Confessions of a Fashion Editor

An actual blog post, this time, I swear (Film, TV, and reads for the weekend from hell)

Amy C Thompson — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:42:32 +0000

I just wrote a rather rushed and crazy blog post, which I'm about to delete, which essentially told you how I'm no longer sceptical about Young Blogger of the Year, as I made the shortlist... You can support me HERE, if you're eligible.

Big cheery thanks to everyone who supports and reads this blog, but most especially Florrie, who has been reading all the entries and making her point, and should probably have been made a judge already. But whatever.

Unfortunately, I won't win, as I won't be able to be at the prize-giving, due to Uni interviews, but any support is still gladly welcomed.

So, before my mind self-combusted with this news, I was about to post a blog about what I'm reading and watching and stuff this weekend, and as a Young Blogger of the Year nominee, I'd better keep my blog's quality up, ha ha ;)

So, back to the plan, then...

Firstly, this is the weekend from hell because... it's St Nicholas' Fair in York, which means that on top of the resident Chritmas shoppers, there are also tourist Christmas shoppers, and so I am going to be busier than a very busy bee at work this weekend. So, I think I need to relax with some film, telly, and a magazine...

What to watch... (Films)

Two things to say on this one...

So, this weekend, I will actually be watching "Ratatouille", a cute pixar flick about a rat who likes to cook, because I'm spending my Saturday night babysitting, but that doesn't matter one jot, because of "New Moon", a film which I grudgingly enjoyed, when I went to see it last week.

IMAGE SOURCE: HERE

The thing is, I used to be one of those crazy fan-girls. If you click "Articles" at the top of this blog. you'll even find one I wrote defending the "Twilight" series as not being misogynistic. All I can say is that I was naive and (um, a year) young(er) when I wrote it... or, that I wasn't such a loud feminist as I am now.

Or something.

This isn't to say that I hate the books, or the films, because I don't. I adore the first book. It's cute, it's romantic, and there's nothing too misogynistic about it. From then on, they go down hill, however. The films, conversely, seem to get better as they go on - or, at least, this one is better than the last. On the other hand, it couldn't have been much worse.

So, now we come to the reason I tell you this; it's a round-about way of saying "I think you should read this article, because it is so, so right". And, this is the article, right here.

On balance, then, I don't have a film to recommend. I just wanted y'all to read that article. But whatever.

And now, What to watch, on TV...

As a South Welsh lass at heart, and one who has been to both Barry Island and Billericay, I have to have to have to recommend "Gavin and Stacey"'s new series to anyone! I watched it last night, and I have to say that this is the first time I've ever truly understood why it's called a comedy. Before, I found it sweet, as a drama, but it never made me giggle all that much.

Yesterday, though, I laughed a lot. :) Yay new series of "Gavin and Stacey" - you are awesomely heart-warming and sweet...

Although, I've yet to work out how exactly Nessa and Stacey ever became friends; Ness is crass, loud, and kind of gothy, where Stacey is cute and sweet and cuddle-able. Ho hum.

Go iPlayer it. Pretty please.

And finally... What to read...

I have to say, for this one, that you should all head down to your local H&M and pick up their free magazine; the photography is stunning, the articles aren't so bad at all, and the 25 things to do for a Happy New Year piece inside the back cover is insightful and inspiring... it's on the wall above my desk, to keep me smiling, and keep me going.

Go get one. Now. It's free, after all.

Happy weekend, and maaaaan, it's good to be back!

LoveLoveLove

- A -

Five Minutes With... What Katie Wore

Amy C Thompson — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:24:10 +0000

Katie Mackay is a fashon blogger on a mission - every day this year, she has been wearing a different outfit. The blog's principle is simple; Joe writes the words. Katie wears the clothes... and the aim is a different outfit every single day! That's one hell of a challenge!

Over the past few months, the blog has grown into something of a phenomenon, featured in numerous magazines, including the Guardian Weekend magazine (where I discovered them) and Marie Claire South Africa.

So, with the end of the project in sight, how does she feel about the whole crazy thing?

Katie kindly took five minutes out of her manic fashion-and-work schedule to speak to me about it...

1. Where did the original idea for What Katie Wore come from?
It was all Joe's idea. I think it was the combination of me moaning to him

that he had never written me a love letter, and the increasing frequency of style bloggers and trend scouts stopping me in the street to ask to take my photo that made him think that perhaps he could create a blog that solved both of those!

2. Have you found it difficult to wear a different outfit everyday?
You know what, it's not been as tough as I thought it might be. I think it's become a habit now - even when I'm knackered or hungover I think I my mind works on auto-pilot thinking about new outfit possibilities when I open my wardrobe each morning.

3. You were ill a couple of weeks back - it can't have been easy to smile for the camera and dress interestingly then...?
Oh it was terrible - Joe came home each evening from work and added accessories to my pyjamas or tracksuit bottoms to try to make me look a little more interesting. But I was so sick that I think I look like a very sad wee girl in all the photos! And the only reason there's one with me wearing sunglasses is because I was crying because I felt so dreadful.

I guess it shows our commitment to the blog that we kept going through swine flu!

4. Have you ever woken up (during this project) and thought "Oh, God, not again"?
Weirdly not - even when I've had a very very late night the night before, it's almost as if wearing something different every day is a good way to detract from my worse-for-wear face!

5. Which outfit of all that you have worn has been your favourite?
Ooh that's a very tough one! I don't think I could possibly choose my favourite. When I look back over the blog, I actually still surprise myself with some of the outfits I've put together - good and bad!

6. Can you imagine the project's end?
No not at all - and it's so close now. I'm not sure what we'll do when it's finished.

7. What are your favourite clothes labels?
At the moment, I'm enjoying some really great things from New Look and Cos, and loving that winter has arrived so I can accumulate more fabulous hosiery from Tabio and Wolford. And as I'm sure everyone who reads the blog knows, my favourite place to shop is TK Maxx - there are lots of surprises to be discovered if you take the time to dig around. I'm loving the two Luella coats I found there a few months ago.

Accessories-wise I really love Tatty Devine, and I've also been lucky enough to have been sent some really fab pieces from people who're making statement pieces that are really playful which is right up my street!

8. If you could only wear one designer for the rest of your life, who would it be?
Oh that's a really, really tough one! I guess I'd have to be torn between Moschino Cheap & Chic, Marc Jacobs and Sonia Rykiel - they all have the kind of playfulness that would ensure everything I wore had enough quirkiness in it to keep me entertained.

But that said, I think I'd probably rather have a rule that I could only wear something from TK Maxx for the rest of my life - I love the bargain hunt and the surprises that throws up!

9. You must have the largest wardrobe on the planet! Where do you like to shop? (And how long have all your clothes been accumulating?!)
Not really - you'd be amazed just how much storage space there is in a fitted double wardrobe! Every inch is crammed with makeshift shelves and storage boxes to ensure I haven't lost any inch of space. And every inch of space underneath our bed is carefully utilised with a selection of under-bed storage boxes.

I need to be really inventive - there are things that I've had in my wardrobe since I was a teenager. I'm definitely a bit of a hoarder!

10. Where can we find out more?
Google whatkatiewore.com - I'm constantly amazed by just how much coverage our wee blog has garnered! It's so wonderful that what started out as just a wee thing between Joe and me has seems to have caught the imagination of so many people.

All images sourced at www.whatkatiewore.com

So, good luck to Katie on the rest of the challenge - we'll be watching and wishing you luck!

LoveLoveLove

- A -

So much has changed...

Amy C Thompson — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:22:45 +0000

"So much has changed,
But it feels like yesterday you went away"

- McFly

I love that quote, dammit. So, so very much.

So, I've been away for almost 24 days, and alot alot alot has changed...

New Moon was released. I was forced, kicking and screaming, to go. I actually kind of enjoyed it. Don't tell Sarah.
Rachel and I beat Paul at NaNoWriMo.
I got a confirmed interview with Megan and Liz, who are amazing teenage singers from Michigan who've risen to fame online. Their song, Never Go Away, is actually the story of my life. And they've met Taylor Swift. If you have a question you'd like me to ask them, you can log it HERE.
It was TWLOHA day. I wrote love on my arm, and it meant a helluva lot to me to know that all those people out there cared about this - I discovered the day before that my brother had tried to commit suicide... and it took me a lot to say that, so I'd appreciate it if people didn't comment.
We got a Christmas Competition confirmed at BSB!
We got a new logo at BSB!
My interview with What Katie Wore came through - publishing that very very soon!
Taylor Swift won four CMAs. Brad Paisley won two CMAs. Radio Two boradcast the CMAs. I LOVED THE CMAs!
And... I think that's about it! :) If I forgot anything, let-a me know!

So what happened to you this month?

LoveLoveLove

- A -

"Fashion is for the elite - if you don’t live in London and you’re not rich, you can’t make it" (YBOTY Entry)

Amy C Thompson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:10:45 +0000

The title of this post is slightly paraphrased, but it is still essentially the advice of fashion journalist (and minor deity) Hadley Freeman on how to “get into” fashion journalism.

This is something that’s always bugged me; I’m a fashion journalist at a student-run publication, and I have a good portfolio, built up over nearly three years now, of work to prove it. But, in this industry, that means nothing.

My fashion blog, Confessions of a Fashion Editor, grew out of an article in Teen Vogue about “the next generation of fashion editors” - essentially rich kids who can afford designer labels, and blog about what they wear on a daily basis.

And yes, that summary’s harsh - but it really bugged me. A lot.

Because, what about those of us, their age, who are already fashion editors? What about people who can’t afford those clothes, but who will word 1000 times harder than they ever will? What about us? Huh?

That’s why I started my blog: someone had to tell this industry where it was wrong… how hard work and passion are worth more than cash and clothes. Someone had to; and that someone, it seems, was me.

Young Blogger Of The Year Awards... I'm unconvinced...

Amy C Thompson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:43:21 +0000

SCREENCAP OF CSL WEBSITE
(c) them

I'm a student in Year 13 at school in Britain, which basically means that my life revolves around UCAS, the university application potal for UK students, at the moment. So, when they emailed me about a Young Blogger of the Year competition in association with Clothes Show Live just now, I read it filled with excitement.

Now, though? I'm not so convinced.

There isn't any criteria there stipulating that you actually have to be a blogger to win...

And, to me, that seems a little bit wrong. They're asking for a blog post about anything you like - so long as it's to do with fashion, which, for most people, isn't "anything you like", and they're asking for you to ype it directly into their website, which means that it is technically jut a really short piece of pros, and not actually a blog.

Which isn't to say that I won't be entering... because I will. I'd love that title to put on my blog, but... but... but I remain unconvinced by the title. I think it's a bit much, not to award the prize to an actual blogger.

Do excuse the rant; I shall post my award-winning (yeah, right) blog up as soon as I have it.

LoveLoveLove

- A -

It's over! I'm back! I won!

Amy C Thompson — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:50:54 +0000

So, as you can see from this delightful, joyous image, I have actually finished and won NaNoWriMo... Which means some semblance of normality will return to my life pretty soon...

To those of you who said you wanted to read my novel when it was done, email me (address in CONTACT page) and I'll send a copy your way, provided you're willing to offer grammatical corrections and/or constructive crit!

I am also happy to annouce a competition that my stupid, crazy, brilliant friends are holding amongst themselves; I've sent twenty out of twenty three chapters to them, and they're competiting to write an ending.

They're being judged as follows;

The one I think should win gets 150 points
The one most like my ending gets 75 points
The one you guys vote for (when they're written and summarised) gets 100 points
The one including the word "muffins" most gets 50 points
The best though-through gets 50 points
And the one where the characters are truest to themselves gets 90 points

My friends are getting very, very competitive about this and so you can bet it'll be entertaining!

Geeez, it's good to be back!

LoveLoveLove

- A -

'Leaving You' - for NaNoWriMo

Amy C Thompson — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:49:15 +0000

As most of you know, I'm taking part in NaNoWriMo 2009 this year, which means I have to write a 50 000 word novel in the month of November - on top of school work, and my work for the magazine, and my weekend job...

...and so I have decided that it's probably for the best if I leave Confessions of a Fashion Editor for the month, in order to complete my novel. I'm so excited about it. (:

Check back in December for more posts :)

And - you can keep up to date with my progress HERE.

LoveLoveLove

- A -

Five Minutes With... The Switchblade Kittens

Amy C Thompson — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:41:34 +0000

I am so, so, so excited to be bringing this interview to you - I am absolutely certain that it is the best intervuew I have ever conducted. Ever. No, really. I'm serious. (:

Tell me about yourselves...

Tabbie: I live in a cupboard under the stairs

Drama: we are a multi-coloured indie rock band made up of all basses that plays songs about books…mostly. I sing and play the bass that sounds like a keyboard, Pep plays the bass that sounds like a guitar, Latte plays the normal bass, and Tabbie plays the bass that sounds like a live drum set.

Latte: We are family. Everyone is sisters but me.

Pep: Dude! We go up to 11.

...and how exactly you were sorted into your Hogwarts houses?

Drama: *cries* it was very painful and many pumpkins died… it is sooo hard to talk about… the juice, the pumpkin juice, I nearly went out of my gourde… but eventually after living as a pencil for several weeks… I became a Gryffindor.

Tabbie: Slytherin, because I am pure E-vil

Latte: Hufflepuff

Pep: Ravenclaw, cause I am just that good looking I guess or I was unconsciously putting out Ravenclaw vibes.

Tabbie: Subconsciously!

Pep: What?

Where did the band name come from?

Tabbie: I am still wondering that myself - since 50% of the band members are allergic to felines

Drama: Well I wanted people to know we were a female group and I LOVE kittens, but I wanted something that shows we are tough too so I put the Switchblade with the kittens.

Latte: Switchblade Kittens means family.

Pep: Switchblade Kittens means seatbelts.

Tell us a secret?

Tabbie: The reason why we are all "color coded" (Drama = pink, Pep = blue, Tabbie = green, Latte = purple) is because our mum (mine and drama's) didn't feel like writing our names in all of our clothes, socks, knickers, etc. so she color coded us... and DRAMA can't get past it - how did I get stuck with green you ask... IRISH! half of me anyway - the only half me mum recognizes - I'm so sick of green, I just can't stand it... green will never be the new black, NEVER I SAY!!!! Ban the green - it just might save a life! (My sisters!)

Pep: The sneaky sock eater video was made by a fan and that is her actual size cat.

Drama: Inventing the basses was my idea basically to compensate for the fact that I am a terrible bass player.

Latte: The movie "Babe" was written about me. La La La!!!

How did the idea of writing based on books come about?

Tabbie: Magic

Latte: Maybe it’s because when we are on the road touring we always listen to audio books and if we don’t have the audio books Drama makes us listen to her read her books out loud.

Drama: Exactly! Originally we were signed to a record label *starts booing* and they were big jerks. I wrote a song about Harry Potter and they would not let me release it, so I put it on the Internet for free and ended up writing the first Wizard Rock song called “Ode to Harry.” Soon thousands of people from all over the world were e-mailing me about how much they loved the song, so we made a whole CD of songs about the books.

Pep: All my songs are based on Cliffs Notes.

And... which is better? Harry Potter or Meg Cabot?

Tabbie: I plead the 5^th

Drama: this puts me in a difficult position because Meg is the shizzle and also my homie and I want to say her, but Harry can do magic and can turn me into a water goblet.

Pep: Well, Harry Potter can do a Patronus charm but Meg Cabot can write like a book a minute so I’m going to say Meg Cabot ‘cause long after the last glitter of the Patronus charm is gone, books will go on… and on… and on.

Drama: That’s so beautiful.

Tabbie: Whatever.

Latte: Meg Cabot, because I met her. Harry Potter won't even friend me on Facebook.

You must be the coolest band in history, what with a song named after Fat Louie, and all... are you "big" with Meg Cabot's fans?

Tabbie: and you must be the coolest and smartest of all writers for noticing - I mean that sincerely - no sarcasm in that comment - it's a rare event from me

Drama: I heart Fat Louie. I even have a Fat Louie phone charm. Meg Cabot fans are the coolest. We played a Meg Cabot show at the New York Public Library benefit and it was amazing. Meg Cabot fans send us cool stuff and they make music videos from our songs on youtube.com.

Pep: Shiny!

Latte: but we're huge in Iceland .

How would you like to be remembered?

Tabbie: as a bitter mint - bitter chocolaty on the outside, crisp and clean on the inside

Latte: For fighting my mum, and my mum won.

Drama: as the girl who made music her own way by inventing instruments and NOT having a record label or for being the personification of a candy necklace.

Pep: as a butter pecan ice cream and fries… and maybe M&M’s.

Drama: No Pep. Not what would you like to have for dinner but how do you want people to think of you?

Pep: With my mind???

Tabbie: Let’s just stick with the butter pecan.

What mottos do you try to live your lives by?

Tabbie: Give a Hoot! Don't Pollute!

Latte: As Hunter S. Thompson once said, if you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up.

Drama: Go to college and don’t get pregnant. My mum told me that.

Pep: How come Tabbie always gets to answer first?

Where can we find out more?

Tabbie: www. what's our website again?

Drama: www.switchbladekittens.com and if you want to listen to our free podcast sitcom it is www.switchbladekitten.com (without the last S)

Latte: Yeah, what she said.

Pep: Can I answer the next question first?

Tabbie: Yes.

So, I'd just like to say a MASSIVE thank you to these guys - for being so incredibly ,awesomely, cool, and also for taking the time out of their busy schedules to answer my questions!

Oh - just a warning... tomorrow, my post is going to be a NaNoWriMo one, telling y'all I'm leaving you for a month in order to write my novel. Thought I'd give you fair warning. ;)

LoveLoveLove

- A -

Freaking out now... (NaNoWriMo Prep: T-minus One Day and counting...)

Amy C Thompson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:22:58 +0000

Ok. The first problem I have right now is my apparant inability to count; that should surely say "T-minus Two Days", given that NaNoWriMo starts the day after tomorrow? Or... is that how it works? Anyway, I'm sure you get my drift.

So, I just recieved an email from NaNoWriMo explaining the novelling process and the building word-counts to me, and I'm now becoming crazily, crazily stressy!

My fellow NaNoWriMo-ers aren't helping either; I just posted a new thread on the Literary Den forum, entitled "NaNoWriMo 2009. Oh. My. ******. God.", and so far the only reassurance I've been offered is the fact that Andy has the sedatives and straightjacket ready for me.

So, as you can imagine, I'm feeling a little bit stressed. I've been working on my characterisations all afternoon, and I finished reading my story in its Changing Tracks incarnation about an hour ago, so...

So it's not as if I'm underprepared. At all.

I'm trying to calm myself down at the moment, then, by making myself a "Music To Write To" playlist on YouTube, for moments when things go horribly, drastically wrong.

So, this is my NaNoWriMo 2009 Playlist -

Fireflies, covered by Megan and Liz (originally by Owl City)
Untouchable, by Taylor Swift
Going to Carolina in my mind by James Taylor and the Dixie Chicks
The Lucky One, by Alison Krauss
Missing You, by Tyler Hilton
Jump Then Fall, by Taylor Swift
She's Everything, by Brad Paisley
I Wish You'd Stay, by Brad Pailsey
Brighter, by Paramore
Hallelujah, by KD Lang
I'm Yours, by The Script
Maybe Possibly, by Megan and Liz
Indescribable, by Megan and Liz
Come in with the Rain, by Taylor Swift
Broadway, by Alison Krauss and Union Station
The Greatest Story Ever Told, by Oliver James
Teardrops on My Guitar, acoustic, by Taylor Swift
Godspeed, Sweetdreams, by The Dixie Chicks
Breathe, covered by Megan and Liz (originally by Taylor Swift and Colbie Callait)
Butterfly, fly away, covered by Megan and Liz (originally by Miley Cyrus)(I'm truly sorry for this... >.<)
And finally, Rain, by Patty Griffin

And you can listen to them all right here. What do you think?

LoveLoveLove

- A -

So, this is what it feels like to have a social life. Tiring.

Amy C Thompson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:25:54 +0000

Wow. This is a really, really odd feeling. I appear to have developed a social life. I've been out three nights this week; Monday, to see Up, the excrutiatingly awesome Pixar film about the grumpy old man who's really, genuinly hurting inside and is actually very lovely, and then on for tapas at La Tasca; Wednesday, to my friend Kim's house, where I attempted to watch a film while Tim kept muttering cynical comments to stop me concentrating (and yes, they were mostly right, but that's not the point), and where I was beaten several thousand times at every Wii game in existance; and last night, to Hannah's house to watch Anna Wintour in The September Issue with Sarah and Han.

I was also beaten several times at Mario Kart Wii, last night, too. And, this morning, for that matter.

Considering I was at a sleep-over (Ed: <fake feminine American accent> "SLUMBER PARTY! LIKE, AWESOME!" </fake feminine American accent>), the biggest oxymoron in the history of time, I actually got a suprising amount of sleep, but I'm still absolutely zonked from all the homework, and coursework, and revision, and NaNoWriMo prep which I've been doing at the same time as having a life, for the first time in my life.

I think I'll just have to become a recluse for the next month, and write a novel, or something which will equally well ensure that I make no tiring human contact for a while, y'know?

Anyway, there was a point to this post, I swear, and I'm getting to it - 27 Dresses.

As every girl knows, there is nothing quite like vegging out on the sofa with a cuppa and a romcom when you're absolutely shattered, and my romcom of choice today was 27 Dresses.

If you haven't seen it, the trailer is in that there YouTube box, there. :)

The thing is, despite the fact that I love it because it's so cute and sweet and happy ending-y and all, I kind of hate it, too. For starters, the feminist in me is wondering why the hell this woman is so obsessed with weddings, and the fashion editor in me is largely appaulled with the costume choices, and the actual human being in me is melting at the cuteness and...

And this is my mental conversation at the moment. I thought I'd share the insanity, for a change (warning - includes hints of multiple personality disorder, and spoilers...):

Feminist in me (FIM): What? Why the hell is she so OTT about weddings?

Fashion Editor in me (FEIM): Because they're so pretty and all.

FIM: But women don't need men to exist. We can get along quite well without them thanks.

Actual human being in me (AHBIM): And she is. She just enjoys looking at the pretty dresses...

FEIM: *Nods approvingly*

AHBIM: And helping out her friends, and everything.

FIM: But still. Collecting wedding columns? That's pretty much conforming with every stereotype of a desperate single woman that there is!

AHBIM: But she's not a desperate single woman. Alright, yes, she is single, but she's not desperate...

FEIM: (Under breath) She must be, if she's wearing some of those dresses...

AHBIM: Besides, this is a relatively non-misogynistic romcom! Jane and Kevin -

FEIM: Lol. He's called Kevin.

FIM: Did you just "Lol"?!?

AHBIM: Ahem. Speaking here. Jane and Kevin are pretty much equal, anyway. He just helps her realise who she truly is and what she truly needs. It's sweet.

FIM: But she shouldn't need him to do that! She should do that herself!

AHBIM: But... But... But...

FEIM: At least she makes all those bitches -

FIM: You did not just call your sisters "bitches"!!!

FEIM: At least she makes all those bitches wear there disgusting dresses at the end...

So. That's my mind. I know, I know - I have issues. Please. Help me - tell me what you think, and stop my mental argument.

Mental, that is, in both senses of the word.

LoveLoveLove

- A -