The Editorial Edit #1

Ive always been very honest about using this blog as an expressive platform to voice my personal opinions of certain styles, trends, fashion collections, beauty products etc, I sometimes feel I cover a bit too much! I tend to be more specific in other projects but Factory F covers a vast range of beauty and fashion. In more recent times, perhaps a year, I have focused a lot of my time looking at campaigns from various different brands; how they work, what's the message, what's different, who cares about this campaign, who does it resonate with, how does it make them feel? Basically, dissecting marketing methods from afar. I've never done much with this information but simply just thought about it, but recently I thought It might make a nice additional feature to Factory F. 

You may be wondering what is the point of this, and to tell you the truth it's exactly like every other aspect of this blog, it's about sharing my opinions, thoughts and passions with you. It may also bring to light some brands that you may not be aware of or a new collection that you haven't yet seen. Naturally, I will share some actual real lIfe campaigns that I'm working on with my job but I won't dive straight into that. For this post I decided to talk about why I think editorials are such an important addition to brands, and personally I think a large factor is to visual resonate with people much more because it gives the  story of that brand or product. It's completely fair to say at this point that a press release also does that, but (and I say as someone who works in PR) does the image featured above not tell you more about message of that editorial and clothing rather than a paragraphs explaining where the clothes come from and what they should represent? 

 A lot of the images that I will share with you in this additional feature will come from publications as it will be these title editorials and featured advertising that I will be taking about. As a side note to this story, I recently. Started to download my favourites monthlys instead of popping down to the shop to buy them. Why did I start this I can hear you ask? Well, one of my personal highlights to read every month is Company magazine which has now transformed to a completely digital magazine. At first I was a bit unsure if how I felt about that because I love reading a physical copy in front of me but I've been readjusting. Actually that's putting it mild, I've been completely transformed into digital editions; Vogue, Elle, Company, Red, Marie Claire.... The list goes on but they all now get the download on my ipad each month. One major reason for my change of heart is down to the technical features! A major role within my job in social media and when I saw how interactive and social friendly these apps are made me realise that I'm actually not really on top of this digital age after all. Inspiration has  been restored! 

                                         I can't wait to share the first in this new series very soon. 

                                                                               Love C X 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner: Review

Being an avid fan of eyeliner, both under my eye and on the lid, means that I am always partial to beauty bargains. Last week while shopping for my product "up-dates", you know yourself, every so often you have to have to pop  along to Boots to re-stock your beauty bag. Well, during mine last week I spotted Rimmel promotions, including their latest mascara to the range "Scandeleyes Rockin Curves", offering a few euros off, which I couldn't resist! In the end I bought the above mascara, some Natural Collection concealer and lip gloss and today's featured product "Scandeleys Eyeliner".

The biggest point to note at this moment is that I am very particular with the way I like my eye liner to sit on my lid. For my under eye I tend to stick to pencil liner as it stays on longer and isn't as difficult to apply, but it is strictly gel liner "pitch black" effect on top. My usual Rimmel product of choice is "Exaggerate Eye Liner" and this new liner style does not add up in comparison. First of all if you like your liner really dark this is not the product for you. It comes out more like a faded black which is only really acceptable at the end of the day when you are falling into bed. Well, it doesn't last until the end of the day anyway. If it is still visible at lunch your doing well. Another aspect of the product that has me on edge is that I don't think I am going to get very long out of it , this mainly due to the fact that I have it less than a week and it seems to be drying up already. The "Exaggerate" product has a  refill pot which the brush sits into allowing to achieve the ideal jet black lines above the eyes. Overall I am very disappointed with this product and if you are a keen eye liner wearer such as myself I would say stay away from this.

Another promotion that Rimmel are doing at the minute includes the eye shadow chubby sticks as part of the "Scandeleys", I bought one in the deeper purple shade. Last week I went out with a few friends and wore this shade to brighten up my make up (nude lip, basic contouring) and it did exactly just that, it looked great! What I loved the most is that it lasted until I got home and I didn't have to re-touch once (I wish the same could be said for my eyeliner).  I will be picking up one in every shade available.

Love C X

Dreaming of a White Spring

Here we go again, another new and exciting year ahead. In my last post, The Future is looking Bright, I spoke about beauty trends which I think will be hot this coming season. So today I am focusing on fashion colours. Like everything, this is a personal perspective on colours and shades which I plan on wearing. Recently I wrote a post for Your Style Forecast called "Clean Living", which centered around the idea of focusing on brighter block colours for the coming season. White is a new hot favorite for me. Investing in finer tailored clothes is also on the agenda for me.The high street offer fantastic trend focused staples but the length of time that I get out of these numbers just doesn't seem worth it to me anymore. From now on, I have decided that I will spend money on clean classics that will not only match everything (white and black are prime examples of this statement) but they will also follow me through to seasons for years to me.

Minimal colour is a fresh approach to my wardrobe. Cleaning out all the clashing colours and bold prints is practically detoxing. Some people fix up their diet for the new year, I clean up my wardrobe. Although this is a slight lie as I have cleaned up my diet aswell. I am now cutting out all foods containing gluten, which includes bread, pasta, pizza etc. Thankfully there are lots of gluten free pizzas and pastas available so I won't be suffering too much! 

Other colours which I am adding too much wardrobe for 2014 include; beige, grey, mint greens and the addition of more black. 

Part of this style revival stems from the fact that in my new job I have to wear black most of the time. At first I thought this was really convenient but as the weeks have gone on I feel lack I am lacking creativity with regards my style. This could be why I am craving white and bright shades but I also need to find some black pieces that are timeless also that will make me want to wear them outside of work. Black PVC is something that I love and tend to stick to this look just for winter but I have a feeling that I may just carry it into spring this year. 

To a Fashionable New Year! 

Love C X 

High Life Through The Lens

A couple of months back I watched an intriguing documentary about a photographer by the name of Bill Cunningham (if you haven't heard of him before, google him now!). The man is  living legend. Acting fashion photographer for the New York Times, he has been "obsessively and inventively chronicling fashion trends and high society soiree's" for decades, and has created the street style phenomenally high standards which we have today. As Anna Wintour once said when asked about Bill Cunningham, "We all dress up for Bill". 

For as long as I can remember I have always been interested in fashion and this interest has been endorsed by buying infamous titles such as Marie Claire, Vogue, Elle etc, so fashion photography has been instilled in my love for fashion from a young age. It was only when I saw this documentary "Bill Cunningham New York" that I began to understand the task of fashion photography and the great depts of the industry. For anyone that has the slightest remote interest in the fashion editorial world I highly recommend this documentary. 

 

As I have said so many times now I'm highly addicted to Pinterest, although my love for Tumblr is growing, my one true love is Pinterest. As I have been so interested in fashion photography, or photography in general, I find this is a fantastic platform to access breath-taking images which can inspire you with ideas for your own fashion photos or, from my personal blogging perspective, inspire post ideas. As someone who is relatively new to blogging and still learning the ropes of the "blogging world", I know photography is a massive contribution to why people are interested in specific blogs and I aim to share with you the most amazing fashion photo's I find (personal style photos included). 

Kate Moss by Kate Garner

Ulyana Sergeenko SS13 by Nickolas Sushkevichr

Caroline Loosen by Julia Saller 

Fashion Crowns by Terry Richardson 

While in my final year of college I worked on my FYP for of intense months which was focused on a Fashion PR, Styling and Events company. During this time I put together many presentations detailing the company concept and various reasons why this would work and be successful. This company was Factory F. I loved every minute of the process and although I am not launching a company right now I realised that it is something that I aim to accomplish in the future, and it birthed the idea for this blog also! But the main reason I am even talking about this project now is for my presentations I used some of the images which are above and added "professionalism" and "depth" to my project according to my lecturers, and I received very good marks also. 

I am forever pinning amazing photos and saving them onto my desktop, particularly fashion editorials and street style images. If you are ever in need of some visually inspiration for your fashion blog, assignment or just life ingeneral, photography is a great mechanism for your imagination and ingenuity. 

Love C X 

A new beginning

For a very long time I have wanted to start a blog and today I took a leap of faith and went for it. I have recently finished up college where I studied business with event management and PR. I have a few a few very passionate topics in my life, and this blog will showcase this above all, and these are my love for social media, fashion and the crazy world of PR. For the past four years I have dedicated all my college focus on establishing a portfolio of fashion concepts and ideas which will aid me in developing my career in fashion PR. As a recent graduate, I really believe this blog will inspire other college students in the position, or who are going to be in this position, to make the first steps to making your career happen. I will regularly post about the latest fashion trends, and the looks which I will be wearing, as well as all the latest topics within the fashion industry. Hope everyone enjoys what they are reading. Please feel free to leave comments, all advice is taken on board