New York Warp Speed

Photo by the lovely Leyla.

With only 9 more days left in NYC, I find myself appreciating all of the little things that this city and my life here have to offer. I take an extra deep breath when walking past my favorite corner flower stand. I smile smugly to myself when I run for the train and jump through the doors right before they close on me. I'm even enjoying some of my final projects (well, really just one and it's only because I'm really nerdy). In my last social commerce class yesterday, our prof had us think of a mentor we have had and then on a piece of paper write down the qualities this person possesses. After a few minutes, she told us to flip the paper over and write down what this person has taught us. Now, I'm not going to lie, there was a lot of eye rolling going on in the room during this exercise, especially because it wasn't to be handed in and rather just for us to keep. But being the goody goody I am, I obliged and started jotting down what my mentor (who I met at Parsons) has taught me. There are only a few people I've met in my life that I felt the need to impress, and maybe that's not quite the right word. Perhaps more accurately, they have inspired me to do my best work and then some. From the moment I met this person, I had this feeling. He imparted a fraction of his knowledge and experience onto me and because of this allowed me to grow in ways I never thought imaginable. His confidence in my skills and collaborative critiques have given me the ability to think that much further outside the box and push that much harder against what I thought I could do or become.

He led me to my current internship at a PR agency where I have had the most rewarding experience. Even though I have only been at this agency for four months, I feel like I have learned more than most people learn after years at a job. It's like I've all of a sudden realized just how far I've come and how much I've grown over the past year and a half in this city. What could have taken years and years at a mediocre job (and maybe not even!) to achieve has happened to me here, in this short time. I feel confident in the direction I want my life to go and I have a much clearer picture of what I want my career to look like. I owe that to a lot of people, including myself for taking this chance, but I also owe it to this city and the warp speed that it runs at.

j.

Camo & Excuses

 striped tee {Jacob} - camo pants {Gap} - sneaks {Sanuk} - necklaces {American Eagle & F21} - bracelet {flea market}

I kind of have a lot going on right now so please forgive the radio silence that just happened and may continue to happen. Turns out finals and moving back to Canada give you a lot to do. This week is crazy busy for me but in fun ways. One of my really good friends from Uni is here and he's taking me to a hockey game tomorrow night. I am so excited! Obviously, I'm really sporty and because of this the first thing I did upon hearing he had bought the tickets was to go buy myself a NY Rangers t-shirt. Once a fashion girl, always a fashion girl...or something like that. I'm also volunteering at a fashion show and going to a dinner party requested by me thrown in my honor (thanks Ley!). Only two more weeks of school and interning and then shortly after that I am back to the homeland.

Until next time....

j.

It's Been Freezing, I Blinked and Then It Was Summer

sweater {Century 21} - skirt {Target} - shoes {thrifted, Zara} - jewelry {street vendors}

I just needed to forever document the momentous occasion that was bare legs today! I was literally wearing my wool, winter jacket on the weekend and then bam! Monday was in the mid-twenties. Today got to a high of 26 degrees (celsius) and honestly it tricked us into thinking it was June. Too bad this more than Spring-like weather is not planning on sticking around any longer than tomorrow. A girl could get used to this.

In other news, today someone at the agency was celebrating his birthday. I ran out to order some fries from an upscale fast food restaurant (this is an oxymoron) because birthday fries make much more sense than birthday cake. After waiting briefly in line, I was called up, looked at the man straight faced and asked for twelve orders of fries. He looked at me with bewilderment and repeated my order to me as a question. I confirmed that yes, I really did want twelve orders of fries. He rang it in and then straight faced asked me, "to stay or to go"? Oh right, to stay please! Just bring my twelve pounds of french fries over to me in the corner booth of shame. And yes, we put two birthday candles into a mountain of fries and sang happy birthday like this was the most normal thing ever.

j.

That Time I Was Backstage at a Fashion Show

At an hour that was way too early for a Saturday morning, my phone started buzzing. Usually I would sleep through something like that, but for whatever reason, on this morning I heard it. It was my supervisor at the PR agency sending a somewhat panicked text, asking if I could come help out at the Rebecca Taylor show. There had been a snowstorm (hardly, says the Canadian) and I imagined that some people they were expecting to help out had been waylayed due to the inclement weather. As much as I had been looking forward to sleeping in, it didn't take any convincing for me to agree to help out. I arrived a little while later and was assigned to backstage check-in with another person. For the hour and a half leading up to the show, press and photographers arrived to take photos backstage and conduct interviews with Rebecca Taylor herself. My job was to escort them up a flight of stairs to the hair and makeup area and connect them with one of the account execs who I work with. From there they would get their chance to ask the designer their interview questions. It was fast-paced and at times hectic, especially once things got a bit behind schedule. I learned that you have to be firm and authoritative but always polite, even when people are losing their patience and sound like they might pass out if they continue to sigh so heavily. The majority of people were understanding and very nice, as being behind schedule tends to be the nature of the beast (the beast that is a fashion show). I also had my first Aha! moment when I realized the Power of the Clipboard. Holding onto this little plastic board makes you look important people. And people then think you know things and know who everyone is and where they are at that given moment. I won't lie and say I didn't like the power the clipboard gave me because I did, but unfortunately it did not give me ESP so I usually couldn't answer the questions I was being asked.

The real fun came right before the show started though. I was a few minutes too late trying to get to the front of house to watch the show so instead I stood to the side of where the models line up before strutting their stuff down the runway. I have to say, any disappointment I may have felt about not getting to watch the show subsided quickly as I stood there and watched magic happen. It was different than anything I've experienced in this world so far. I still got to see all of the clothes, and probably in more detail than you can see on the runway because I was literally right next to the models. The moments before a show starts are extraordinary. Most of the models are stone faced and in the zone. A few were dancing and cracking jokes. It literally takes an army of people to get a model ready for her 15 seconds of fame. At one point, I looked over and there were FIVE people surrounding one model. One crouched down, zipping up her shoes, another rubbing lotion (maybe shimmer?) into her legs, one dresser wiggling leather gloves onto her hands, a hair stylist pinning and spraying her do into place and finally, my favorite, the person with the lint brush giving her sweater the final once over.

The show starts and finishes within a few minutes and my favorite moment was after the final walk. The energy that could be felt backstage as the models walked off the runway for the last time was infectious. The dressers and stylists all starting clapping and cheering and it was impossible not to join in. Many models wore ear to ear grins (maybe happy they didn't bail on the runway...oh wait that would probably just be me!). Others ran over to their stylist for a celebratory hug. Last fashion week, I talked about my favorite moment of watching a runway show as being when the designer comes out at the end of the show. Well, this time I got to see the moment right after that, when Rebecca Taylor came backstage after taking her bow. Her happiness was palpable as she posed for photos, returned excited hugs from models and received congratulations from every direction. It was an incredible moment to witness and be a part of.

Thanks to my internship for giving me this amazing opportunity, these are going to be moments that I'll remember forever!

j.

Life as an Intern

I have been very lucky so far when it comes to internships. As you may recall, I spent 8 months interning at Bloomingdale's and I could not have had a better experience there. Now I have moved on to a public relations agency that specializes in fashion. PR is a very different environment than a corporate retail one and I am starting to adjust to the faster, more urgent nature of this particular area of the industry. I do a lot of things in a given day. From the less glamorous jobs of stuffing invitations, running errands (I was box shopping today) and generating lists to the more exciting projects of writing pitches and working a runway show, PR covers a lot of ground. To be perfectly honest, I don't mind doing the little things that most interns roll their eyes at. I appreciate when we're told why we're doing what we're doing, so that I can understand the bigger picture and really start to see how this industry works. With all of the "big" projects, come ten times more "small" projects. It seems that for every ten "small" projects I do, one "big" one comes along, and that is definitely worth it.

I have heard horror stories from friends and classmates. An intern at a well known designer was required to exit the elevator if said designer entered. A friend of a friend was asked to go to her boss' house and walk their dog! I heard one tonight in class that is arguably my favorite so far, one of my classmate's responsibilities as an intern is to make sure that her boss is properly hydrated at all times. I kid you not! She has to periodically check and make sure there is a full water bottle on her boss' desk at all times.

Hearing all these dreaded tales of interns makes me realize how good I've had and got it. The agency I work in is busy, loud, sometimes chaotic but always creative. There is an open communication between everyone on the team which allows for a very genuine, almost organic way of working together. I had a moment today that made me smile. I was out looking for magazines at the corner store that I've been to almost everyday for the last two weeks. The man working there surely recognizes me by now. I couldn't find what I was looking for and like always, he said "come back later". He told me he had six boxes he had to go through but he was sure what I was searching for was in there. He hesitated only slightly before saying he would go through the boxes right now if I could wait. So I did and he did, all six of them (Murphy's Law, it's always in the last box you open!). I took my eight magazines up to the counter and began to pay for them when he asked what kind of company I work for. I explained to him it was a PR agency and that I bought magazines because our clients were featured in them. He asked me what PR was so I explained that our job is to get our client's names out and keep track of when they get out. He looked at me thoughtfully and asked, "it's like marketing?". I took away all the fancy definitions and jargon and simplified what it is PR does and, while it's so much more than "just marketing", he got it and that made me smile. It's moments like these that only an intern who is out buying magazines for the umpteenth time can experience, and while some may consider this one of the "small" things, these are the moments I will remember.

j.

Fashion Week

Hi Guys! I didn't really intend to take a week long hiatus there. I don't really know what happened. School, Fashion Week and interning happened, I guess. Some of you may remember that I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer at a show last Fashion Week. Well, this time around I did not get to volunteer. Instead, Bloomingdale's sent me to three shows. As an attendee!!! I was living in a dream while I sat in the third and first rows (yes, you read that right...FRONT. ROW.) to watch Jill Stuart, Christian Siriano and Anna Sui show their Spring 2013 collections.

I can't really explain the energy that a live runway show has. It's magnetic and all-encompassing. It makes me feel inspired in ways that I can't articulate into words. My favorite moment of the whole show is right before it starts. One second the room is crowded and buzzing with chatter and in an instant everyone is in their seats, cameras poised for that moment when the first model rounds the corner. The moment I live for is that instant when all is quiet, intense with anticipation and then just when you can't take it anymore the lights turn on and the music starts blaring just as the first model begins her strut down the runway. It's magical.

My second favorite moment is at the very end of the show when the designer comes out to wave and take a bow. The look on their face is one mixed with unfiltered joy and utter exhaustion. What took them months of all-nighters is what you just saw in two minutes. The feeling I imagine they get when they see their finished collection walk down the runway almost makes me want to switch my major to design. Almost.

Needless to say, it felt incredible to be in the audience at, not one, but three shows. I honestly did not feel like I was living my own life. A BIG thank you to Bloomies and the Fashion Directors who made this happen. 

j.

Black, White & Potter Specs

If you've been reading this blog for a while now...congratulations on making it this far. No, I kid, I kid. What I meant to say was that you may have noticed my love for graffiti or as I prefer to call it, street art. During my stay in Toronto, Ky lived in an alley that was filled with the stuff. We're talking one masterpiece after another for blocks on end. It was magical. Also, speaking of magic, I should mention another love of mine: Harry Potter. So, when I found a pair of over-sized HP frames in a little Toronto boutique, there was zero question that they would be coming home with me.

"Harry Potter" glasses {Toronto boutique} - black tee {Aritzia} - gold watch {Target} - 

 white distressed pants & color block tote {The Gap} -  gladiator sandals {Steve Madden via Century 21}

In other news, I started classes again yesterday. I decided that I didn't have enough meltdowns while taking five classes last semester so I threw in an extra two for the fall. Oh yeah, and I thought it would be a real kick to stay on at Bloomingdale's to intern on the two days a week I don't have class. So, here's to a meltdown-ridden four months!

All meltdown talk aside, I am super excited about the courses I've had so far. But I am even more excited about staying on as an intern in Bloomie's Fashion Office. I should have the chance to take on meatier projects while I'm there, which gives me more experience and allows me to build a legit portfolio. Sounds like a win to me!

Last but certainly not least...a quick shout-out to my girl Ky for catching on real. quick. with the whole outfit photography business. You, my friend, are a natural. If this whole teaching thing doesn't work out, you should really consider going into iPhoneography.

j.

Concrete Safari

I'm going to be honest and admit that I have been a bit down on NYC lately. I was letting the city get the better of me but I'm finally starting to snap out of it. I think it's the summer. This probably sounds a bit strange but someone described NYC in the summer as gritty and I can't think of a more fitting adjective. It's hot, humid and sticky, smells of baking garbage and is ridiculously crowded. Not crowded with New Yorkers though, crowded with "middle of the sidewalk stopping" tourists. I was missing the sky, greenery, houses with yards and layered clothing, among other things. While I still do miss most of those things, I gave myself a stern talking to, told myself to stop being a baby and enjoy living in one of the coolest cities of all time. The little visit from my mom definitely helped too!

 

  

tan safari dress {BCBG Max Azria via Century 21} - necklace {Loft} - bronze gladiator sandals {Steve Madden via Century 21}

Adding to my summer despair was my anxiety about what happens after graduation from Parsons, which I talked about in this post. Since then, I have learned a few things, had a great week at my Bloomingdale's internship, become inspired about a potential career goal and planned a few end of summer adventures. 

I learned that, with my student visa, I qualify for something called OPT (Optional Practical Training). This allows me to work in the States for up to one year after graduating, in a job directly related to my degree. This is great news and takes a huge weight off my shoulders.

Last week at Bloomie's I further developed relationships with a few of the Fashion Directors, learning how they made it to the positions they have now. I was also given the privilege of going to the Alice + Olivia and Marc Jacobs showrooms - arguably the coolest thing I have gotten to do since coming to NYC thus far.

I recently heard that my bestie from Calgary is coming to NYC at the end of August for a conference and she will try and arrive a few days early to spend time with me. Exciting! I also booked a ticket to Toronto for a mini getaway before classes start to visit one of my Victoria besties and a few other friends. I am insanely excited about this since I haven't seen this friend in two years!

I have a busy month ahead of me and before I know it classes will start again (the nerd in me is very excited about that). I have lots to do and look forward to and I will try and grin and bear my way through one more month of gritty New York because I have been told that the fall here will make up for it.

j.

P.S. Yes, I purposefully didn't tell you about my newest career idea, because I don't want to jinx things and I want to flesh it out some more before I go all cyberspace on it.

Dots, Stripes & Challenges

One of my bestest friends was talking to me about my blog a little while ago and she told me that she always enjoyed the outfits I posted, but she was ready to see more. She, in a way, challenged me to step outside my comfort zone (as she often does). She wanted to see me take more chances. And so I put this outfit together with her in mind. While I love it, looking at the photos I realize it is still very safe. A fashion blogger (I use this term loosely) mixing polka dots with stripes?!? Whoa. Shocker. Anyways, this is what I wore to that photography course last weekend and to hang out with Sesame at the Hester Street Market/China Town/SOHO (we like to maximize our time together).

polka-dot blouse {sample sale} - striped skirt & sunnies {H&M} - red bracelet {Burkman Bros.} -

yellow tote {Fossil via Brooklyn Flea} - bronze gladiator sandals {Steve Madden via Century 21}

Speaking of challenges, I had an inspiring conversation with my supervisor at Bloomie's today. She asked me what I wanted to do with my fashion education once I complete it and although I don't know the answer to that yet, it got me thinking. She told me to make the most of this internship and gain as much experience as I possibly can out of it, which I was already consciously doing. She did mention this little 'ol blog here and complimented my writing and way of expression, which was really nice to hear. I have surprised myself since starting this how much I love writing. At the end of our conversation, she offered me one piece of advice. To challenge myself. Perfectly simple. Simply perfect.

I feel lucky to have such an amazing internship opportunity. I am taking the advice I received today to heart. All I have to say is, challenge accepted.

j.

Bloomie's

I have officially completed my first week as an intern in the Fashion Office of Bloomingdale's. I work three times a week and do everything from visual merchandising to social media. What does that mean exactly? So far, I have pulled clothes for a photoshoot, started researching men's trends for Fall 2012 and Spring 2013, perused a model's portfolio during his go-see, become acquainted with the many departments and floors, delivered samples, picked up samples, carried a giant stuffed bear for 20 blocks (oh, hello Burberry, don't mind my sweaty brow and giant plush toy...), seen the buying office in all it's chaotic glory and everything inbetween.

Today I had the priviledge of pulling looks for a swimwear window for Gay Pride week. If all goes well, the looks I pulled and styled will be in an entire block of windows. Themed by color, I was a happy girl as I put my Color Theory skills to the test. Who knew it would actually be useful in the real world to know your red-orange from your orange and your yellow-orange from your yellow. 

I am having so much fun and learning lots each day. I have an amazing supervisor who offers the perfect amount of guidance while still letting you take ownership of your own projects. This internship is off to a great start!

j.

Horsin' Around

So I said goodbye to nature, the sky and greenery this week and hello to the humid, sticky and smelly concrete jungle I know and love as New York. I've been feeling a little uninspired lately, which I think has contributed to my lack of posting lately. I've been thinking up some new ideas for this blog which have gotten the creative juices flowing again, so be excited about that. I'm also going to have to get creative with the outfit posts this summer because I am learning that wearing any clothing - let alone cute, fashionable clothing - in this humidity is a huge challenge for this freckle-faced, temperature sensitive ginger. I do have some exciting news to share, however, I'm going to make you look at me posing with some horses first. You're welcome...

leather detail tee {Zara} - black maxi skirt {Joe Fresh} - sunnies {H&M} - bronze skinny belt {Old Navy} -

bronze gladiator sandals {Steve Madden via Century 21}

I was pretty positive that my maned friend here was going to chomp my entire hand off, along with the carrot, so I kept on dropping it and pulling my hand away before he even got close to me. Eventually, after an embarassing number of attempts, I successfully fed him a couple carrots.

Okay, so I'm very excited to say that, as of Monday, I will be the social media intern at Bloomingdale's. I am absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity and can't wait to make the most out of this experience.

j.

Rainbow Suede

There's nothing like a pair of fuschia/melon/turquoise suede shoes to get you pumped to kick some interview booty. Which hopefully I did yesterday. I'll find out in a week or so. In the meantime, my fingers and toes are crossed because the internship sounded ah-may-zing!

navy button-up, navy skirt & fuschia belt {Loft} - turquoise earrings {etsy} - white purse {Coach} -

gold cuff {thrifted at VV Boutique} - rainbow suede flats {Zara}

So, I know I usually find a pretty wall to pose in front of (and by pretty, I mean either brick, grafitti covered or garage). I decided to switch things up a bit to show you just what my daily view consists of. This is right outside Guy and Gallard (also known as my favorite coffee shop, some may call our relationship co-dependent...). Just steps away from one of two Parsons buildings where half my classes take place. I spend a great deal of time either, in Guy or out on this street, so I thought it only fitting to snap a few pics amidst the New York chaos. Sorry, random guy, you walked by at just the wrong moment. Were you the one who gave me the very creepy, drawn out "Verrrrrry Niiiiice"? Or was that the white haired gentleman in front of you?

As per usual, a big shout-out to my girl Kiki for her always impressive iphonography.

j.

Marvel in the Unexpected

I went on an interview today. For a summer PR internship at a luxury Italian menswear company. Interviews always make me a little nervous, despite the fact that I've been on a zillion of them. I don't know if that is necessarily a good thing. Back in the day (by this, I mean six, maybe seven years ago...) when I was looking for a summer job during my undergrad, I kinda had this thing for becoming a receptionist at a hair salon (don't ask....I also have a slightly less glamorous dream of being a check-out girl at the grocery store). Anyways, I applied to many salons and went on many interviews, but sadly I never did get my dream job as a receptionist. I did, however, become an expert at going on interviews. Fast forward a few years, a degree in business and several real jobs later and you get me going on my very first fashion interview. The nerves subsided once I got to their ridiculously nice office on Fifth Avenue and I think the interview went well. But, as those hair salons taught me, one can never tell.

tan trench {Kiki's, H&M} - gingham button-up & navy necklace {Banana Republic} -

grey tiered skirt {Banana Republic Outlet} - neon wedges {Kensie via Century 21} - photo credit {Kiki}

I also have another interview tomorrow at a PR agency. I don't want to jinx it, but this is kinda, okay big time, my dream internship. It's basically perfect for me, as I am for it. So, keep your fingers crossed for me and hopefully I will blow them away with my expert interview skills and obvious modesty.

By the way, this little outfit you see above was styled by Kiki and I during our humongous photoshoot for that really huge project I keep blabbing about. I loved the unexpected pairing of the gingham button-up with the feminine tiered skirt. I'm also pretty much in love with those wedges. Because they are neon. And wedges. That I can walk in. Win. Win. Big win.

j.