherwise what do people go on? Having said that, your letter/email of introduction is your calling card and for that you need writing skills. The great thing about being a good writer is that you can use that skill to write an engaging first email to whoever you want to work for. That gives you the edge over the person who writes a bog standard email/letter (please don't forget to Spellcheck it).

I've realised over the years that the creative part of styling can actually be learnt although I'd never have thought so. But I've seen people who didn't have much of a clue learn to be creative almost by soaking up their surroundings. This isn't relevant to you as you're already creative but don't rest on those laurels as others can sneak up behind you! Also, until you've actually worked in a fashion closet you don't know if you'd really like the job of a stylist. You may in fact decide to be a fashion writer instead. A fashion writer still works on a magazine/newspaper but is based in the office all day researching and writing instead of schlepping suitcases around and attending PR showrooms. It sounds like you're doing everything right. Volunteering and blogging show passion, while The Fashion Spot is useful for making contacts. You're only 16, I think you've made a great start!

Meagan: Do you know of any other online resources that I could write for? I'm unconcerned with being paid, I just want to get published more!

Navaz: Fashion156.com is a UK online publication worth investigating but it's better to find local ones as you can get more involved. Try some underground Canadian magazines, they're sure to have websites that will need contributors.

Meagan: FASHION Magazine, one of the biggest fashion magazines in Canada, offers an unpaid internship program, with one term in the summer. Would it be wise to participate/apply for it, for next summer, before I go off to University? Do you have any other advice to offer as to how to impress someone at a big fashion magazine, and how to stand out from other applicants?

Navaz: It would definitely make sense to apply to Fashion Magazine. I always think it's worth calling up and speaking to a real live person before you email. That way you can ask all your questions and in your email you can mention the fact that you spoke to them. This makes you more memorable, plus it's human nature to want to reply to someone that sends you a personal email. I think it's worth calling now to ask when is the best time to apply for next summer. Timing can be crucial as some editors like to book people way in advance whereas others like to wait til nearer the time. If you know their preference you can apply accordingly. Don't forget to call a couple of days later to check the application was received. If you refer to a specific reason why you like their magazine ('I always read your 'spy' section'/ 'I love the denim feature you wrote in the current issue' etc) it shows you genuinely like that magazine as opposed to giving an 'I just need a job' vibe. Don't be afraid to suck up a bit, just don't sound fake!

Meagan: How important is a knowledge of the fashion industry? I've heard of Devil Wears Prada situations where people with no passion for fashion get dream positions in the industry... I mean, obviously a passion for the field helps, but is it that important? I'm not sure if this is a dumb question or not...

Navaz: At 16 I don't think you'll be expected to know all the jargon and industry stuff straight off but you'll be expected to listen and learn and pick things up quickly. Fashion people are impatient and haven't got time to babysit interns so pay attention to whatever you're doing. That is the best way to learn. There are well-connected types who get great fashion jobs because they're somebody's daughter or whatever but there's no point worrying about that. Show your passion and work hard, that's all you need to do.

Meagan: How could I better my knowledge of fashion? For my age, I'd consider myself extremely informed of the industry, history and current trends (not to toot my own horn or anything....) But I'd love to really feel more confident in my knowledge of the industry.

Navaz: Read blogs like a Fashionista and Jezebel. Also check out the Style.com blog regularly. These are full of industry gossip and are a great way to pick up knowledge while keeping it fun. The Business of Fashion blog is good if you want to know more about the business side because it's written in a very engaging and non-fusty way and talks about fashion and the industry all over the world.

Meagan: How do you make important connections with industry professionals at a young age?

Navaz: I suggest calling a few senior fashion assistants or junior fashion editors and asking if you can have fifteen minutes of their time for a chat. Out of ten people you approach, you might get a yes from one of them. In your chat you can ask them how they got their job, what advice they have for you and crucially, if they know anyone else you can see. You then see that person and go through the routine again. Each time you'll make a further contact. It's then up to you to keep in touch with them!

Meagan: Any help you could offer would mean the world to me! I've heard every single sort of 'million girls would die for this' cliche when it comes to the fashion industry, but I am really willing to work myself to the bone for my dream!

Navaz: You've got a great attitude. If you can be prepared for a few obstacles and moments of self-doubt along the way then you're already on the road to success. Best of luck!

(Pic: www.thesartorialist.com)

Jethro Cave

New model alert! Yep, another one from the 'offspring of famous people' school of modelling, it's Jethro Cave...son of Nick. Cool, no?

Henry hearts Alexa

Having seen Henry Holland's presenting efforts on Vogue.co.uk, it was only a matter of time before he nabbed a TV slot of his own. And whaddaya know, he's hooked up with lady Alexa of Chung to front a weekly fashion programme for T4. Frock Me promises to 'take a tongue-in-cheek insider's look at a different youth culture trend each week, with comment and advice on everything from club chic to sportswear.' Let's hope it's better than Gok's Fashion Fix, eh?

The Rachel Zoe Project

Only two days to go before The Rachel Zoe Project airs on Bravo. People, it's a goodie! You can watch a preview here.
How annoying are those assistants! And does anyone else think RZ sounds like a robot?

How to wear statement accessories

The new season is just around the corner and the big news is that clothes are out and accessories are in! Actually, please take that with a pinch of salt 'cause we loathe those 'what's hot, what's not' directives. But it's kind of true, statement accessories are the things to invest in. It makes sense if you think about it. While the world is suffering financially, we're practicing chic-onomics which means spending more on clothes that will last more than one season and getting our fashion hits from fun statement accessories. Here's our rundown.

Shoes
A lot of the clothing trends can be recycled from last autumn so fish out those mini sweater dresses but give them a rethink with some fierce footwear. Peep-toe boots are the 'who's gonna wear that' red herring of the season - trust us, you'll be loving them by November. As trousers hover around the ankle so statement heels are more on show than ever. Patent fetish shoes are numero uno on the trend-o-meter, with lace-up shoe-boots a close second.

Bags
We love kitsch when it comes to bags so let's forget reality for a moment and focus on impractical bags. Small, red and doll-like is on our radar - try the Lulu Guinness perspex lips clutch or the heart-shaped minaudiere from Faith.

Scarves
Who knew the humble headscarf would become the accessory biggie for autumn? Certainly not us but we salute Domenico and Stefano for taking the risk with their silken headwear for D&G. Of course, not many of us will be rocking the Queen Liz look. But that's the beauty of the silk scarf, it doesn't need to be tied under the chin, it can be worn in a bow atop the head a la Amy Winehouse, as a neckerchief Agyness stylee or tied bourgeois-babe style around the strap of your (wish it was) Hermes handbag. Oh, the possibilities are endless!

Tights
Another fabulous trend to try in the face of financial reining-in. Coloured opaques kicked off last autumn but this year they go mainstream. Which means more choice and cheaper prices. Bingo! Swap your safe black opaques for purple or magenta to add a power-packed punch to this year's grey marl and stealth black outfits. Or do your own version of paint mixing with yellow tights layered over red to make orange - a new take on the old two-for-the-price-of-one deal. Not creative enough? You can always try DIY laddered tights over contrasting opaques for your own spin on the haute-punk trend.

Jewellery
Statement jewellery has become, like make-up before it, something you wear to celebrate feeling good about yourself. It also works as a pick-me-up when you're feeling blah (try it, it works). Ricardo Tisci at Givenchy went overboard with his many-strand gold chain necklaces but you can make an equally strong statement with an heirloom necklace worn with a £5 Breton tee a la Alexa Chung. Don't stop there though, load up on multiple bangles (on both arms!) and a handful of Lagerfeld-style rings.

How To Get Ahead In Fashion

Our blogging buddy Stevie at Discotheque Confusion has put up an interview with Navaz on how to get on the first rung of the fashion industry ladder. She's going to be interviewing other industry insiders too so keep checking in.

To read Navaz's tips, check here and if you have any more questions or want to ask Donna how to become a beauty editor, leave your questions in the comment box.

New kid on the block

The problem with the likes of Alice Dellal, Pixie Geldof and Alexa (no surname required) being so fashion-forward and media-friendly is that it's easy to get a bit spoilt and...um...bored by them. Oh Alexa in another dress-and-blazer combo? Yaaaawn! So, thanks are in order to Sting and Trudie as yes, another famous spawn has emerged into the limelight. We're loving musician Coco Sumner's lace-legged style, seen here at the Liberty of London shop opening. Memo to paparazzis: More Coco please!

Va-va-Valentino

She doesn't always get red-carpet dressing right but at the premiere of Get Smart in Rome, Anne Hathaway was the epitome of elegance in Valentino chiffon and an Audrey-worthy up-do.

Pics: Mahalofashion.com

Roll up, roll up

Lovely Leona at Lady Luck has just emailed us about their seven day sale. Ooh, where to start? Do we go straight for the Happy Cloud knitted necklace or the enamel camera earrings? Or do we get both as they're so cheap it's kind of like two for the price of one?

Do try this at home: The scarf strap

Mark our words, old-lady silk scarves are going to be a biggy come autumn. And how could they not be? They're affordable, they're versatile and they're a change from those tatty Palestinian scarves we've been draping across ourselves for the last two summers. Silk scarves add a touch of dandy to a check shirt if you fold them up small (diagonally dummy) and tuck them inside the unbuttoned collar. Or wear them cowgirl-style to zhuzh up a tee or sweatshirt. Our favourite trick however is one we stole from bag bloggers Bag Snob. Fold your scarf into a strip and use it inside your clutch bag to turn it into a shoulder bag. Now this is what we call credit-crunch chic!

Pic: www.bagsnob.com

Micro Trend: The Summer Ankle Boot

Proof that there's no such thing as defined seasons any more, a new footwear trend has emerged...the summer ankle boot! When it's warm enough for tailored shorts and mini-dresses but there's still the chance of an unscheduled shower or evening chill, we take our fashion cue from Alexa Chung and Kate Moss by revisiting our winter ankle boots. But we're not talking Uggs, ooh no, we're keeping a bit of decorum about us so only a heel will do. Keep it neutral, chunky and just a little bit rock n roll.

The Fake Flutter Debate

We've always been a bit sceptical (as well as nervous) about anything fake, especialy eyelashes. Branding them as the beauty item "reserved for WAGs, ex Big-Brother contestants, men in drag and seven year old sisters" they weren't exactly high up our must-have make-up list! But at a recent beauty event held by Eyelure (the leading fake lash brand sold in Boots and Superdrug) we were suprisingly converted. Cornered by Girls Aloud's favourite make-up artist Liz Martins, before we knew it our eyes were "dressed" in a pair of Naturalites (a.k.a the casual Juicy tracksuit version of fake lashes). Yes, they felt heavy at first and yes, we were blinking ten times more than we would normally, but after a few minutes we couldn't feel them and they made our lashes look like Penelope Cruz's on that L'Oreal advert! Even wearing them in public (try on the tube at 9.30 in the morning) they felt and looked natural - just very long, full and black - just the way we dream them to be! They might not be an everyday beauty staple, but for special occassions they are now definitely part of the "pair of heels and oversized clutch" dressing up gang.

Lip Service

Sometimes we're so busy that we wish there was an easier way to apply lip gloss. All that faffing with the cap, twisting up the lippy, putting the cap back on... life's just too damn short no? But hey, guess what, those clever beauty brand people feel our multi-tasking pain! Avon have released Pro-to-Go, a lipstick that you open and push up in an easy one-handed motion - yay! Plus remember Bethany Hamilton, the teen surfer girl who survived a shark attack but lost an arm? She has a line of lip products called Stoked designed to be pushed up and down with one hand (leaving the other free to text, carry your Fendi-style box clutch or um, flip through Lula) available at Amazon.com. And if you're the kind of apply-on-the-go girl who needs all her lip accoutrements in one place, L'Oreal Paris's Infallible Lip Colour is for you, it has a lipstick, lipbalm and lids that are fixed to a mirror compact. Now if someone could just invent a way to stop our hair sticking to our lipgloss our lives would be complete.

Five things To Do This Weekend

1) Get a new style crush. London model-about-town Alice Dellal's bad gal style is floating our boat

2) Head to Kensington Palace for The Last Debutantes, an exhibition celebrating the posh young socialites of the '50s. Feast your eyes on couture frocks by Dior and Balmain while learning how to execute the perfect curtsey

3) Lust after TopShop's fruity beauty mock patent-leather apple-shaped bag (out of stock but you can add it to your wish list)

4) Check out the new Luella for O'Neill collection. We love the mini sundresses, tie-dye tees and frill-edged check shirts.

5) Chic up your cheeks with Benefit's Posietint, the cult Benetint lip and cheek stain in a new petal-pink shade.


Pic:Desmond O'Neill Features

Graduate Fashion Week: How to get ahead in fashion

So did anyone make it to Graduate Fashion Week? We did! It was really impressive and we discovered a whole heap of untapped talent out there. Naturally, we homed in on the fashion promotion graduates and found some great writing talent at the University College for the Creative Arts at Epsom. One student called Kate Tregoning had interviewed the editor-in-chief of Grazia (our fave mag). Kudos! We are hoping to publish it here but are waiting for permission first. We were also lucky enough to be allowed in to the Careers Clinic on Thursday which was the newly created 'education day' for 14-18 year old fashionistas-in-the-making. Caryn Franklin compered the talk, an insightful panel discussion about how to nab a career in fashion. Among the panellists were Lorraine Candy and Avril Mair (editor and fashion features director of Elle), Christopher Hodge (Fashion Programme Leader from Northumbria University), Catherine Bell (senior editor of fashion forcasting agency WGSN), Richard Bradbury (CEO of River Island) and Henry Holland (needs no introduction).

Even though we though we knew it all we did pick up some handy hints so feeling generous, we thought we'd share them here:

WORK EXPERIENCE TIPS
All fashion peeps from designers to fashion editors to fashion PRs get inundated with work experience applications. To distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack, Catherine Bell advises you to use visuals to help your application stand out. Mood boards, scrap-books or a print-out of your blog could all give you the edge over the next person. Richard Bradbury implores you to do your preparation. If you do your research and pepper your application with proof that you know your stuff, you're more likely to get that oh-so-elusive placement. Avril suggests keeping up with fashion blogs to stay ahead of the curve. She regularly reads Fashionista.com and Style Bubble. Who knows, maybe she even reads yours?

SCHOOL REPORTS
One of the fun parts of the discussion was finding out what everyone's school reports said. Lorraine's said she was a hard-worker (swot!), Avril's flagged up her passion and curiosity (essential journalist qualities), Chris's said he was interested in everything and Henry's bemoaned that he was too creative. Too creative! How can there be such a thing? Caryn quite proudly revealed that her school report said 'Caryn will not get a good job by being the most fashionably dressed girl in the school.' Of course, she promptly went on to be the fashion editor of ID and present Britain's best-loved fashion TV prog.

TIPS FOR BEING A TREND SETTER
Fashion is all about knowing what's going to happen next. Henry Holland stressed the importance of trying to look ahead beyond what's happening now. Richard backed this up suggesting that by observing and people-watching you can tune your trend radar into what's bubbling under so you can predict the trends of the future. We would add that this is top advice and fun too! So keep tabs on what people are wearing (and not wearing) fashion and beauty-wise around you at school, in the park, on street-style blogs and among your friends.

HAVING A PASSION FOR FASHION
All the panellists agreed that you don't go into fashion for the money. The thing that keeps them all loving what they do is the fun and creativity they get from their jobs. No-one said it was easy and this is a lesson well worth remembering. Working hard is the number one quality you need to succeed in fashion, crazily enough it's even more important than having talent (don't believe us? Just look at Victoria Beckham).

GETTING THE GIG
The most useful message we took away with us was one we already knew but can always be reiterated. Keep pushing ahead. Often, whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll find there are times when things aren't moving. Maybe you're not motivated, maybe you've lost your creative mojo or maybe you're just not getting the breaks. Don't give up and don't dwell on it. Just keep pushing ahead. Go through the motions and keep doing what you have to do. After ten unanswered emails you'll get an answered one. After ten false starts at customising a T-shirt you'll get your breakthrough. After ten job rejections you'll get an interview. And when you do, all the effort will be worth it.

Do try this at home - the preppie shirt

We're loving the abundance of preppie-inspired shirt combos around at the moment. Who knew a fitted shirt and skinny jeans could look so hot? Tip: the tuck-in, rolled-up sleeves and chunky sandals are what make this work (and the A-lister sunnies and wasn-n-go hair don't hurt either). Tailored high-waist shorts are perfect with a crisp shirt which make up for the big expanse of leg. A dressy shoe is a must for these though, how about a high-heeled peep-toe bootee?

Pics:
Instyle
The Sartorialist

Five Things To Do This Weekend

1) Ogle the Chanel pop-up shop at Dover Street Market

2) Customise your bike for National Bike Week

3) Fashion an old typewriter case into a handbag

4) Dig out your old badges, they're due a come-back

5) Be nice to your dad - it's Fathers Day!

PICS (top to bottom):
Dover Street Market
Us
http://hipstermusings.blogspot.com

Underage Festival

Get out your neon pink highlighters and circle 8th August. Yep, it's the second Underage Festival in Victoria Park. With a host of hot indie bands including Poppy & The Jezebels (who we photographed for CosmoGIRL! many months ago), Mystery Jets and The Horrors, this is the must-go-to event of the summer. Tickets are available from Ticketweb but remember:
*It's strictly 14-18 only

*You must take ID or you won't be allowed in

*Mums and dads can meet you outside but aren't allowed through the gates

*Dress up in your finest, there are bound to be model scouts and TV cameras on the prowl.


Pic: Poppy & The Jezebels

Head Girls

If the credit crunch is affecting your pocket money handouts, it's time to think outside the box where sartorial matters are concerned. Instead of a new jacket, dress or shoes, think...hair adornments! It's not just the braided headband that's floating our boats, we're seeing fifties fascinators and Gossip Girl inspired tiaras teamed with everything from prom dresses to tank-n-jeans ensembles. The message? Get creative and give a scarf, ribbons or bow-tie a new lease of life by wearing it in your hair.

Pics: Vogue

Ditto Does Evans

Wow, what a coup for Evans who has signed Beth Ditto up (for £200k!) to design a line of fashion-fabulousness for big girls. Ok, we know it's a bit late to be jumping on that particular bandwagon but we're still mucho intrigued. Ditto does have her own individual style which makes a change (Lauren Conrad anyone?) and it will bring hoards of cool young girls to shop at Evans. Result! One small request though Evans, please go easy on the polyester. Thanks.

Five Things To Do This Weekend

1) Go and see Kamikaze Girls, a new Japanese feelgood movie about two fashion-obsessed teens

2) Invest in a name necklace with a difference - this knitted one from Lady Luck!

3) Find out what it's like to be an intern at Teen Vogue

4) Plan a boat trip and dress the part in Lazy Oaf's sassy sailor-girl tee

5) Give your festival-goer face a trial run with a theatrical make-up sesh. A good excuse to splash out on some new glitter eyemake-up, no? (Try Miners, MAC or Screenface.com.)

Spreading the Lulu love

We couldn't help but get excited when we went to the Lulu Guinness autumn winter preview a few weeks ago so we had to share. The range has got a lot younger and funner (is that a word?) with more affordable pieces like this lipsmackingly lovely make-up bag. The range doesn't come out for a few months but in the meantime why not prepare by dejunking your make-up bag? Come on, you know you're never going to wear that dried-out mascara now or ever.

Five Things To Do This Weekend

1) Stock up on American Apparel racer-back vests - size up for a loose fit but with a bikini top underneath for modesty

2) Dig out your old denim jacket but lop the sleeves off for an 08 twist

3) Dress up in your best prom dress and corsage to see Sex & The City

4) Buy some new sunnies - maybe these straight and narrow ones by Miu Miu (we're so over saucer-sized shades)

5) Wear your name in knitting - order one of Lady Luck's new handicraft necklaces

PicL Hedi Slimane/Italian Vogue

Class of 2008

She's the girl we want to hate...but we just can't! Daisy Lowe is one of the stars of the BBC's new must-see programme Class of 2008 following five wannabe London creatives in their quest for the big time. Check it out here.


Pic: http://www.randomfashioncoolness.com/blog/

Going Forward: #9 Tammy

Ooh Tammy do love a prom dress! But we're totally not complaining. The preview for next season was big on girly frou-frou frocks and Luella-worthy hair accessories. The good news is some of this stuff goes in store very soon so keep your peepers peeled.

How to become a fashion-editor-in-training

This is the time of year when all those months of stress and studying come to fruition. It's also the time to bite the bullet and start putting yourself out there. Whether it's work experience, an internship or a job, you'll need to brush up on your interview skills if you're going to take your place in the world of fashion and style magazines. Here are our expert tips to clinching the deal when it comes to fash-mag interviews.

Be organised
Being on time or even early goes without saying but why not bring some extra copies of your CV to hand to the interviewers? This makes their job easier and shows you're the type of person who goes the extra mile and pays attention to detail.

Research the role
If you're applying for work experience in the Elle fashion department, you won't be doing any writing, you'll most probably find yourself 'doing the cupboard' (packing and unpacking samples) along with eleven other 'workies' and should be grateful for it! Find out what you can about the job and company beforehand so you're clued up for the interview and won't be disillusioned.

Be passionate
You're there to prove that this is your dream job and you'll do anything to claim it. Tell the interviewers what they want to hear and flatter them - they'll love you for it!

Big up your blog
When asked if you have any online journalism experience don't just shake your head sheepishly, mention your fashion blog (but make sure you've updated it recently - they might want to read it)! This shows enthusiasm for your subject and commitment, two big plus points.

Learn some names to drop
If you're applying for a magazine job, you're bound to be asked your favourite magazines, designers, stylists and photographers. Learn a few obscure ones for brownie points (Vogue, Mario Testino and Marc Jacobs don't count) and commit them to memory so you don't blank out. If you do go blank, laugh it off and come back to it later on in the interview.

Act confident and you'll be confident
Don't say things like, 'I like to think I have a good eye' or 'I hope I'm organised'. Own your skills and talk them up - never put any doubts in the interviewer's mind!

Everyone fluffs their lines
If you make a major boo-boo just laugh it off and move on. Don't let it wrong-foot you.

Plan ahead
Think of the obvious questions you'll be asked and rehearse your answers. This in itself will give you the confidence that you know your stuff and will minimise last minute nerves.

Don't let nerves put you off
In a recent interview panel we took part in, fifty percent of the interviewees had raging red cheeks and eighty five per cent admitted they were nervous. This is entirely normal so don't let worrying about nerves make you even more nervous! Instead, smile. A lot. This will actually relax you as well as disguising your terror.

Don't babble
Nerves make people talk super-fast and waffle to fill awkward silences. If you catch yourself doing this just try to slow down your breathing and this will help calm your jitters.

Dress to impress
Sartorial no-nos include flip flops, bare arms, visible bra straps, too-short skirts, creased clothes and jangly bangles (too distracting). Avoid a t-shirts-and-jeans ensemble although one or the other is OK if they're highly fashionable and the rest of your outfit shows you've made an effort.

Ask intelligent questions
Always have two or three questions for the end of the interview. Do ask: Are there any opportunities to do extra work for other departments or on other projects? How many people are in the team? What positions have previous interns/assistants gone on to? Don't ask: When will I hear back? How many other people are you interviewing? What are the hours? Save these for the second interview.

Don't forget the beauty department
Free haircuts, make-up samples and spa treatments, hello - what's not to love?! Think outside the box and if you don't get that longed-for fashion internship, consider the beauty department instead.

Remember this:
Sometimes you still don't get the job, even though you were word perfect and the interviewer liked your dress. Don't beat yourself up about it. Quite often the interviewer already has someone lined up but legally has to consider other applicants. Or perhaps, a previous intern applied who already knows the ropes. Sometimes, it's just the way it is. Instead of dwelling on it, remind yourselves of the positives and pat yourself on the back for getting as far as you did. Then get back in the saddle.

Good luck!

(Pic: Teen Vogue)

Going Forward #8: Trainer Mania

We got a sneak preview of the new Onitsuka Tiger collection this week and we're impressed! Our feet are twitching for these new high tops which comes in guys' and girls' sizes...

Five things to do this weekend

1) Buy a bumbag (fannypack) from American Apparel. It's official, they're back!

2) Knot a sweater round your shoulders, euro-tourist style

3) Lust after Fred Flare's faux sunnies. Kanye, what have you started?

4) Check out Agyness Deyn's singing on this video

5) Neaten our nails. Say yes to French manicures, nein to tatty talons!

Walker's Wonderland

So to the Design Museum to check out the Tim Walker exhibition 'Pictures'.It was amazing to see so much of his fantasy-fabulous photography all displayed together in one place but the best bit was surely the display cases overflowing with Walker's sketches, storyboards and scrapbooks. Looking at those you can really see how many ideas didn't make the shoot, there just wouldn't have been enough pages! (Nice to see someone still using Polaroid too...)

Accompanying the exhibition is a very expensive book and some highly collectable postcards. Conclusion: Get down there sharpish.

(Double click on the images to make them bigger.)

Beth Rocks

Check out Beth Ditto at last night's Alexander McQueen shop opening in LA. Go ditto!

Pic: Delinlee at http://blog.honeyee.com

Cheek to chic

We used to work with make-up maestro Daniel Sandler back when he was a mere make-up artist and not the creator of his own maquillage empire. Even then he was the loveliest guy and his make-up know-how is second to none.

Our best buy from his range? These watercolour liquid blushes - now in two new shades - perfect for pepping up a pre-summer pale-face.