Grace Coddington to pen a memoir

Great news - the legend that is Grace Coddington will be releasing a memoir.

I honestly cannot wait - the woman is a legend. She entered the hearts of a fashion nation after the September Issue, and I'm sure her book will make us love her more.

Look at her with her LV cherry purse - isn't she amazing?!

The Pressure of a Graduate

This is a blog, and blogs are for ranting. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

Today, I found out that two fellow graduates got jobs. And not just any jobs – great jobs. Jobs that some people – me being one of them – would kill for. This news forced me to ask myself the question: why can’t I get a job?

You see, I have a pretty good CV, by most people’s standards. I write for three magazines, I’ve worked at Dubai Fashion Week, and will be doing my second season at London Fashion Week in September. I’ve got into London College of fashion, something that is considered pretty good going. I buy every fashion magazine going, reading them from cover to cover. I know what you should wear, and what you shouldn’t. I know all the great designers, new designers, and celebrity designers. I do everything editors tell you to do – start a blog, write as much as you can, send as many emails as you can. I’m known as ‘the girl who loves fashion’ by anyone who knows me. But for some reason, no one wants to employ me.

I have lost count of how many emails I’ve sent and how many letters I’ve posted. I know the email addresses for all major magazines off by heart now. I worked non-stop in my final year, spending as little money as possible, saving all that I could, so I could move to London. I’m paying way too much money for a place, just so I can have a London address on my applications, and go to any interview any time. I’m doing a course, spending money I don’t have, in the attempt that I having that on my CV will give me an advantage. So why can’t I get a job?

Each day there’s a bit of news that tests my positivity. I hear someone from my course has a job – someone with nowhere near as much experience as me. I get an email saying my writing isn’t up to scratch, it’s ‘too young’. I get told there’s no vacancies, or worse – I get told nothing.

We’re always told that right now the economic climate is rubbish. It’s the worst time for anyone to get a job, and for every vacancy there are hundreds of applicants. So how do you get noticed? How do you stand out?

I’ve worked for free; I’ve worked for pennies. I’ve paid my way; I’ve sacrificed my social life in search of a career. I’ve accepted it’s a slog, I’ve smiled when I’ve wanted to cry, I’ve made tea, scrubbed floors, bought lunch. I’ve kissed arse, bitten my tongue, and gone that extra mile.

I feel as if I’ve done enough, when infact, I’m just beginning. I heard the other day that if you manage to get a permanent job in your chosen profession within a year of graduating, then you’ve done well. I have been a graduate for exactly one month now, and I already feel exhausted. And I’ve not even got as far as the interview room yet.

So it seems that I am going to have to man up, and realize that I have absolutely no choice in the matter. I am going to have to keep sending emails and licking stamps. Maybe I’ll try coloured paper – it worked for Elle Woods.

Right now I am a broken girl. Fingers crossed I’ll be writing my next post from my new desk (whilst working really hard, obv.).

Nail Art

A huge trend right now is nail art. Pixie Lott sported St George's cross during the World Cup, Katy Perry went total flower power and Rhianna was spotted with classic leopard print.

But the latest celeb to sport the trend, and my favourite so far, is Alexa Chung. This heart print design is just too cute - and she showcased them at the Mulberry party. Jealous much?

I'm currently on the hunt for a beautician that will do this design for me - too fab to miss!

ICON

Edie Sedgewick - a style inspiration! If I could have her wardrobe right now I would. Just bask in her deliciousness...

Could be worse...

Every time I get stressed about something, I look at this gem and remember it could be worse!

As a new graduate, there is one word currently scaring the life out of me - RESPONSIBILITY.

I have sent over 100 emails to every magazine I can think of, asking, no, begging for work. And I'm willing to work for free!

The problem is, Central London + life = very expensive, and whereas a one year internship with Elle would make me wee with excitement, how on earth are you supposed to live?! Rent is almost £140 a week, add on food and you need £160 just for basics, and that's without travel or *gasp* tall vanilla lattes!

But all things considered, I know it could be worse. I'm healthy, have a great family, great friends, a couple of delicious handbags and a full head of hair.

So as I send yet another application, and beg once again for money to write, I shall keep remembering: It could be worse.

Miu Miu sparrow pumps

I absolutely NEED these shoes in my life!

Growing Pains

What I have come to realise over the past few years is that getting older is actually one of the scariest experiences ever.

I'm not talking about wrinkles, grey hair or the middle aged spread, that I can handle. What I'm struggling to come to terms with is that big scary concept of 'responsibility'.

Back when I was a teenager, I can remember being desperate to get older. Being an adult, going out, having a job, buying nice things, having your own place to live, this all looked impossibly glamorous through my naive eyes.

I just assumed that I would very easily go from school, to college, to university, to the workplace, with total ease. All the time enjoying an extremely active social life, having my pick of an array of suitors, dress impeccably and have the time of my life. Oh how wrong I was.

In reality, it is a hard slog of trying to gain acceptance from yourself and others, trying desperately to get noticed and gain the marks needed to stand out. To constantly have to be 'mature' when all you really want to do is crawl into a hole and never come out. To have to put rent, bills, and 'adult things' before any kind of fun spending.

Then there's choosing a career. You think you've chosen, you think it's right, up until you utter the words 'fashion journalist' only to be met with stifled giggles and looks of confusion. What they fail to tell you is that when you apply for that dream job or amazing internship, there is also another 2000 people doing exactly the same, and chances are they'll have more experience and better grades than you.

Then university finishes, and whilst dealing with the fact that it may be a while before you get that dream job, you have to deal with the unthinkable - tax. What do you mean I have to pay the council to live in this house? Have you seen how much rent I'm paying?! What do you mean you will be taking 20% of my earnings - I worked bank holiday! Getting used to seeing the difference between what is on your payslip and what actually goes into your bank account is extremely difficult indeed.

Then there are your friends. The people you've known since you were dreaming of adulthood are suddenly very different - and so are you. You grow apart, your interests change, you move away. Accepting that you're just different people now is probably one of the hardest lessons of all.

And then there's meeting new people. It's not like school, where there's a class of thirty, so you're bound to find a friend somewhere. It's brutal, some of them don't even want to speak to you! And a boyfriend? That's even harder. Choose a career in a woman dominated industry, and you're doomed. I remember my mother telling me. 'University is where you find your husband.' What a load of bull that is. Then you go into the workplace, and the turnover is even smaller. Where are you supposed to meet this person?!

As a panic-stricken graduate, I am most definitely struggling to cope with the pressure. But much like my adolescent self, I am taking refuge in the faith that one day it will all come together, and I will wake up with an amazing job, my own house, Chace Crawford for a husband and a pug at my feet. But for now, just keep me away from any sharp objects...