The Parsons Project

The Parson's project was a success in my own personal opinion and I'm sure that everybody else would agree. Once we were able to meet our designers that we had been talking to for the previous few months - it was exciting to see the collections for my self  and not just from photographs. 

Maybe next year the students could be paired up earlier so that they could follow the process of making the collection for longer. this maybe more beneficial for the UCCA students as they could have a deep insight into how a collection is made from start to finish.

All in all it was a fantastic opportunity and feel that my knowledge of the industry and New York grew because of it. 

What I Learnt

New York has always been my favourite fashion capital by far and visiting there only confirmed this for me. It is everything that I adore about fashion - and with Marc Jacobs and Donna Karen being two of my favourite designers, I was in my fashion element.

Parsons was extremely professional and could instantly tell that there students were going to go onto do well in their careers. The thesis collections were delivered smoothly and I realised just how much time had gone into the work, as the looks could easily have fitted in Bloomingdale's immediately.

By taking part in the project I got to finally appreciate the capital for myself and not from a far. I truly fell in love with the city just as much as I have always adored the fashion. 

Exploring London

1. For the ultimate cool clubbing experience, visit Punk in Soho. 

14 Soho St

Nearest tube: Leicester Sq

2. If you fancy something a little different, try bowling and dinner at All Star Lanes.

Victoria house

Bloomsbury House

Nearest tube: Holborn

3. For a bit of art, there is only one place to visit - the Tate Modern.

Bankside

Nearest tube: Blackfriars

4. If you want to visit a real east end market, Spitafields indoor market is the place to visit. Thursdays are best for fashion lovers.

Nearest tube: Liverpool St

5. To take a break away from the inner city, take a wonder around Primrose Hill park.

Nearest tube: St Johns Wood

6. If you visit London, then you have to experience Camden Market.

Nearest tube: Camden Town

7.  To hear the bands up close and personal, go to 93 Feet East in Brick Lane. 

Nearest tube: Aldgate East

8. Make sure you pick up a yellow and black bag from shopping in Selfridges. Their flagship store is located on Oxford Street.

Nearest tube: Marble Arch

9. New Yorkers will adore this trendy restaurant Milk and Honey - and prices are incredibly reasonable.

Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

10. Dover street Market is definitely worth a visit for fashion lovers - so take a trip.

Nearest tube: Green Park 

11. The Jazz cafe in Camden provides the perfect mixture of music and food.

Nearest tube: Camden Town

12. If you love high fashion, you'll love Sloane Street.

Nearest tube: Sloane Square

13. A fry up and a cup of builders tea are a must, so head to Regency Cafe on Regency Street.

Nearest tube: Pimlico

14. Addicted to vintage clothing? Then Rokit will feed your addiction. 

Nearest tube: Covent Garden

15. And if Rokit hasn't completely satisfied you, then head to Beyond Retro in Shoreditch.

Nearest tube: Bethnal Green

16. Put on your little black dress and head to Asia de Cuba for cocktails.

St Martins lane hotel

Nearest tube: Covent Garden

17. Still a favourite is the Ice Bar. So wrap up and head to Heddon Street.

Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus

18. Dine in a luxurious atmosphere in Annex 3.

Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

19. Another must for shopping is Concrete for the trendy designers.

Nearest tube:  Oxford Circus

20. For a sophisticated night out in the city, then there is only one place to go - No 5 Cavendish Square.

Nearest tube: Oxford Circus

Will I Ever Get There?

There are just some places in the world that I have longed to visit - and mine had always been New York. The fashion, the pace of life and the people just seem so exciting to me. 

New York fashion is something I have always adored. Smart, chic and simple - it is the type of style that inspires me. With Marc Jacobs and Donna Karen being two of my favourite designers, they both en capture everything I love about a collection.  Neutral tones, clean lines, but mixed perfectly with the cool and relaxed vibe New York oozes. Denim and cotton being popular fabrics of choice, they look wearable and sophisticated. My perfect combination. 

But the show that completely sold New york to me - both as a fashion capital and a fantastic place to live - has to be Sex and the City. The free spirit of the four women and the amazing lifestyles they all live just made it an ambition to live and work there - so a weeks trip will be sufficient for now.  

But I would have to be prepared to work as hard as the New Yorkers. It's not know as 'the city that doesn't sleep' for no reason. Early mornings and late nights in the office are standard and a nine until five job is almost unheard of. If you want something you must be prepared to work for it. 

Although I love being able to wear jeans and trainers to an office London, at heart, I am a heels and dress girl. So as high heeled shoes are a part of the 'uniform' in a working environment in the big apple, I would fit in perfectly. I just might have to work a bit harder to afford the amount of Manolo Blahnik's that Carrie had. 

Of course these are all images that I have created form either television programmes or stories friends and family have told me after visiting themselves. So I can not wait to finally be able to tell my own tales of the adventures I had in New York. 

 

Other E/P Project Members' Blogs

Other E/P Project Members' Blogs

Please note:
The below blog sites - that you can click to access - are arranged with first names in alphabetical order.

Tutors
http://EP-Project-DeborahLampitt.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-RobertdeNiet.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-StevenFaerm.blogspot.com

Support
http://EP-Project-SergioSantos.blogspot.com

NY – Students
http://EP-Project-ClaraYoo.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-HyunJooLee.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-JaneShon.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-LindseyRussell.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-Marie-ChristineStatz.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-MelissaLuning.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-NikkiDemoneris.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-SylviaKwan.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-WenShi.blogspot.com

UK – Students
http://EP-Project-AmyWhiting.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-DanOliver.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-ElizabethRogerson.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-HannahShakir.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-JenniferWiebking.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-KathrynMacKonochie.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-LinseyBholah.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-MattHambly.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-NatalieMesser.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-NickyAshwell.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-RosaBertoli.blogspot.com
http://EP-Project-SophiaHunt.blogspot.com

A Pinch of This and a Sprinkle of That

When asked to discuss what makes London intersting as a fashion capital I immediately thought of a cocktail. The different styles being the alcohol and mixed togethr make the perfect London vibe.

Pretty much anything goes in London. You can walk around Hoxton in a pink tu tu and punk t-shirt, wear a black power suit in Canary Wharf or a 50's prom skirt and cardigan for tea at the Ritz. It really is a mixture of stlyes and identies that keeps the cities fashion alive and intersting. Just like that Cosmopolitan.

I love the fact that Londoners can go to work in skinny jeans and converse trainers. It's laid back and practical. But teamed with the right vest and accessories it still looks stylish. We don't have to totter around the tube station in five inch heels, trying to balance on the escalator with a skinny cappacino in hand if we don't want to.

So if you wanted to try and explain London style in a word, it might be hard. Yes, we do have new trends emerging every season that find their way to the high street at a record time that are influential to the masses - but it is everybodies individual style that all contribute to Londons 'cocktail' style.

Let's Get This Started

Hi, I’m Amy Whiting. I am a twenty-year-old magazine junkie from Kent. I am going to be graduating this June.

I would classify myself as a ‘Vogue’ girl. I have it on subscription each month and love to engross myself with the fashion, beauty and lifestyle articles. Each month I look forward to reading Alexander Shulman’s editor’s letter to see what has been happening in her life – oh, to be the editor of Vogue. Glamour, Company and Harper’s are always firm favourite reads of mine.


I like classic and aesthetically pleasing visuals in a magazine. I appreciate clean-cut fashion spread- I don’t need ground breaking layouts be impressed.

I love clean and fresh fashion – Stella McCartney being one of my favourite designers. I am about ready-to-wear designs that flatter the feminine figure, in soft natural tones. But then this is my personal choice. I love to see girls experimenting with colour and trends – maybe I’ll invest in this spring’s ‘must have’ jumpsuit.

New York fashion has always intrigued me and meeting the new talent to come out of Parson’s is going to be fabulous. I can’t wait to see how the collections are coming along.

I would consider myself to be both a high street and high-end fashion lover. If you haven’t experienced Topshop yet then I highly recommend it. One of the great things about the London market is that you can access up-to-date trends quickly and cheaply via the high street. You don’t need to spend a fortune on new trends – whether it is a Rolling Stone tee from Camden market or a gorgeous trench coat from Topshop - London has it.

And that’s what I love about British Vogue - as it is not afraid to include our high street stores, such as Topshop, in their fashion pages. I am also secretively a lover of weekly celebrity magazines – it is a quick fix of fashion updates, but the down side being it is not something that you can really indulge into.

If I am writing a catwalk report, I prefer to start with the mood – lighting, music and setting. It is important for the reader to feel a part of the show. But make up and hair should always be included as I feel this is just as important in creating an overall look. I like to get my teeth into a piece of journalism and to show off to the reader what I absolutely loved about the collection and not what I hated.
So that’s a very brief insight into my likes and dislikes of the fashion industry and the type of journalism that really excites me.