Sunday 3 November 2013

I feel like a snowman

Or at least like I am living with snowmen. It has become scarily cold over the past few days. Aside from buying fur lined gloves and spending a tad more on electricity bills so that getting home isn't colder than the outside, I have purchased a new coat. And boy is it good. 


When people say to me 'the picture doesn't do it justice, you have to see it on', I usually think, 'yeah its not great' and brush it off. But this coat...oh my. A blend of cotton and wool makes it the softest thing on Earth. It is warm and incredibly stylish and very flattering when on. (This is the coat I bought, so I am extremely biased) At £195 it is definitely an investment piece, but one that will last for years. frenchconnection.com 

x

Thursday 17 October 2013

Returning as an old lady

Well, not quite OLD old, but still. 21 is quite big!

I took the last month off blogging due to a crazy schedule. I've just started back at university for my third (and very scary) year. It's been intense. And stressful. So a week in the sun for my birthday was also very much needed!

I am also extremely excited to share with you all that I am going to be doing some more blog pieces for the lovely Lauren at nakedfashions.com! It's been amazing working with her during fashion month and hopefully it will only get better!

This week sees my return to university and the real world. After catching up with vague and once again, scary briefs it really is time to get cracking and start preparing for my dissertation! I'm very excited to be working a live brief with the wonderful people at L'Oreal and Kiel's! It is a competition as well as a major part of my final year, so I will keep updating my progress!

For now though, I am going to focus this post on fashion. More precisely, the trend of wine, damson and all those lovely oxblood colours. This colour pallet is perfect for autumn winter, and with a massive climate shock like the one I have just had (Tenerife vs a cold and wet UK) looking good needs to be cosy too.

My wine must haves vary from accessories to clothes to makeup, and I want them all. Badly.

1. The essential blazer



This gorgeous burgundy blazer from Ted Baker features stunning branded buttons, a beautiful printed lining and elbow patch detailing. Ted loves hidden elements that make his customers smile; this jacket features a red mustache on the coat loop inside. MODESTA, £249 available at tedbaker.com

2. The wardrobe must have tee

French Connection know exactly what to do when it comes to essential must haves, and their new Polly Plain tops are just that. My favourite is this stunning wine colour, with a silky front and jersey back,  but they are available in different colours. My neighbouring French concession at work sells tons of these, and at only £27, it is clear why. frenchconnection.com

3. The velvet shoe

Labelled the Geek shoe, these velvet wonders from TopShop are far from geeky. Teamed with barefeet or cute ankle socks, these shoes are perfect to brighten the cold cloudy days ahead. £32 topshop.com

4. The lippy

OK. So I know that this lippy is a little redder than the rest of the colours in my burgundy post, but its so badly needed! Named Maneater, this little beauty from Illamasqua, the people who do makeup for your alter ego,  is a perfect compliment to the burgundy tones in your outfit. £16.50 illamasqua.com

5. The bag

Once again I'm in love with the simplicity and beauty of the Cambridge Satchel Company's bags. In stunning oxblood leather, this bag is ideal to complete your outfit. £116 asos.com


x



Monday 16 September 2013

Black Tied

I love jewellery. I'm a sucker for anything shiny, with sparkles, and pieces that I can wear everyday. 

I do have my favourite pieces that I wear on a daily basis, like my antique blue stone necklace, but I love it when new favorites appear.

That is exactly what I got from the lovely people at Black Tied.

Their lovely handmade pieces all the way from Ireland arrived at my door last week, and I have been in love ever since.

My favourite pieces have to be the beautiful triangle black stone earrings. They are so light, and go with everything!! I can wear them to work to glam up my Saturday outfit, and with jeans and a top for dinner or shopping. I also love the rings. These sit at the tips of your fingers and look amazing!

I'd really like to thank the lovely Laura at Black Tied for all of her help and advice; and for supporting fashion bloggers like me.

Have a look at their beautiful website, you won't be disappointed. 

Www.blacktied.co.uk

Sunday 8 September 2013

It's all happening this month!




We are now firmly in Fashion Month, and with so many shows, beautiful clothing and people to write about, I am feeling very lucky to have been given the opportunity to contribute articles to www.nakedfashions,com !

This lovely little website ran by the fantastic Lauren Johnstone reports on everything fashion, from high end high-street to luxury goods.

My first report, on Victoria Beckham's NYFW collection is available to read here.

x

Saturday 7 September 2013

Big Name Collaborations

We've seen many big name collaborations over the past few years, from Versace and H&M to McQueen and Puma, however this season, it is the turn of the photographer.

Karen Millen, French Connection and Marks and Spencer have all teamed up with world renowned photographers to create stunning advertising campaigns and look books for their autumn winter 2013 collections.

At KM, a beautiful portrait look book was created by David Bailey. In preparation for their global expansion, KM wanted to create something visually stunning and beautiful. Baileys portraits aim to show the brands story of 'creativity and craftsmanship'. The beautiful precision of the images he creates are a perfect reflection on the stunning quality and care that Karen Millen put into every garment.



French Connection took a different route. With their AW13 collection going back to the brands roots as a grungy, shocking and risqué brand, they have certainly ticked all of the boxes with the help of Rankin. His campaign, the first ran by his new agency, The Full Service, offers the customers a chance to see how a garment is created and developed to be a garment for purchase. The cleverly titled From Sketch to Store, features completely naked models, who have had a garment sketched on top of the print by illustrator Jo Bird. The model is then photographed in the actual garment. This campaign has shocked and sent ripples of awe and astonishment through the fashion world, which is just what they wanted to achieve.




Finally, we come to Marks and Spencer, who’s latest TV campaign has been shot by Annie Leibovitz. The campaign, featuring some of the most influential women in the UK including Katie Piper, Monica Ali and Darcey Bussell, embodies the brand perfectly. Their aim is to show intelligent, confident women who have innate personal style. The sheer variety of women featured; from singers, visionaries and campaigners, truly shows these women as pioneers within their field. Annie does a beautiful  job of capturing their beauty, intellectuality and of course, a stunning AW13 collection.  



x

Tuesday 3 September 2013

Bag To School

...appologies for the cheesy line

But sadly, it is that time of year again. Time to dust off the text books that were 'lost' under the bed all summer. Time to put fresh batteries in the calculator that will see the life of day once or twice, and most important of all, time to ensure your bag is the best damn bag school, uni or college has ever seen. Ever.

My little sister is a lover of individual bags, and got her uber cool Lazy Oaf backpack (below) from the lovely people at ASOS.

So, since this is a studenty type post and ASOS offer a lovely little discount with your NUS card, it only seems fair to post my top 5 must have bags from their website. Afterall, a new bag makes all the difference.
 
1. The new bowler
 

 
 
The asos animal bowling bag is perfect for some of the safari prints that will be creeping into our AW13 wardrobes this season. And what better way to show your individuality than with a bold print next to a dull school uniform. ASOS £75
 
 
2. The designer backpack
 

The gorgeous people at Matt and Nat have created this wonderfully simple, practical yet stylish leather look backpack just to make your new term that little bit nicer. With an eco friendly lining made from recycled plastic bottles too, this back is good for you and the environment. £80
 
3. The colour block tote
 

Totes have long been a symbol of education. They are spacious enough to throw in a plethora of books, pencils and detention notes, and can sometimes even squeeze in some lunch. They have never been as stylish as they are today. A world away from cotton tote shoppers (ideal for PE kits and carting overdue books back to the library), this Warehouse tote brings a bit of colour into our otherwise dull morning registrations and makes going out and learning that little bit easier. And at £38, she's a keeper.
 
4. The faithful satchel
 
As you can see from the HUGE banner below this bag (which I was unable to remove due to lack of Photoshop today), this bold colour block satchel from the Cambridge Satchel Company is an ASOS exclusive. This bag is a little more pricey, but will last a long time. Personally, I really want this bag to make my third and final year at university that little bit less stressful, and with it being my favourite colour, it's bound to brighten even the most horriffic of library all nighters. £115
 
5. Lecture theatre to bar

Every hard working university or college student knows the vital importance of attending those delightful 9am lectures. Usually followed by a highly productive group meeting or tutorial. However, when the end of the day (or lunch time) comes, this juicy wine coloured Dune bag is the ideal thing to take us from lecture to bar. With a spacious inner compartment, fitting a notebook and your makeup bag in will be a breeze. £65
 
All of these lovely bags are available at www.asos.com
 
My sister begins year 10 tomorrow (good luck!), whereas I have another 26 blissful days off (doing work work and third year prep...yey).
 
Have a great first day, you'll do great.
 
x

Tuesday 27 August 2013

My dissertation is going to be one hell of a tasty project

I'm about to enter my third year at university. And I'm scared. Not of the work load or the pressure or the late night InDesign and Photoshop sessions; but of getting fat.

I'm not self-conscious of my body, I'm proud of my curves. I eat healthily, and enjoy desserts and cakes as much as the next person, but I'd never starve myself to live up to the scrawny standard of the industry I will graduate into (the fashion industry that is). Raw celery is far too dull!

This is why one of the reasons I have decided to do a non-fashion based dissertation. Don't get me wrong, I love fashion. I love the excitement, the clothes, the new collections, the bitchiness of the behind the scenes fitting rooms, but food will always trump it.

James Martin's double raspberry bakewell tart is on my list of things to try this year


I believe love of food can begin anywhere. I fell in love with baking and cookery as a tiny child, being fed interesting and exciting dishes whilst my friends gorged themselves on Happy Meals and tinned spaghetti. I had my own restaurant in the kitchen, where menus were written in an illegible hand, but adored by my hungry guests. My cookery skills are purely the work of my parents; who discovered a world of exciting flavours and new dishes as teenagers, and passed their skills and natural flair down to me. Also, to my Nanna, a wonderful woman who loves baking, and would put up with silly requests for currantless scones (after they had been baked) just to keep a smile on a child's face.

My love of food is also deeply nestled in the literature I read as a child. Food takes you to another place, where houses are built of gingerbread and rivers run wild with comforting currents of melted milk chocolate. Roald Dahl is my inspiration behind encouraging new and exciting dishes. His words, passion and wonder made each element of his tales come alive. I too travelled on the giant peach with James, and tasted its sweet nectar as it balanced precariously atop the Empire State Building. I also learnt an important lesson from a friendly giant; “The human bean is not a vegetable.”

My project will explore the importance of eating local produce when possible. After the rise of the horsemeat scandal, and the creation of a lab grown burger, knowing what goes into our food is becoming increasingly more important.

I firmly believe that we should support our local butcher, invest in local vegetables, try local cheeses and of course, buy British. Food festivals are a great way of exploring all of the great produce we as a country. They offer tasters, great information about how best to cook your steaks and how to prepare fish, and most of all are fun to go to.

Over the next year I will be posting my usual fashion pieces, along with foodie adventures, new recipes and, as I mentioned earlier, progress of my ever widening waist line....

...a gym membership will be opened when term starts.


x

Monday 26 August 2013

Head Over Heels

* or rather, head over flats.

As you know, I cannot walk in high heels. This has nothing to do with my fashion views or inability to pull off a beautiful pair of killer heels, I simply have back issues. And back issues mean a lifetime in flats.

Now, as much as I love the footwear I have been given for the rest of my days, sometimes finding new and exciting flat shoes can be a nightmare. I have tried the simple chelsea boot (love love love), and have worn the humble black pump with various additions to death in the past few years. So today, when checking my instagram feed, I fell in love. And fell hard.

These little beauties are The Hobes. Launched in early 2010, Hobes founder Georgia Hobart filled a gap in the Australian shoe market that needed filling badly. Her wonderful creations are very simple, very classic, but are an instant hit. And, being crafted by hand shows that little but of extra love for your feet. They aren't just for aussies though; international shipping is offered. (Please come soon student loan)

With the recent craze taking over celebrities and fashion followers wallets alike for a pair of shoes in every colour, you can certainly do that here. My current favourites are the silver sparkler hobe and the original hobe in a stunning royal navy.

Original Hobe in Royal: $159



Sparkler Hobe in Silver:$169

This could well be the start of my very own 'shoe in every colour' collection. I wouldn't regret a single pair.

x

Saturday 17 August 2013

Oasis Wish List

Wish lists are not good for me. Whenever I see a new collection and dream of what pieces would be perfect in my wardrobe, my purse tells me no. This week however, I've fallen in love with Oasis all over again, and I just can't say no. Their key trends this season consist of bold animal prints and busy florals, perfect to clash with each other or to go head to toe in print. Here is my favourite outfit from their animal collection, and of course, accessories to complete the look! 

1. The printed trouser

As I'm sure many of you are aware, I love a good printed trouser. I've never really worn anything as bold as these however, but teamed with the blazer and top below, this outfit is to die for, and will certainly turn a few heads. These are not just a wish list item, but a 'next time I'm in town you will be mine' item. £42

2. The bold red top

Being a blonde, red is a colour that I cannot get enough of. When teamed with the leopard print trousers above, this top adds a pop of colour and excitement to the outfit whilst not upstaging the print. And being silk, it feels incredible too. £48

3. The outfit completing boyfriend blazer

Now, I love a blazer as much as the next person, but sometimes they are a little too formal or a little too bold. Not this little beauty. Throw this over the shirt and trousers above, and let your outfit o the talking. Camel is such a classic and understated colour, and truly goes with everything. This jacket not only competes my wish list outfit, but is super versatile in my wardrobe, and will even look cute with tea dresses. At £70, this is a key piece to invest in this season.

4. The flat

Every girl needs a good pair of heels, and ones that cannot walk in them, need a good pair of flats. And boy can these be hard to come by. Oasis have created my dream shoe. A classic colour (also available in red), combined with a classic shape, and just a hint of metal tipped cheekiness, these top off my outfit perfectly. £38

5. A 'to die for' handbag

The Hudson handbag has done wonderful things to fashion this season. With its incredible price, amazing variety, and bang on trend trapeze shape. if you don't get one of these for winter you will be missing out. As the tech savvie store knows a thing or two about getting its customers excited, Oasis have recently closed their Hudson handbag competition where a customisable bag was the prize. Sadly, I missed this chance at an amazing prize, but with so many styles and colours available, I don't really mind. £40 (I'll take three please)

Oasis, you've made a girl very very happy. And at the end of the month, this outfit will be mine.

X







Sunday 11 August 2013

3 hours to go

With less than three hours till #IDGAF Magazine launches online (for free), I have some serious butterflies in my tummy. I am more than excited to share the link at 7pm with you all, and to see what my first official articles as a fashion writer are looking like!! 

To keep you excited for now, here is our cover, and incredible cover star, Vince Kidd.




I know this is going to be one hell of an exciting adventure, and hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing for it!

Keep checking my twitter feed and @IDGAFmagazine for that all important link!

X

Friday 9 August 2013

Vince Kidd goes Tribal for IDGAF Magazine


I can finally reveal my very exciting news…We’re only two days away from launching!

I am lucky enough to be a part of a team creating a new online magazine called #IDGAF, or I Don't Give a Funk, which is due to launch online this Sunday at 7pm!

The magazine will showcase everything outrageous, bold and creative about fashion, music and culture, and will be packed full of incredible articles, trend predictions, street style, photography and more! We represent a rebellion against stereotypes in fashion and aim to showcase the unusual, the unexpected and of course; the craziest fashion.

If this sounds like your kind of thing, I have been sent some cheeky sneak peeks at behind the scenes of our cover image shoot, starring the wonderful Vince Kidd.




Vince is an incredible guy with an incredible talent, and an even more incredible sense of style.  Since reaching the final of the voice, with vocal chords that give you chills, Vince has gone onto great things. Having written songs for a variety of artists, and with style influences Lady Gaga and Prince, it’s no wonder we selected him for our launch issue. Vince’s tribal inspired shoot, featuring some incredible designs and shot by one of our lovely photographers, is a key menswear trend for this year. From garment to accessory, your IDGAF look will not be complete without it.

We're keeping the final cover image under wraps for now, but will be launching this just before the website goes live. If you want to be amongst the first to see what the wonderful talent behind the magazine have created, what trends to be wearing this summer, and who our hot new designers are for this season, follow @IDGAFmagazine on twitter, and keep checking my blog for the all important link.


x

Thursday 8 August 2013

Ted To Toe


Working for a designer brand is not easy. There is temptation at every corner, and on a part time wage, and as a student, completing my Ted-drobe is very tricky. At Ted, we aim to get our lovely customers in Ted to Toe, a full outfit with the seal of approval from the big man himself. From my Autumn Winter 13 wish list from Ted Baker, these are my five must haves.

1. The Dress
This is the gorgeous IZZIE dress. My favourite print of this season, Oil Painting, makes this dress beautifully unique. Fitted like a body con, but ideal for big hips like mine due to the clever little ruche on the left hip hides a multitude of sins. Get this little beauty for £139 (I'm lucky enough to be wearing this at work this season)



2. The Bag
CANTICO is a bag with tricks up its sleeve. It's made from the highest grade leather and is currently available in this warm caramel and black. With two thin leather wrapped metal handles, and a removable leather shoulder strap, CANTICO is large enough for all the daily rubbish we fill our bags with, and still looks stylish on a night out. At £199 she is a definite investment piece, but one that will last a long long time. 



3. The Shoes

These little beauties are a Ted favourite. The slipper style shoe has been reinvented several times over the past few years, but never like this.  SEARY comes in two colours, this lovely light leopard print, and in a darker grey, both with the lovely gold metal capped toe. Ideal as a print clash with our lovely florals, or with skinny rolled up jeans and a comfy knit, these will brighten the darkest winter night. £110


4. The Knit


If this hot pink isn't your thing, this stunning OHAVIA peplum knit dress comes in a soft baby pink too. Again, this shape is a firm Ted favourite, and looks great thrown over a pair of skinny jeans and boots, or dressed up on a night out with heels. £99


5.  The Trousers


My final must have this autumn are SAFFIRE, the ankle grazing, super comfy trousers. Available in forest green as shown and black, they are a modern take on suit trousers if worn at work, or a comfier, more fashionable change to your skinny jeans. Ideal with chiffon tops, bold printed shirts and of course, my must have shoes! £109 

These little beauties are available in House of Fraser concessions (like my lovely one, pop in and say hi if you're in Nottingham!), selected John Lewis stores and of course, at the gorgeous Ted Baker Stores. You can also get them online here.

This post isn't just a marketing ploy by the way. I am genuinely in love with these designs and think they are a great asset to any winter wardrobe!

x

Saturday 3 August 2013

Exciting times

As you may or may not know, I don't have much of a social life, and because of this the small things in my day make a huge impact.

Today I opened a new shampoo. Raspberry to be exact. (And yes, my hair smells amazing) 

Another thing that made my day was the new bits my neighbouring concession at work received in this week. Not great when you,re on a student budget, but a quiet afternoon allows for maximum 'wishing I had you in my wardrobe' time. 

Today's favourites are:

£80 for the dress!!!! And, lucky students get 15% discount with their cards! My loan can't come quickly enough! 

Incase you can't quite see the stunning bag in the above photo, here's a closer look:
Proper bag porn. £275. Slightly out of budget, but with its stunning metal corners, exquisite finishing and a removable shoulder strap, this is all I need in my AW13 wardrobe to be happy!

Finally, every winter wardrobe needs a cost knit, and by god this is cosy:
£72. But trust me; it's worth it. Layered over some skinny jeans, leather look leggings or even shorts and chunky tights and boots, this screams fashion but also keeps you super toasty :)

While you all go running to the French Connection website to drool over their new bits, I'm going to sell my life on eBay so I too can gorge on their creative beauty.

If you have time, check out their incredible new campaign for the winter, created by Rankin's new agency. I have a post on this in the running with online magazine #idgaf (due to launch online mid august) but if you can't wait that long, have a look at this:



Tonight consists of chocolate pancakes, cuddles and a long long sleep. Looking at clothes all day makes a girl sleepy!

X

Friday 2 August 2013

Sudden Epiphany

As I was washing the dishes this afternoon I realised something. Something huge. Something which, if overcome, could mean all of the crazy little day dreams I have far too many times in a day to be normal would become true. I wouldn't say what I am having is a quater-life crisis, or that these thoughts are the more sensible ponderings my drugged up on pain killers drowsy mind is producing; its more a realisation.

I'M SCARED OF EVERYTHING


Yes I understand that everyone has phobias (clowns and spiders and creepy children), but this is different. It's all to do with my personality. I'm too nice. I don't like to let people down or make them feel bad due to what I really think, so I keep everything inside, or go to a lot of effort to ensure that I do everything possible for them. Take for example a recent group project. Crappy group, lack of dedication to the project or the grade = one stressed blonde who thinks everything will be fine because she will pull the extra weight and try and fix the cracks. Sadly my human polyfiller approach once again went tits up. No bad comments on my behalf, but as a group, we sucked. And boy was I annoyed. But again, the only people who heard this was my lovely welsh friend, my boyf and the parents.

I think this is one of the reasons I have become a fair-weather blogger. I make the decision that I am going to write something that, even if it influences or touches the mind of one person then my work here is done. I am committed for a week then get distracted by something shiny or biscuit shaped. I'm scared that my opinion will once again be lost within the crowd of incredible talent within the world, and indeed, within my course. There must be at least one blog per person on my course in my year (around 80 people?) and numerous before and after me, so why read mine?

This is where the epiphany came from.

I want to be a writer, and so far, thanks to an amazing project I am currently working on, this is soon to be a weekly reality. But I want more. It's all well and good being given things to write about on a weekly basis, but I want to express myself too. Welcome to my online diary.

I will stick to this I promise! I will be posting regularly, once a week if not more, and will open my heart and share my fears and dreams with the internet, and hopefully a few interested readers. Internet, you will be my psychiatrist. I will tell you everything about the dreaded third year at university, share with you the ups and downs (more ups I hope), with a few lovely fashion finds, foodie favourites and fingers crossed, news of a career with my dream magazine thrown in too.

This is a diary of a romantic cliche with back problems, who cannot walk in high heels.

x



Friday 29 March 2013

Navigation


Navigation

Navigating our way through the chaos of the digital world has become increasingly difficult. Only through grasping the art of Navigation and mathematics can clarity be achieved, and we can filter structure from the chaos.

This navigational clarity stems from discovering logical paths to uncover the beauty in a world we need to reconnect with. Mathematical sequences such as the Fibonacci appear in all aspects of nature, and design is increasingly influenced by this. The Fibonacci sequence allows greater understanding of our planet, rather than seeking new planets and locations to navigate around.

The endless strife for perfection in our everyday lives; from technology to relationships, shows similarities to mathematics striving for the golden ratio. The beauty of pure mathematics often goes unseen; however this trend will embrace purity and show its perfect minimalism to a maximal world.

Geometrical repetition and symmetry will be a key element within Navigation. Its aim is to offer new and enlightened perspectives within our natural and manmade world. Prints from this trend will be seen across interior design and fashion, using a simple colour palette so as not to distract from the beauty of the mathematics it is influenced by.

As 3D printing is becoming increasingly popular, and available to those outside of the professional industry, artists such as Daniel Widrig will have a strong influence over the Navigation trend. London based Widrig has previously created groundbreaking works using 3D printing, including a dress created in collaboration with Iris Van Herpen in 2011. Through his desire to reshape the boundaries between maths, technology and the creative arts, there will be an 
increased use of 3D printed garments within the fashion industry.

. Mathematic principles will influence pattern, cutting and form of garments, and will be seen in the creation of new architecture (mostly inspired by Fibonacci) and in interior design through layouts and graphics. 

Monday 25 March 2013

Trend Report 2014


Spring Summer 2014 paves the way for a change in the way we perceive our world. Trends in mens’, womens’, print and graphics, creative direction and visual merchandising will all be influenced under this mega trend.

New Perspectives embodies the structured chaos we currently live in, and strives to create new realities; new experiences. Sub trends emerging from new perspectives include the strong influence of mathematics in order to create perfection and peace within our hectic, digital world. Techno Animism is set to be another major trend in spring summer 2014, with our growing desire to create an emotive relationship with the technology we rely so heavily on. Our lives are so linked with the digital, that technology has become a spiritual escape for some, and Techno Animism is set to showcase just that.

The final major trend of New Perspectives is Clarity; the desire to escape the noise of our digital age and reconnect with nature and the universe. This trend is set to provide an outlook to a future which could include parallel universes, and lands undiscovered. Heavily influenced by folklore, this trend relies on creating a sense of belonging within social groups.


Sunday 17 March 2013

Short break

After a much needed but short break from blogging, I've come back with news!

I have recently started my very first internship, at Nottingham based trend library, Designer Forum! Alongside basic office work such as email, telephone enquiries and database work, I will be writing for them on a weekly basis on the upcoming trends within the world of fashion, and on any key developments we stumble across.

My aim here is to build on my writing skills and become more confident around others, so that in future when I apply for my dream job, i have the potential to succeed!

Some articles will also be posted on here for you lovely lot as well :)

My next few projects at uni are set to be pretty cool, and with Nottingham's 48 hours of fashion looming in April, there's a lot to write about and get involved with!