Life of an Alexander McQueen Intern - SO FAR!

Well, i'd definatly be lying if I said interning is a walk in the park. I'm currently working in the Archives of Alexander McQueen, which yes, is a personal dream come true - but it's not easy!

I've done about 2 and a half months so far, and I finish next week after the Sample Sale for Christmas.

When I started, I can honestly say I was terrified - for me, McQueen was not just a fashion designer, he was THE fashion designer, and its a true honour that I got the internship there!

 

Working in the Archives has been tiring, hard work but still its so much fun! Obviously, the archives contain all the collections, including the Fashion Shows, Pre and Comm collections, including Mens and McQ lines. Its a huge space, and It's incredible just looking through the collections, seeing both Lee and Sarah Burton's work. Occassionally, Studio need outfits for inspiration/reference so my duties include sourcing outfits from the vast collections, or from the Vintage clothing section (which is a personal favourite of mine, there are some real treasures in there!) which me or the other interns run over to the main HQ.

Occassionally us interns do have to do the errands, but it's not just making tea for everyone (which I'm sure is said a lot!), its incredible seeing all of this fashion history in one place, including all of the incredible shoes and accessories - I have tried the infamous Armadillo Shoes on, and they are incredibly comfortable, suprisingly!

 

Pulling outfits out for celebrities is a regular occurance, such as the glorious Naomi Campbell, however I am yet to meet the one and only Kate Moss - although if that ever did happen I'm sure I would collapse in starstruck awe and cry into the couture.

Next week, is the Sample Sale - something I'm incredibly excited about, but also scared stiff about! I can't wait to work in such a busy environment, and I'm honoured that its with McQueen.

 

I must admit, the commute from Leicester to London two days a week is hard work - getting up at 4am and sometimes not getting home till very late at night is exhausting and sometimes upsets me as I spend the rest of the week tired and not really up for anything, and the cost of travel is eating away at my very small savings, but you know what, I adore every second. I finish after the sale for Christmas, and then I'm going back in the New Year to gather some more experience!

 

If anyone was to ask about my interning - I would say think about it long and hard, because you might have to give a little more up to do so, but the outcome will be so worth it. It's a great experience and with a boss like mine, it can be hilarious!

 

Long Live McQueen.

So yesterday was possibly the most nerve racking, emotional, and most amazing day of my life. I finally had my interview at Alexander McQueen, to be an intern in the Archives. I've been preparing for months, trying to keep myself calm, because lets face it - it's a huge deal.

I've worked so so hard on my degree, and have put 200% into every piece of work I do, and I can finally say that it's starting to pay off! The interview itself was not as bad as I thought it would be, and I got shown around the archives of one the greatest Fashion Houses in the world.

Getting to see key collections, couture pieces, custom made gowns was a dream come true. I even got to see my favourite collection, VOSS from S/S 2001, which was more lovely that I could ever imagine - the feathers, the intricate stitching and general beauty of the garments was incredible.

I can finally see a future coming together. I start in two weeks, i'm so excited!

Hometown Glory.

So, its that time of year when everyone is either going back to/starting university. I always feel a sense of emptiness when this happens - not because I shall miss the people going, but because I feel i've let myself down by choosing to stay in my hometown, Leicester.

Yes, i've chosen this myself and I should live with that, but sometimes I do wonder what life would be like if I'd accepted my place in either Manchester or London to study fashion. Although I am studying Fashion & Costume here in Leicester, the city itself lacks the glamour and excitement I feel I would have felt if I was in another city.

Although, Leicester, despite what some may think, is a beautiful city. Beautiful Victorian style buildings, Cathedrals & Churches and abandoned factories litter the area, making a distressed and interesting landscape. Many successful people have come from Leicester, including the incredible band Kasabian, who have done ridiculously well and can now consider themselves Rock GODS. Many students from the surrounding Universities & Colleges have had flourishing careers and achieved wonderful grades (I'd like to think myself included), showing that its not where you study, its how hard.

I've built some strong relationships, built a business, fell in and out of Love with the city countless times. Fallen out of Sophbeck at 7am, been glassed, been tattooed, been pierced, been bruised, but i'm at home, and i'm finally feeling OK about it. Maybe, in the future I will leave and go to a bigger, brighter city.

Overall, I guess i'm trying to say, is: Leicester, I Love You.

Stay Jazzy you Crazy Kittens!

H x

Alexander Goldbear.

Anyone who knows me knows how much i adore Alexander McQueen. And Haribo. So think how i felt when the two were combined!! A New York magazine, Twelv, have created a dress made entirely of Haribo Goldbears!

The magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Hissa Igarashi and Fashion Editor, Sayuri Marakumi, spent three weeks constructing the 220-pound dress for its debut issue- dedication to Fashion or what!

The dress was inspired by the late Alexander McQueen's dress which was dedicated to his dear friend Isabella Blow, who tragically commited suicide (I still haven't got over the loss of either of these brilliant minds).

 

 

Stay Jazzy you Crazy Kittens!

H x

Wir Liben

So, i've finally got a few more photos from my Fashion Show. It was SUCH an emotional week, but i spent most of it running off adrenaline and heaps of tea.

I was incredibly nervous walking down the catwalk, especailly because my beloved parents and best friends and boyfriend were there to see it on the finale night.

Every single nightmare, death threat, panic attack, blood, sweat and tear has been worth it though because i received a DDD* grade for my whole course

AND

the Outstanding Acheivement Award

AND

Sustainable Fashion Award!!

I cried ALOT when I was called on stage to collect my awards, my heart was in my throat and I was so overwhelmed I sobbed during my speech! It was the best end to my 2 years of this amazing course.

Because of this course, I finally found something I adore, and I have places at both Manchester and London Universities, but I'm not going until next year as I am planning to spend time in America travelling around the different states. Also, I'm having a brilliant time with Jazzy Jeff's Junk right now, and I don't think I can part with all my stock!

Fashion Show.

Backstage photo of my Collection, entitled 'Wir Liben' (We're Alive in German).

Photograph my Dad took of Me on the Catwalk last night at the Fashion Show. It was incredible having my friends and family there to see it.
It was an honour to be awarded the Outstanding Acheivement Award, and the Sustainable Fashion Award for the collection. I cried a lot, but mainly because its been the best two years of my life.
Hopefully, I will be able to continue working on pieces similar, and concentrate more on Jazzy Jeff's Junk Vintage. Also, with the talk of an Internship, and placement work, it's hopefully going to be a very bright future.

Derelict Photoshoot.

So last week I styled a photoshoot for Jazzy Jeff's Junk. It was marvellous weather, although we found it difficult to find a decent location.
Eventually, we opted for the burnt down factory near my college in central Leicester. The shots taken were incredible, take by Joe Vozza. I wanted the derelict buildings and muted colours of the wasteland to contrast with the brightness of the colours, and it worked so well. My models were my friends, Jess Butterfield, Zoe Sweeney & Alice Trice-Rolph (I was also in afew cheeky shots).

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These are afew of my favourite shots, what do you think?