Trainee Buyer Baaaaaby

I feel so bad neglecting my blog baby last month. My only excuse comes in the form of my new job, which I LOVE! After four weeks of inter-railing, minus one infuriating appendix, followed by weeks of bed rest, and three job interviews later, I finally got myself a job! I'm now a Trainee Buyer in a Dublin Buying Office.

There's not many buying opportunities in Ireland so positions are very hard to come by. Dublin is the hub for Buying roles and competition is so fierce that some assessment centres have been nicknamed the 'Hunger Games'... No pressure like! All I can say is to push the boundaries and chance your arm at applying for a job you wouldn't expect to get in a million years. You'd be surprised with the outcome - I received an email back saying that although I didn't have the necessary experience for the applied job (which I was well aware of but god loves a trier) there was a position available that I might be interested in. And I certainly was!

A Buying Office is a very fast paced environment; constantly busy and exciting. No two days are the same as there's always samples to be approved, suppliers to be mailed, meetings to attend, or comp shopping to be done! I'm working in the Accessories department (heaven), and it suits me down to the ground. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a serious Accessories enthusiast. I'm forever updating my wardrobe with statement necklaces, or throwing on a printed scarf. 

My buying team are so lovely and friendly. They are always there to guide me and help me out. I have learned an insane amount in these past three weeks, and I can't wait to see what the next few weeks have to offer... Although my life is currently a sea of Scarves, piles of SS15 Hair purchase orders and late nights, I feel very much included in the buying experience. If I wasn't raising requested orders, nobody would have the luxury of browsing and buying them in store next Spring!

On another note, I haven't forgotten about my Inter-railing series, and promise to get the next installment out soon enough.

Thanks for reading!

raebelle

x

Inter-railing Pt. 1

Paris was the perfect city to kick off the trip because it was familiar territory for myself and my friend. My Mam brought me over when I was 16 and I fell in love with the Parisian lifestyle and culture instantly. The second time around did not fail on my expectations... We dove straight into all the touristy things; snapshots outside Moulin Rouge (no way could we afford to go in), chillin' with gargoyles on top of Notre Dame, posing outside the Louvre (I visited the museum the last time I was in Paris so we gave going in a miss), checking out the city views from the L'Arc de Triomph, trekking up the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur, and exploring the depths of the Catacombs.

FIRST 2 WEEKS OF ADVENTURES

ICE BAR IN AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam was crazy, just as expected! Once you hit De Dam Square you're sorted and can easily get your bearings of the city. The Anne Frank Museum is a MUST! On a more personal note to fashion addicts out there you'd be worth visiting the Museum of Bags and Purses (I abandoned the lads while they went to the Heineken Museum). The Red Lake District is so surreal... It must have looked somewhat bizarre me following the two lads down the creepy cobbled alleyways and passing all the windows full of lingerie-clad ladies. The Ice Bar was one of my highlights (make sure to book in advance) as well as dancing on tables with the Dutch locals. Amsterdam was bittersweet because one of my friends had to go back to Scotland for personal reasons (there was no arguments or anything sinister about it!) so that left myself and Alex to tackle the rest of the trip together - usually a recipe for disaster!

GERMAN CUISINE IN BERLIN

Berlin surprised me... It was great craic, and there is so much to see! The city is oozing with culture and historical attractions for tourists to feed on; Brandenburg Gate, TV Tower, Musuem Islands, Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Topographie de Terrors, Watch Tower, Holocaust Memorial, and The Reichstag. My most memorable experience was watching Germany play their first match in the World Cup against Portugal behind Brandenburg Gate. OLE, SUPER DEUTSCHLAND! The Germans embraced us with open arms as we drank beer and cheered along in the crowd, getting our faces smeared with war paint, welcoming us with open arms into their country. The atmosphere was beyond electric, and something I will never forget, especially when Deutschland won.

PARTYING WITH AUSSIES IN PRAGUE

Prague was the messiest city by far! We wasted a day dying with incurable hangovers (I blame the absinthe) but the Pub Crawl was most definitely worth it. What goes on tour stays on tour... As frail as we were the next day we managed to find a hidden gem in the corner of Old Town Square, a Tim Burton exhibition. The gallery was like an insight into Burton's eccentric and tantalizing mind. There was character sketches, and even a letter that Burton had written to Johnny Depp himself - Johnny actually touched that piece of paper! Prague Castle is so unique as it's not just one castle but entire grounds. Old Town Square is so quaint and full of beautiful Victorian buildings, with the Astronomical Clock (make sure to catch the display) and Charles Bridge as the main attractions for us tourists.

IRISH BAR WITH ALEX & NEW MATE RASS IN MUNICH

Munich didn't have much touristy things to offer (or maybe we we just needed a break from them) so we settled into an Kilian's Irish bar for the day after a wander around Marianplatz. They even served Bulmers and Tayto! Meeting the Irish ledge that is Mickey Joe Harte in Germany of all places was some experience. Shame he didn't have his glittery green guitar with 'em though (he said he left it back home safe and sound) but he did play 'We've got the World Tonight' just for me! I bonded with some rowdy Northern Irish lads over our mutual appreciation for the main lad himself, seeing as Alex had no clue who he was, and it turned into another chaotic night!

THE LOST SHEEP AT NEUSCHWANSTEIN

It was visiting Neuschwanstein Castle just outside Munich that blew me away... The castle that inspired Walt Disney's, and my god, it did not disappoint! It was my first day flying solo because Alex had other plans. I was determined to visit that castle since before we even started our travels so I couldn't miss out on it. I was glad I ventured alone because I met some amazing people that day. Despite the tour-guide highlighting the fact she has "never lost a tour so please don't be the first", 3 of us managed to prove her wrong... Figured we'd trek up the mountains due to plain sight of the castle. Although it was lashing rain and foggy, the view was spectacular. The mist made the place look like a magical scene from a fairy tale. We toyed with the idea of whether to go into the castle or not, and I'm delighted that we did. King Ludwig's castle was so surreal and eccentric, modern before its time; one of the first ever glass doors, swan statues everywhere, an indoor cave, a palm tree staircase, and one of the first telephones ever invented!

REAL LIFE DISNEY CASTLE NEUSCHWANSTEIN, MUNICH

Decided after all the mountain climbing we deserved a decent fed. Enter Hofbrauhaus; the most famous beer hall in the world. Rows upon rows of benches in the great hall and beer garden, filled to the brim with thirsty Germans and hungry tourists. I'm somewhat of a picky eater (ok, that's a huge understatement) and I tried their brewed beer and some German cuisine (a pork knuckle), and I have to say, I was impressed!

HOFBRAUHAUS MUNCHEN WITH SOME NEW FRIENDS

   

BYEEEEE ALEX!!!

Lausanne was the most magical setting imaginable, and the perfect place to say farewell to my bestie. The view of the sun glistening on Lake Geneva, sail boats docked at the harbour, and the snowy Swiss Alps as the backdrop literally took my breath away. Hiring a peddle boat onto the Lake to admire the scene is one of my favourite memories from the trip. As if Switzerland couldn't get any better, we surprised ourselves with our impeccable timing of arriving during a free (every travelers' favourite word) Swiss Music Festival. You'd swear we planned it! Although the outrageously expensive beer was the price to pay for their 'free' festival...

LAKE GENEVA, LAUSANNE

We spent our last day drinking beers by Lake Geneva, toasting to the end of our adventure. I'm not going to lie, I was terrified of Alex leaving, and me having to fend for myself. But it's one of the best decisions I ever made... Read about all my adventures in the next post!

raebelle
x

Inter-railing 2014

I can't believe it's nearly been two months since I went on my travels! To simply sum up the trip it consisted of an Irish wan (me), a Scotsman and a South African travelling around Europe for 2 weeks, me flying solo for a while in Italy, and then my best friend from Ireland surprising me last minute by accompanying me for the final week of the trip...

The trip finally became reality when we booked our global passes on InterRail.eu back in March. I chose a '22 days continuous' ticket whereas the lads got a '10 days within 22' days pass because they were only traveling to 6 cities within 2 weeks. The continuous pass was slightly more expensive but seeing as I was going to be a lone traveler for a while I decided it best to have the freedom of a continuous pass. We booked all the hostels (HostelWorld) and reserved all the trains (Voyages SNCF) for the first two weeks in advance. Once the lads left, I was left to my own devices and musings, choosing to 'wing it' and book hostels as I went.

Before booking the passes, there were discussions/beer sessions to choose our route... It proved such a difficult task to decide where to go, where to miss out on, and even more so for everyone to agree! After extensive research, I discovered that the best solution was to plan the route in somewhat of a circle as is much more cost and time effective. However, ours ended up looking like a diamond shaped route with the last leg of my trip down in Italy.

The trip kicked off with a solid 23 hour bus journey at 7am from Aberdeen to Paris - just for the craic like! It was as cheap as chips so worth it in that respect, but the repercussions of the outrageously budget-friendly decision cost us hours of deprived sleep, restless legs, and sore arses. Surprisingly we didn't rip each others' throats out once, which was a success in its own right!

We generally stayed in cities for two nights before jogging onto the next city - no rest for the wicked! However, I found myself spending longer in Italian cities. My journey started off in the fashion capital of Paris and coincidentally finished up in another top fashion destination, Milan. Unfortunately, not many luxurious stores were visited during the trek due to the lack of packed stylish and sophisticated attire. However, I did find myself wandering into Chanel on L'Avenue Montaigne and offered water. Sure, who could refuse Chanel!?

I have decided that the only effective way to blog about my travels is to divide the trip into three sections; The first two weeks with the lads, Italy by myself, and Italy with my friend. Stay tuned for Inter-railing part 1 for all the goss and shenanigans...

raebelle
x

Interview Tiiiiime

So now I'm home and on the mend after my stint in hospital, the pressure's on to find a grown up job in the real world. I managed to score my first interview within 24 hours of applying for jobs... I'm not gonna lie, I even impressed myself there! Naturally, first on the agenda was to find a suitable interview outfit. First impressions and all that jazz!

Waterfall Blazer - Penneys €16
Shirt - H&M €9.99
Slim Fit Trousers - New Look €18.99
Court Shoes - Office AW13'
Bag & Necklace - New Look AW13'

I think I scrubbed up well considering I had an hour's time frame and an unemployed budget to work with! I love the waterfall blazer because it can transcend from a day in the office piece into an after-work-drinks ensemble perfectly. The trousers are so comfy and feels like I'm wearing jeans! I invested in my Office court shoes last year when I spotted them in sale. I feel the pointed toe, embellished with leopard trim and gold spikes. gave my outfit an edge and they match my bag!

The interview was for a position in a direct sales Marketing company in Dublin. I met the Managing Director in the morning, and I was delighted to get invited to the second round of interviews later that day. I never experienced a group interview before, and I have to say it was fierce tough. However, I received positive feedback that I was friendly and interactive throughout, so despite the shakes, I seemed to take it all in my stride!  The open day presentation was very informative and interesting. In the end I was offered the position but I realised after the challenging day that the job just wasn't for me. Although there was some amazing opportunities to travel and progress in the company, I wasn't keen on the initial face-to-face marketing technique. I have no patience whatsoever for door-to-door salesmen, so I can't imagine ever being one!

Nonetheless, the day proved to be a great learning experience and I enjoyed the challenge.

Plus, now I have my interview ensemble sorted!

Roll on the next one...

raebelle
x

I'm Baaaack

Helloooooooo strangers!

I had good intentions of getting back into the swing of things with this blogging malarky as soon as I returned from my travels but life intervened...and landed me in A&E.

I wasn't even home 2 days before I was giving my mam grief, rushing me to the hospital with pains on my right side and back. I was in the hospital longer than the comfort of me own bed by the end of the week!

Despite numerous tests, and prodding from clueless doctors, it was camera keyhole surgery that determined the problem was appendix woes. I eventually got home 4 days later minus one temperamental appendix. In fairness, I was fierce lucky the fecker didn't decide to burst before or during my trip though.

So looks like my first few weeks back home in the nest of 'relaxing unemployed bliss' has been sidetracked by nursing myself back to somewhat decent health before I can even contemplate job hunting...

On the bright side, I'll have plenty of free time to fire out some posts in between snoozing and struggling to climb up the stairs, so keep your peepers peeled!

raebelle
x

New Beginnings

I can't get over the fact that I haven't blogged in almost a month. Life has been crazy! In the space of a month I officially decided to move home, handed in my Notice, and booked Inter-railing around Europe. I may rewind and start from the beginning...

It's official: After almost 5 years of living in the land of Scots I'm moving back home to Ireland. The decision to move back to the Emerald Isle has not been taken lightly whatsoever. It's a necessary evil to follow career prospects and to save for further travelling, with the added bonus of being home with my family and beloved school friends again! I'm taking 3 steps back and moving back into my Mammy's house (I say Mam's house because I've never actually lived in the new house). I'm a country bumpkin at heart so living so close to town will be a strange sensation. Living at home again will be even stranger because I've been living my independent life in Aberdeen for so long now.

Inter-railing's actually happening! A month of gallivanting around Europe: 2 weeks with the lads around popular cities, and nearly 2 weeks flying solo around Italy. Travelling with the lads will be the best send off I could wish for. It will be a surreal experience when they head back and I'm doing it alone, but I feel it's the right decision for me despite the mixed bag of feelings; bubbling over with excitement and the constant worry of butterflies fluttering in my tummy. Sure look, I could love it, make tonnes of new friends and experiences I will cherish, or I could hate it and crawl back home with my tail between my legs... But the point is that I'm giving it a go, and that's what matters!

FIRST LEG OF THE TRIP, EXCLUDING FIRST STOP PARIS

Handing in my Notice was a tough decision to make and I will be sad to leave the team. I've been lucky enough to work with a wonderful group of girls at Dune London for the past 10 months and learned an immense amount from my Managers. Lots of ups and down, tears and tantrums, but it has enabled me enhance my skills, and Management has now been successfully ticked off my list and added onto the aul' CV.

I would honestly be lost without my Aberdream family over the past few years as they are all far to good to me. It's the end of an era really. I have made lifelong friends, in the form of Irish, Scots and a South African, who will always stay close to my heart no matter where we are in the world, and I have the some happiest and craziest of memories with each one of them. I'm bed hopping and couch surfing for the last few weeks here in Aberdeen as the troops have rallied round for me, and I have to say, it's been grand. Preparation for inter-railing, so I'm told!

Keep an eye out for future blog posts if anyone's interested in inter-railing as they're focused on all the planning malarky and destinations :)

To be continued....

raebelle
x

Happenings

I'm posting to apologise for the severe lack of posts recently! I said at the start of the year 2014 is gonna be mine. The musings and thoughts from my Words of Wisdom post has been itching away at me for weeks now. So I'm trying my bestest to make my dreams a reality and get things in motion. I'm stubborn as hell but when I want something I go for it full speed ahead. Lots of happenings, surprises, and whatnot occurring at the moment so keep your head up and peepers pealed for updates cos life is just starting to get interesting...

Saving has been the fundamental hobby of late. Well a necessity more-so than a hobby... Even my poor aul' wardrobe has suffered due to all this saving malarky hence the lack of outfit posts. I'd love to say normality will resume and shopping sprees will become a regular occurrence again but these savings are saved for something much more special and exciting which will inevitably leave me broke!

Follow me on Bloglovin', Twitter or through my Followers if you wanna be the first to know all!

raebelle
x

Reminiscing

The past few weeks in work have been hectic; mountains of paperwork, SS14' floor moves, prep for Mid Season Sale, and not to forgot the Boss' store visit. Luckily, all went smoothly and the Boss even attempted to give me a hug. Oblivious to the gesture, I patted her outstretched arms... 'Shattered' isn't even the word for how I'm feeling, so forgive me for not reading the signs. All the shenanigans has made me reminisce about my travels back home last month...

It seems forever ago that myself and Mam were cruising down to West Cork in the sunshine with shades on and bopping away to Garth Brooks, reliving childhood memories. It was lovely having some quality Mammy-daughter bonding. For as long as I can remember we spent ever summer in Cork. Since moving to Scotland I hadn't been in nearly 5 years. Unfortunately, the cliff cottage we used to rent got sold so we had to 'settle' for the local Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarberry; wined, dined and pampered to perfection. Can't complain at all!

Somebody was clearly looking down on us because we were blessed with sunshine on our trip. Strolling along the pebbly Owenahincha beach (in questionable boot footwear), and reading on the rocks was so therapeutic. I never have time to read anymore, so that in itself was a luxury! My mind was racing with story ideas so I kept jotting down notes on my phone (you never know)! We tackled the steep cliff walk, mosied through 100 Acre Wood (we were convinced as kids we spotted Winnie the Pooh every time we walked past), and ventured across to The Strand beach (much more sandy and comfortable).

My cousin Niamh organised her birthday celebrations one week early just for the benefit of me joining in on the antics! Albeit the night started out shaky enough with the threat of a gas leak outside her flat, making electricity a potential hazard and smoking briefly banned, but we made it work. Turned out to be a random cousin reunion in itself with free club entry, outdoors chats, and dancing our socks off. Great night altogether :)

Paddy's Day itself was civilsed enough, with a quiet family session at the local pub, mainly due to the fact I had been out the two previous nights. Night #2 involved a pre-Paddy's sesh at my friend's house. I wasn't even there an hour and I somehow managed to drench myself and my friend in cider!? Taxi antics on the way to clubs are always great craic; swigging the remaining drinks in the back of the car, desperately trying to reapply make-up in the dark, and chanting away to choons. Our night took a drastic turn when we had the 'pleasure' of meeting some of the cast of Tallafornia (Ireland's attempt of Jersey Shore) in the queue... Camara's were swiftly produced and selfies were had. I'm not proud of joining in on this but I quickly came to my senses and declined from the rest of the classy photography!

I thought I may have gone a tad overboard with the home comforts that accompanied me back to Aberdeen. However, considering the recent stress and the Zzzzzzzzzzzz-like days, I feel satisfied with this quantity of Tayto supplies as it's keeping me going!

raebelle
x

Thanks be to BOD

Whoever says the number 13 is unlucky then they have never seen our man in green in action! If there's anyone who ever deserved a tribute post, it's the man himself: the legend that is Brian O'Driscoll. Christened 'BOD', he is one of the best men to come out of Ireland, and undoubtedly the best rugby player to grace the world. (I'm not biased at all...) He done us incredibly proud throughout his sensational rugby career. The Six Nations 2014 was BOD's last international tournament and I'm delighted he went out on a high and got to see the performance from home; WE WON!!! Thanks be to BOD! What a way to end it all with a nail-biting, heart thumping game against France 20-22. I wouldn't expect it any other way.

I love rugby and have always been an avid fan of propping meself up at the Irish bar in Aberdeen with a Bulmers cheering the team on. However a full-time retail doesn't share my passion or loyalty for the sport so I missed most matches this year because I'm doomed to work weekends, the joys... The upside was I have some deadly friends who kept me up-to-date on the scores on a regular basis. The one match I was randomly not working was when England beat us, and that was hard to stomach, but sure we beat the feckers' in the end! Luckily I caught his final match in Lansdowne Road (Ma recorded it for me, bless) and it was emotional to say the least with BOD's wife Amy Huberman and Sadie watching proudly in the stands at their main man. Baby Sadie most definitely takes after her aul' Da, sure just look at that endearing frown!

I was lucky enough to have the chance to hold the Six Nations Cup last week in Aberdeen. I would have been none the wiser it was there only for a customer I was serving was with the team parading it around the country. It bodes well to have some banter in work! I predicted that soon the Irish lads would have their filthy paws all over it, and low and behold, I was right!

All hail BOD, retired but never forgotten.

raebelle
x

Words of Wisdom?

This post is an apology for the lack of communication recently, as I have moved off the radar and back home to Co. Kildare (only for a sneaky holiday, mind)! Thoughts of 'where is my life going?', 'what path to choose?', and more endless possibilities have been floating around in my head for months now. So much so that I have completely disregarded London & Paris Fashion Week - something I am not proud of... I find decisions difficult, decisions to decide irritating, and commitment fearful. 'Indecisiveness' is my middle name, much to my frustration!

Scotland has been my home for almost 5 years, so I wonder is it time for a change of scenery? I followed Robert Frost's inspiring poem and took 'The Road Not Taken'; I uprooted my life and set up home in the Scottish hills to study what I was passionate about. I spread my wings and moved country, an unorthodox and scary notion. I became independent and free, made life-long friends who I will always cherish, and obtained a 2:1 degree in Fashion Management in the process.

Thoughts of travel has always beckoned me, whispering words of persuasion into my ears late at night. The opportunity to experience new cities and cultures; the chance to meet new and interesting people; to discover 'Who I Am', and so forth. Inter-railing around Europe offers the chance to make invaluable memories, new friends, and some questionable decisions. 

Moving back to Ireland would mean no rent (a chance to save for travelling). Home means free food and shelter, no worries. Home means being with family and friends, and not having to miss out on important and special events. I could learn to drive, because not knowing at the age of 22 sounds outrageous. I could explore all areas of fashion, apply for internships and pursue a career with something I am truly passionate. Retail is way overrated... 

I could dare to 'dream the impossible dream' and write. I could apply for positions in Dublin magazine houses, or Newspapers, writing fashion related and future trends articles. From a young age I always embraced my English homework, and got carried away writing short stories - once my teacher sellotaped £2 in my English copy because he enjoyed the 12 page story so much. I was 10. I spent summers' as a child writing stories, but never managed to finish them, or give them a deserving enough ending. What if moving home meant I could finally finish a story of mine? I could tell my story. Would anyone even want to read my story?

It's decision time, lads. 

Any words of wisdom?

raebelle

x

Oscars 2014

Before I start waffling on and analysing the Oscars I feel to compelled to comment on the spectacle that is Jennifer Lawrence. J-Law has no fault in my books, nor can she do no wrong. Despite falling (ever so graciously) at the Oscars... Again! And she didn't even gain the Best Supporting Actress award for her outrageously hilarious performance in American Hustle to comfort her. Such a trooper! She needn't fret over the loss though seeing as the film failed to pick up a single award... I will overlook the incident purely because her choice of guna was phenomenal. I love the vibrant colour of this stunning Dior dress and have always had soft spot for peplum-waisted styles.

Leo DiCaprio... When will his time come ?? He is a true star in my eyes and his performance in The Wolf of Wall Street had me in stitches! From Titanic, to Blood Diamond, Great Gatsby to now. Leo has demonstrated he can adapt to any role and play the character justice. What else can he do to gain the title and prestigious award he so rightly deserves!? Maybe next year Leo...

Don't get me wrong though, I am not disputing the fact that Matthew McConaughey didn't deserve the honour of his award because his portrayal of a homophobic Cowboy in Dallas Buyers' Club was sensational. Not to mention McConaughey's drastic weight loss in the process of filming for the role. His dedication to honour the character earned his right for an Oscar.

I was also delighted for Jared Leto picking up the award for Best Supporting Actor. His performance of a HIV positive transgender Rayon in Dallas Buyers' Club was powerfully moving and he proved his acting capability sublimely.

Gravity walked away with the most awards of the evening. Sandra Bullock is my girl crush, and it also helped the silver haired fox himself George Clooney was present in this film, but seriously I don't see what all the fuss is about? Yes alright, so the severity of working in space was clearly illustrated and was scary, and the actors' were incredible, but the film itself moved at a snail's pace...

I was intrigued by 12 Years a Slave so took it upon myself to watch it this morning to see what all the fuss was about. I wasn't disappointed. However, it was Micheal Fassbender who stole the show for me. But that may just be me being incredibly biased and supporting a fellow Irish lad? Lupita Nyong'o performance was inspiring and powerfully demonstrated the character's torment and heartache. She most definitely deserved picking up the Best Supporting Actress award. It didn't hurt that her baby blue Prada dress was sensational either...

I have to end this blog post with what is possibly the best tweet ever! Ellen DeGeneres herself has cemented her title of being a pure ledge' by breaking a world record and crashing twitter in the process with the hype of this infamous selfie she posted mid Oscars...



raebelle
x

NYFW Fall 2014

New York set the ball rolling last week and kicked of Fashion Week in true style. The fashion industry went into overdrive to get a glimpse of the wonders and creations of the Fall 2014 collections that graced the catwalk. Here's a look at some of the trends emerging from the shows.

Day One of NYFW concluded that designers were influenced by the swinging sixties while creating their AW14' collections. Sixties inspired collections flourished the catwalk of New York. Raoul and Desigual both demonstrated their passion for the era with monochrome pieces. Raoul originally began as a menswear company (2002) but diversified into womenswear due to the high demand in affordable tailored pieces. Raoul's AW14' collection offered a stark contrast with the burst of flower power yellow amid a sea of monochrome panels and prints. I'm lusting after that tailored trouser suit!

     

Desigual chose circle motifs as the solid foundation for the collection and built onto the simplistic approach with colourful graphics and alternative prints. With a combination of mini skirts, tailored shirts and chic trousers combo's, and fitted dresses, Desigual's collection is versatile and wearable. This coincides with Desigual's original concept to "dress people, not bodies" (DESIGUAL).

     

Charlotte Ronson's collection provided a powerful and gothic orientated approach to AW14'. Ronson's bold collection infused leather, velvet, lace and sheer fabrics. Ronson offered an alternative approach to the monochrome madness seen in other shows by concentrating on black and incorporating lace and sheer panels to highlight the collarbone and shoulders. I am a HUGE fan of the braces and lace combination!

    

Jill Stuart also embraced the monochrome effect and sixties era. Feminine skater knitted dresses and sheer shirts were layered with capes and oversize camel coats. Sheer tops seems to be an emerging style, as also seen at Charlotte Ronson. This collection oozes sophistication and wearability; perfect office-wear chic.

    

raebelle
x

P.O.A Progress

My 'Plan of Action' strategy for 2014 is going according to plan so far (see Plan of Action post).

I'm taking daily vitamins and haven't gotten run down or sick as of yet ***Fingers crossed***. I'm also attempting to start eating healthily too. Alas, there's only so much I can do considering that I refuse to eat fruit and veg - fussy much! I splurged in Markies (M&S) and bought me some fish so that was fierce tasty altogether; smoked salmon and spicy Cajun prawns. However, my funds can't stretch to that height of luxury every week!

I have successfully joined the gym and attended my induction. I got mistaken for a gym trainer while I was there so I needn't have bothered with my first sesh' at all! I was an absolute shambles by the end of my first go; 20 minutes/(101) calories lighter on a cross-trainer, minus (50) calories worth on a treadmill and same for the rowing machine. Useless! But sure look, we all have to start somewhere and rosy cheeked me will just have to suck it up. Go hard or go home! 

Driving lessons are merely a faraway dream. My electricity bill sucked the hope out of that idealistic idea. I hate being a grown up... Unfortunately, no news yet on travelling or inter-railing plans for the summer either. It's so difficult to organise these things around the lads' timetables and busy schedules. Starbucks on a lazy Sunday morning didn't even provide any solid foundations or inspiration as to when is feasible for us to go travelling. Sometimes I wonder if I should just feck off and leave, pack up and go, and just see what happens...

On a different note, I'm so excited it's that time of year again already; fashion flair and catwalk masterpieces. Watch this space for my reviews of some of my favourite shows and forecasts of trends for AW14'.

raebelle
x

Home Sweet Home

Mammy hugs, Irish fry's, a decent packet of crisps (come at me Mr. Tayto) and catching up with friends and family; home sweet home. Slightly delayed blog post briefing my trip back home but better late than never!

So my Mam reckons I'm a bad influence on my poor auld Granny? I beg to differ. I am merely enlightening her and introducing her into the 21st Century. And what better way to do so than to watch Sex and the City 2. One of my highlights of being at home was watching me Granny awe and giggle away at the sexual nature of the film (see Samantha Jones and her conquests), and her surprise of the parents walked Stanford (a man) down the aisle at the Gay Wedding. Her unbeknownst witty comments had me in stitches like, "Fuck, there's a dog in her handbag!", and "Jesus, they're all far too skinny, aren't they?" Some woman. FACT.

I intended to spoil my lil' sister with cocktails but my Mam's friend beat me to it. We were propped up at the bar of a fancy hotel and swimming in fruity mixture delights. The cocktail fumes clearly went to our heads as we were nonchalantly chatting about my sister's 18th birthday plans for this summer...Twas a tad bit awkward when the bartender overheard us and realised he was serving alcohol to an under-ager!

New Years Eve is far too overrated. Cocktails with my Mam and sister, followed by a Chinese takeaway with Granny, and ringing in the New Year was just what I needed. We were all far too lazy after copious amounts of food so we sang Auld Lang Syne from the couch - hands joined and arms crossed of course! I skipped New Years for a quiet session with my cousin. Nothing beats an auld man's pub with live trad music blaring in the background.

I was forced to wait for my belated Christmas turkey dinner until the Dubai adventurers returned, and I'm glad I did. My Aunt and cousins had been on holidays to see my Uncle so I wasn't the only one who missed an Irish Christmas - a small comfort in there somewhere. My Mam was some trooper and prepared a wonderful meal for about 12 of us! In the midst of demolishing all the yummy food we forgot about the Christmas crackers... Luckily we managed to break them out the following night over Chinese food. Who needs tradition anyways!?

"I felt like I was in a Lizzie Maguire movie"

This is why I go home to see my friends; to hear their outrageous and hilarious comments. The above statement arose from my friend's stories about her trip to Italy and her Italian admirers swooning 'Ciao Bella'. We were having a civilised meal in a fancy restaurant back home and I nearly choked on my pizza. Surely that's the sign of a good holiday when you're comparing your life to a romcom!?

Now when will my romcom start...

raebelle
x

Plan of Action

It's amazing what a lovely warm soak in a bath with Kodaline playing in the background will do for you. I forgot how relaxing a bath can be, it really clears the head. Mind you, I may have been a tad excessive with the bubble bath and let it go to my head...Either way, I have been moaning about my life for months now; I'm lost, I'm lazy and yet I'm always sleepy. Things have to change. Roll on a new me for 2014 starting with checking off the following 3 steps;

1. Look after me  

(a) Buy vitamins

Boots was my first port of call for some pink popping tablets to sort me out. I'm useless when it comes to eating healthily so I may as well get the vitamins I need from somewhere else. Although I did splurge and buy myself some smoked salmon for dinner! But who can afford that on a daily basis!?

Status: CHECK

(b) Join the gym

The truth is that once a routine is formed I actually enjoy the gym. It's joining a new gym full to the brim with Skinny Minnies and Buff Brads that's the daunting part. Call it a coincidence, or call it luck, but however you want to spin it fate intervened and staff from my local Gym offered discounts to all employees working in the shopping centre. So I can dodge the joining fee and only have to pay £18.99 a month!!

Status: CHECK

2. Learn how to drive

My younger sisters' both have their Provisional Licences'. All my mates back home drive. My best friend just passed his driving test and bought a car (no-one even knew he was taking lessons, the cheeky fecker)! I need to get my ass in gear (excuse the pun).

Status: SAVING IN PROGRESS

3. Figure out what I want to do with my life

Ideally I need to take on an internship to decide whether the Marketing, Buying, Media or Events world is for me. The only downside is the voluntary aspect of an internship. I got my first job when I was sixteen, I moved to a different country to study Fashion two years later. I think it's fair to say I'm fierce independent. The notion of being penniless and relying on my Mam, or the Dole, is something I can't bear to think about. I'm aware I would need to make that sacrifice in order to decide what I want but it's taking the plunge that's the scary part. Nonetheless, the fact my Mam would be willing for me to sponge off her and live at home again when she struggles herself just goes to show how amazing she really is..

Status: TBC (TO BE CONFIRMED)...

raebelle
x

Life of a Dunette

It's that time of year again; post Christmas blues. Christmas is, without a shadow of a doubt, retailers' most favourite time of year as there is lots of moolah to be made and crucial targets to achieve. However, along with all the festivities comes some serious drawbacks for us mere sale team; long hours and overtime, returns, and cranky/bitchy customers who just can't be pleased. Things don't get any easier after Christmas because sales get tougher as everyone's skint.

I have been told to 'toughen up' when it comes to dealing with Returns - that word sends shivers down my spine. I literally cannot stand them because I'm really not a fan of confrontation. Customers either waltz in with sob stories or guns a' blazing. Regardless, returns are NOT FUN! I have to learn how to react to the situation, and make a fair judgement. At the end of the day 'it's my call' - not great advice for an indecisive person! However, I'm incredibly stubborn so I shall persevere and try my absolute best.

My review is creeping up so I'm slightly anxious about the feedback, despite receiving the holiest of thou compliments from my Manager a while ago;

"If Carlsburg made supervisors...."

Even though I'm enjoying my time there and getting on with the girls I'm a wee worrier. I'm a Lad at heart so thought I would miss that kind of banter and find it difficult to fit in but it's been grand. I do sometimes struggle to get my authority across and delegate to the girls who have worked there longer than me but, at the end of the day, I'm a Supervisor and it's my job. Although it is tough not being apart of the 'group'.

I enjoy the balance of the office/store environment. I don't get numb sitting at a desk or get sore feet from standing all day. It's a nice happy medium; Paperwork and trading reports in the office and customer service and delegating to the girls on the sales floor.

On a bright note I'm loving my uniform allowance and rightly so taking advantage of it. At the minute I'm living in my baby 'Pandas': little tan ankle boots with a gold trimmed zip. I wanted to break up the black uniform and throw a bit of tan into the mix. They got the stamp of approval from my Manager because apparently they match my hair colour? So all's good with the world!

raebelle
x