Turns out I had a reason for just wanting to lay in bed, I'm ill boohooo just a little bug but anyways after one too many films and grapes I got a bit bored. So I just wanted to take the chance to have a rant at how unfair it is that girls get sucked into unusual, arty individuals that are not so ten a penny back in Manchester nor London for that matter. OH INTERNET.

Here are some really cool photos I took at the Damien Hirst exhibition at Tate Modern where photos were not permitted.

This is my favourite piece of Hirst as it was one of the first spot paintings, I like the dribbles of the spots and how Hirst had to make the decision from this whether he was just going to do spot paintings continuously or explore and continue with art.

I really hate flies but I think this photo is the one I most like although the cows head is completely disgusting I like to look at it in the sense you can work out the muscle from the fat, it smelt really awful too and the flies were too well grown and too many of them to stand and look for long. But overall it was really strange looking at this piece as a whole, a lot like the fish and the pregnant cow, which I'm not sure what I think about to this day.

Feel like hovelling up again into my cell aka student halls. Want to sleep forever but I mustn't there's work to be done as per. I like being busy but I really like my room too, probably a bit too much.

I think it's important to try and learn something from everyone you meet. Whether you've met them or not, as much as people are annoying and just as weird as you thought people could actually get, they're actually pretty interesting. For example I'm pretty interested in social tribes and stereotypes, what they look like, what they're into, why they're into it, that sort of stuff. Why are goths, goths? What are hipsters? What are they trying to say? Is punk really dead? Shit like that.

Theres a whole other reason I'm writing this but I'm not even going to start on that however I think this realisation is good. My balance between deciding whether I hate people on the whole or not each week has made me realise people are strange and thats all there is to it.

Hello! Here are my new reading glasses: 

The sales guy pulled all the cat-eye frames they had in store for me to look at, which wasn't many, these were new in and the only pair in store. Lets put it this way, this particular frame wasn't exactly going to become the next go-to style for the people of Hyde.

I really love wearing  them and I think they're a really good balance of print and silhouette. I even got mentioned in a Specsavers product meeting, as 'fashion student seeks interesting frames' which was cool.

Term 3 is going really well. The assignment this term is all group work based to create a program, magazine and website on a tribe in an interesting area of London. The group I'm in are all really creative and mature, plus we're really organised which helps a lot. 

I was chosen as editor of the magazine, which is brill as my mind kinda works in pages. I'm really eager to get it all completed the best it can be, to what our audience wants and what we as a group. Plus I get to really experiment with the graphics as when I created Boy magazine in sixth form, thats what I found really tricky. Although that was made entirely on Photoshop and now I get to do it all on InDesign! Yes, Adobe nerd! 

Lots of photoshoots coming up again, can't wait! Quirky folk who like to be photographed, London or Manchester bound, get in touch: Sammeh--@hotmail.com

Going to try and squeeze in lots of exhibitions this term, theres so many I want to go and visit. For now, Big Bang Theory is calling.

Home on Friday and I can't wait to see my friends! 

P.s I'm going to Leeds festival again this year! Can't wait to dance around in a field to the Cure! Big hair!

You'll be pleased to know that I'm getting some new reading glasses. At least you should be as my highest and most frequently read post on this blog of mine is this one with 2,134 pageviews! Following that post was a massive post on my very important and super interesting decision making at the holy grail, Specsavers.

Staying up late on tumblr while simultaneously watching Twilight congers up daydreams of the perfect partner and lifestyle. 

Which is why I'd like to take this opportunity to post with you some of my favourite images I've pulled from various sources, tumblr, (if you want it removed blah blah blah) that I've saved for one reason or another.

Sometimes it's because I feel they show a trend or show a certain emotion or sometimes just because they're pretty. 

In my perfect tumblr inspired world I would...

Live like Patsy and Eddy in Ab Fab:

 

And lastly, Robert Pattinson would be my boyfriend and we'd hang out on Portobello because you know, where else would we be:

Upon reflection, this reminds me a lot like my world already... I'm waiting for you Robby/boy who is creative, intelligent yet charmingly scruffy, good hair and who is polite. Are you out there??

It's as if Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen tap into womens inner most secret desires to create The Row in the style of dreams. With every collection, I melt a little more. How I wish I could only wear ribbon flat sandals with every outfit and proceed to layer up in the style of the innate Olsen boho/hippy nack. Instead, I'll just lust after and take inspiration from the shapes and awesome layering techniques of The Row AW12.

Those flawless ribbon flat sandals and possible the best reformation of the 'bum-bag' ever made.

The best all camel look I've seen since Chloe. I especially love the croc bag, its the alternative to the 'satchel'. That coat is so lustrous, its like caramel.

Sheer really works in camel. I yearn to see the back of this jacket! This dress is so elegant and screams Grecian, paired with black sandals.

All images from style.com.

Calvin Klein Collection

This colour is amazing its not coral and its not orange, it's like a kinda Calvin Klein orange. The silver belts throughout really compliment the orange colour in a sort of underwater, corally, mermaid vibe.

I'm a sucker for a waist belt, it would be so good to see these clothes in person to understand what fabrics and embellishments are used but I like the way the light shines on the mesh like material.

I wish I was friends with the girls at Rodarte but I'm not so for now I'm just going to tell you all how much really love this cotton like collar.

In the second look, I'm obsessing over layering with Prints, statement Jackets and waist belts, in this case, all at once!

Theres just too much detail and fab material in this collection I almost can't contain myself. Is it leather? Is it laser cut-out? I like the top half t-shirt fit and the mid length, I would wear this everyday. It's stylish, its interesting, creative and statement without being uncomfortable looking. All I have to say for this second look is: witchy :-) note to self: buy collars.

Leather jackets have been done but this one looks like it has the components of the perfect biker or I'm just really obsessed with cute waist belts, not in the Gok Wan 'lets add a belt' kind of way. I just think belt or no belt, the waist is too beautiful and so important not to acknowledge in design. This suit is definitely channelling the Waterworld effect!

The Witchy effect! Yay for oversized scarfs-attached-to-coats!

Pearlecent! Skirt and jumper combo, my go to in the mornings not going to lie, if only it was Prabal.

Digital print?
This dress got lots of tumblr love, the skirt is so swishy, it reminds me of a swan.

Jason Wu really deserves his own post because of this dramatic new woman hes treated us with. From his previous romanticised, detailed ways we're in awe of this darker more structured look for both us and Wu.

A classic Wu look but harder. Love the furryness. The detail on the cape looks slightly oriental but paired with the leather pant, it hardens the look.

The glasses add a military vibe, I think Wu is reclaiming the Lennon glasses tumblr hipsters once stole! His attention to fine detail and beutiful embelishments are true here in this dress yet here it's more bolder. Note the red and black theme we've seen already in NYFW although this time, the outfits focus colour is red with only a hint of black in a stencil pattern.

All images from style.com.

Betsey Johnson

I adore Betsey Johnson its a dream of mine to go to one of her shows and then visit Pat Field! The first look in this post reminds me Beatniks! The second, a play on the '20s again and then the cute pink outfit for funsies. Those silver boots are so pimped up Scooby Doo style shoes. Betsey makes me love fashion.

DKNY

Donna Karan always says the shoulders never show age, personally I love to the decolletage, especially with a tan but even here so pale and in contrast to the black, with the platform red shoes, the look is streamlined yet powerful.

How good does Donna Karan look! Can I be your friend?

Marc by Marc Jacobs



All images from style.com.

House of Holland

In the mornings I don't know about you but layering and colour seem their most appealing, especially together, I'm not sure if this is because I'm still asleep or I like to mix it up a little in contrast to the grey backdrop of 8am but this is what I like to think I embody from HOH. I like the ruffles of the leather, the leather gloves, the dogtooth jumper and the relationship of colours. Theres some insane layering and textures going on. I'm addicted to a coral lip, I find it suits paler kids which red seems to overpower.

All images from style.com.

That hair. Without sounding too egocentric, this blog is my blog, therefore everything I post I usually LOVE. So as you can see, Carolina Herrera featured some BIG hair for AW12 and I'm a happy bunny. My friend Kyle calls me the Lion out of Luxury Comedy because of my resemblance to him, hair-wise. I heart big hair. I live for big hair. My hairdresser bought a special brush specially for the creation of big hair, because I was ruining my hair without it. I love big hair.

All images from style.com.

 

I can't stop listening to Lizzie Pattinson at the moment, its like Jazz, but good... you know.

 The Boy George hologram is by Edwina Orr and David Trayner. It was so amazing to look at, so life like. It was my favourite piece in the whole Postmodernism exhibition at the V&A. I really like his expression, whatever it may be. I also like the tvs with Neneh Cherry and Visage (I think it was Fade To Grey) kicking myself now for not braving the mud and going to see Neneh at Glastonbury 2011! Check out my blogpost on Neneh Cherry and House of Holland here.

 I've been catching up on Noel Fieldings Luxury Comedy via Youtube, usually late at night, I find it entices vivid dreams. I've noticed on Facebook/twitter, some people are utterly confused by it and find it non-funny despite it being 'Comedy'. I think this is a case of tunnel vision. The program combines music, artist references, live art, performance art, and lots of other things that sound pretentious but are actually really good. I look forward to each episode, each of which are getting better and better. I'm not sure who my favourite characters are but I tweet about it all the time! All thats missing is Jazz but that was Julian Barratt, who I sat opposite on the tube, what a man.

Speaking of tube spotting, I 'had' to sit next to this beaut, Jamie Campbell Bower, on my way to university. Not a bad way to start a day.

Other than this horrid cold I've been battling with, get the violins out, I've been very busy! I'm constantly writing which is a plus, I've gotten back into the habit of reading everything in sight and have been making the effort to setting aside some time with my beloved magazines, like I used to.

I've really missed reading ELLE like I did religiously when I was 14, usually in RE class (I got an A in RE class I'll have you know). I think there was something about coming to the capital, doing the course I've worked so hard to get on and at one of the best fashion schools in the world that was a little too much to adapt to in one go. However now I've passed my first term and already into the second, I feel like I can truely appreciate where I am, my family who support me and how much effort I put in. Its nice to appreciate things to look forward to whats ahead, hardwork will never be underestimated even if its only to satisfy myself. What I'm trying to say it's important not to give up or get lazy and expect everything handed to me.

I'm really looking forward to making a scrap book of all the exhibitions I visit like my friend does, its a good way of reflecting on what you might of seen especially as deadlines get closer. Its comforting to know theres life outside of Word documents.

Fashion week is here hurray! I'll be glued to my Blackberry and online streams this seasons, maybe next season I'll be lucky enough to experience it in person.

In other news, I was snapped on Oxford Street the other day after a Monday at uni, rummaging in the well stocked library in between my lectures, seminars and workshops. It was a great experience as the week before I was back home for the weekend and in Manchester photographing people in the Northern Quarter for my street style essay. So it was interesting to be on the receiving side! The photos were taken by David Nyanzi for Asos magazine so it was a nice start to my week, even with the cold at the time!

Here are a few of my images I took in Manchester's Northern Quarter:

I took these photos in a mission to find a trend to research and write about for an assignment this term. I really like the way these people carry different looks and play with accessories.

Everyone I took photos of in Manchester were so friendly. It was so nice to spend my weekend in my home town city where I used to spend every weekend growing up. Spending my weekends hanging out on Urbis gardens listening to music, back combing my hair and generally up keeping my image through fashion as a teen mosher/scene kid is such a past time for me. 

So it's nice to still be able to come, hang out in town at the weekends in not only the coolest part of town, the Northern Quarter, but actually document the trends and Manchester's youth culture thats happening today. 

Its nice to be able to progress as an individual and still feel apart of it.

I'm near to the full pace of deadline mania so I'm going to keep calm, stay moderately sane, work hard and try to have fun with my work that I love.

So I've survived my first week back at uni and its actually been really good. Getting used to the tube in the morning, the mad dash walk and seeing 7am was a little difficult, I really felt it by the end of the week. This term we're studying cultural studies so its something different and I'm looking forward to learning more about it. 

We're going to be studying the feminism movements which I'm so excited about! There's lots of reading material to get through which will make for a nice change/ valid excuse for my anti-social tendencies.

A late night trek to M&M World was a perfect way of celebrating the end of week (it's open till midnight!) and an article written for one of my favourite websites (link soon) I'm happy its the weekend. 

I've been  really focused on making my room and flat really cosy so I've stuck lots of photos and things to make it all nice. 

I also suggested we move the furniture around in the flat to make it more habitable so we can all sit together :-) We've stuck fairy lights and our fave glossy ads up on the wall, our pin board is yet to be decorated in its entirety. 

Other than meeting the halls mouse this morning (disgusting) we spoke to plantman, across the courtyard from our windows. We've been waving at him all last term. Hes nice and his dads from Manchester, I also guessed right that he was studying Physics without any hint from his room or bedroom habits, which is so freaky but I'm feeling well smug about getting it right. 

Feeling a little sick from the M&Ms.

Real blog post soon.

Usually when I've too many thoughts going on inside my head, I end up feeling like I want to scream the house down and shit on everything and everyone around me, not literally, this is when I blog.

I have plenty of things I am grateful for, which are my reason for getting up in the morning that make me smile at random times of the day, just I end up finding myself in a burst of moodiness where I just proclaim how much 'i hate that program', 'i hate that song', 'i hate these people' instead of snapping out of it and stop being a moody sod.

I'm sick of how I let other peoples negative thoughts on twitter and Facebook have the power to ruin my mood. I should just avoid them altogether. I usually do when I'm under some form of stress, going back to university, however I shouldn't have to, people just shouldn't be so shitty. There, I said it.

I think a final conclusion to this rambling post is people are different and they'll say or do things I won't always agree with. My mums told me I need to be more patient and its true. My mum also told me it should be my resolution, to be more patient with people. And I'm trying, I really am. Its a balance of being happy within yourself, being productive, keeping inspired and controlling those moody bouts, which everyone has. Ahh humans.

I needed a bag for university, my Tony Wilson 'We do things differently here' fabric bag has been over used and I don't want it to brake. I've been eyeing up this fluoro pink Cambridge satchel company bag since I saw a girl in London back in April last year carrying one. It was in the sale at Urban Outfitters, £70 from £105! I think its 13 inches and its real leather. Its beautiful, I was so made up when it came in the post today.

 I had a really wonderful, cider and black hazed, New Years Eve with the wonderful Tori, Kyle and India! They're such fun, lovely, nice people I'm so grateful to know. I always have a good time when I'm with them. Kyle is such a loveable drunk, I've known him since we were put next to each other in Maths, 5 years ago. He though 'great, i'm sat next to this weird mosher girl' while I thought 'whos this geek i'm sat next to, i hope I can copy off him'. He moved up a higher class in Maths soon after but we still remained friends, best friends, and I passed maths. Kyle never let me copy him.

This is me, in Maths and theres Kyles head! Paying attention as usual while me and Kayleigh drew on each other and took plentiful photographs. I'm surprised I passed Maths.

I've grown up avoiding the topic of feminism. Not because I was told to but because whenever I brought it up in conversation no one seemed to really 'know what its about' or it was to simply burn my bra, I was pining for the day when I could actually wear a bra so the thoughts of destroying the beacon of teenagedom put me off from researching further.

All my life I've suffered with this discomfort within my own society. I could ramble on about my society all day but I won't because it makes me unhappy.

I'm going to keep this short as I'm researching Fourth Wave Feminism and how there is such a thing. I am it. We (a few) are too.

Just read this interview: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/magazine/15fob-q4-t.html and note the 'maybe its on the internet'. Which when I read I felt as if everything I felt discomfited by had slotted into place.

Updated, please note: This is written in a casual style, this isn't an essay, feel free to discuss and remember this is only my opinion.

1. A womens personal interests and quirks should be explored not suppressed because of what the media, youth culture and Topshop stuff filters downwards deeming what we should be interested in.
2. Women shouldn’t feel the need to ponder the idea of an eating disorder just to loose weight because their thighs may not be as small as fellow individuals on Facebook who get 100s of meaningless ‘likes’ on the image and what they see on pro-anna tumblrs.
3. Sites like lookbook should celebrate outfits not the people wearing them, no one is tumblr famous, no one needs their own facebook page dedicated to them unless they’re actually doing something good for the world other than taking photographs of themselves on a weekly basis.
4. Tiny shorts at festivals = girls not in tiny shorts are over looked, ignored or seen as boy haters. How dare I cover my own flesh and not allow sleezy, drunken teens to gorp at my pins?? This therefore ruins the atmosphere at festivals as it now feels like a fashion parade, in the pouring rain, instead of the music.
5. The fact I don’t like to be treated like an imbecile by the opposite sex regardless if this is classified as ‘banter’ or not. I will not entertain this, I will not laugh it off and admire you from a far. Respect is a mutual thing, think about it. Therefore don’t be surprised because I will call you out about this.
6. SKINS the program has a lot to answer for. Not only has it glamorised drinking, sex and drugs people actually think acting like the characters makes them cool. I understand Skins was trying to make a point of childrens lives etc how no one knows whats going on behind closed doors but the fact is some people now think waking up to a bottle of vodka, skipping college and smoking weed is ok. Its cool. Some girls feel the need to embrace their bodies as sexual objects attracting any male as they please like the girls did on Skins, its not for everyone, but feel the need to smoke weed and drink heavily themselves. Not that I’m saying they cannot, just they feel if they were to say no this wouldn’t impress that boy in chinos they’ve been facebook stalking for about 2 weeks now. I think its getting serious. I think all of the Skins series is the most shittiest and problematic program ever made and I don’t even think they realise this.
7. Which leads me on to my next point. This think like a man, act like a lady shit. What is that about? Why don’t you just be yourself. Acting like a man does not empower you any more than being a women. Do what you want, this is not an excuse.
8. Facebook ‘get in the kitchen, make me a sandwich jokes’, hilar.
9. What gets me about them is women actually think by using these jokes around males or to their fellow women this adaptation of the male persona will not only make them super attractive to the opposite sex but by doing so generates this aura of cool and faux respect.
10. Becuase I don’t entertain males when i.e meet them when they want, attend all the parties regardless if they’re boring or dare to be realistic in the fact they’re not funny. It’s as if I’m not doing my job as a women by refusing to ‘please’ them. Making them feel good about themselves is not a womens duty.
11. And finally if a girl doesn’t want to go out with a boy it doesn’t make her a lesbian. If a person wants to be gay/bi/straight/lesbian thats ok to WE KNOW THIS. The fact women feel the need to be single to achieve her dreams is sickening as why is it one or the other? I sure feel like it is one or the other. Career or husband/family? It shouldn’t be like this, but I sure as hell feel like it has been categorised still into one or the other and I’m not having it. I want a good career and Patrick Verona by my side.

Every year I self diagnose myself with SAD:

'SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a type of winter depression that affects an estimated 7% of the UK population every winter between September and April, in particular during December, January and February.'

You may or may not laugh but its very serious. Not only do I hate everyone more than usual, when I'm awake I'm usually napping and when I'm trying to sleep I'm wide awake. I feel like utter crap and no matter what I seem to do, nothing can comfort me or make me feel happy. Even googling tips on blocking SAD makes me feel even worse.

Light therapy? I just want to laugh! 
So I've came up with my own. I think you'll like them.

1. Eat brownies.

Don't feel bad about craving both carbs and sweet things. I live for sugar but my dentist loves me because I take good care of my peggys. So brush your teeth.

2. Listen to new music.

Theres nothing worse than listening to 8tracks or your iPod even on shuffle and listening to the same songs you've been listening to for the past 2 months. I find I attach certain feelings and emotions to songs therefore listening to them when I'm in a mood, just makes me feel even worse. I like to hit the 'Next Mix' button on 8tracks to listen to other peoples music taste. You can find new songs to love and old ones you've forgotton about. If this seems like to much of an effort, I understand I really do, a good dose of the Smiths (click for a youtube playlist) always works.

3. Lipstick, eye-liner, moisturiser.

To me make-up is just something I wear most days but not everyday. I like to put on the clothes that make me happy such as my Smiths t-shirt and tie dye skirt, backcomb my hair, spray my perfume, moisturise like a bitch and layer on the eyeliner. If you don't wear make up this is something you could try, you can experiment with mad eyeliner and lipstick colours in the comfort of your own home. Your flatmates/parents will give you funny looks but they'll admire you for trying something new. If you're fed up of applying your face, take it off and wear Johnsons moisturiser. Its so dreamy. I love to wear just this and liquid eyeliner :-) 

4. Cup of tea and DVD dates with yourself.

Bring gummy bears.

5. Buy a new magazine.

Or a new book. You can pick it for its content thats ok I guess but choose one which design and photography and typography and styling inspires you. I've been meaning to buy Lula for years but was worried it was to girlie and airy fairy for me however the 'girl of my dreams' issue really appealed to me, I'd do anything for a Wednesday inspired wardrobe. If you've been reading my blog since the start you'll know I've been reading Dracula since my first year at college, because I've always wanted to and to freak people out.

6. Stay off tumblr.

No one needs to make a facebook fan page dedicated to themselves. No one.

7. Read your horoscope.

Then scoff at it if its not what you were expecting. Then bbm or message your friend for a good chat about that lad you like and how hes not emotionally available, or replying to your tweets. My good friend, unnamed, and I like to construct plans where we 'acciendely' run into Ed Sheeren(notforme)/Matt Lewis(forme). This really helps, though we do actually genuinely believe they will work. You know who you are.

8. Exercise, just do it.

Everyone enjoys it you just need to find out whether you enjoy sweating like a pig or stretching into crab positions. Do whatever makes you feel like you've had a good workout, google the possibilites. Jillian Michaels is like my fairy god mother. I cry during these workouts which strangley helps my SAD.

9. Zombie games.

My flatmates must think I'm a tiny bit strange because I like to turn up the volume just to get some power behind my pixelated gun. When I'm home my little sister and I have been gamers since the ps1, progression to the xbox, we play them all. My favourite, Saints Row 3. The missions in this game are actually good, I get bored easy but these keep me engaged. Theres nothing like coming home to hijacking cars, shooting down helicopters and joyriding moterbikes in nipple tassles, after a grey day. This might just be me. I'm sure there are some more PG games out there, the Sims I find is my go to in the holidays. The Sims Urbz is my favourite theres more creative control for your Sim, plus I'm pretty obsessed with the soundtrack.

10. Do leave the house.

Especially when its frosty and sunny. Make the most of the rays and make sure you meet the friends that will make you laugh, in a good way. I find rum helps.

11. And finally...

Don't compare your life to those of others. Facebook lies, get off it now. Actually just get off the internet for a few hours altogether. Read a book. You'll feel better.