Catch up..

This past year I have been running my own company. After graduating and going to countless interviews for a variety of jobs no one wanted to hire me... sob, sob.

So I decided to hire myself. I live with my husband in the idyllic town of Bury St. Edmunds. We have a variety of gorgeous boutiques but were missing an independent children's clothing store. A mother and daughter team were quickly allied; researching brands, attending trade shows and putting together a business plan. Whilst working for Six a designer menswear store in Bury St. Edmunds (yes someone did hire me eventually) I worked on their online store styling outfits, writing descriptions, processing web sales and just generally boosting their online status. www.sixwhitingstreet.co.uk

Millie (my designer kids wear & shoe boutique) was born/ started trading in March 2011, and sadly died in January 2012. The shop unfortunately does not trade any more due to manyreasons, the main being a massive increase in the business rates. However its not all doom and gloom as I have loved working with my customers, their children and grand children, and have grown so much as a person and as a professional. www.milliesclothing.co.uk

I have learned/ become:

• feisty, its not in my natural character but have learned how to stand up for myself!
• developed my styling skills, as thats pretty much what i did online and in the shop all day
• gaining a sense of what the customer wants and buying and selecting clothing and shoes appropriately
• often taking a risk pays, people want something thats different and are prepared to pay for top quality brands
• how to be cheeky and jump through some loop holes (sshhh!)
• gained some serious tips photographing as i photographed most of the clothes myself
• social media junkie, tweeting, facebooking, pinteresting and blogging about designer children's clothes
• visual merchandising
• the correct way to dress a mannequin
• how to iron correctly (yes in the vm world there is a wrong way to iron!!)
• designing an ecommerce website
• boosting internet presence
• a researching master
• negotiating prices
• designing bags & boxes, how my clothes were purchased was very important to me
• liaised with press

And now my brain hurts... I am currently on the job hunt again, but am enjoying some time off after working 6 day weeks, 12 hour days.

Fashion Shows

My o My! What a rush!

2 shows at the Minories in Colchester

MACs head make-up artist Pablo and his team were amazing and with Toni and Guy doing the hair it was such a winning combination, plus my beautiful models- it just made my collection pop. The whole night was undeniable success with friends and family finally being able adore the hard work, stress and tears. A very exciting night, thats left me on a high. I also really enjoyed capturing all the backstage bustle and fashion show preparations.

The MAC team

Toni & Guy curling and frizzing

Last second touch ups before the models hit the runway

My collection and I (centre)

GFW

GFW was perhaps the most enjoyable part of the degree, there was so much interest in our stand and it was such an adrenaline rush and a constant high to have interest in my collection. seriously looking forward to new designers... look out for us there!!!

new photoshoot

By having 2 models i felt they could play off each other and it enabled to show 2 looks really allowing my collection to flow. The girls had stronger features, paler and looked just much better- to me the pictures still look a little ammeter, a professional photographer makes all the difference. but they really showcase the clothing and it looks more like fashion shoot rather than a wag shoot.

photoshoot

After doing a photo shoot in a studio, the model was friend of mine (who mainly models for commercial briefs) i did the photography, make-up, hair and styling in studio (another friends studio) I think she look gorgeous and the clothes look great, however together they don'y quite gel. I would like to try again on paler skin as i want a high fashion/ luxury look.

Presentation

The last ever Presentation! was debatably the most nerve racking, I feel I really portrayed my collection, passion, drive, ambition and action plan in a clear concise passionate way. Im just slightly concerned at the rapid speed I can converse in, and will ask for feedback on how to improve in job interview situations.

Arts Thread

As a graduating year we are participating on arts Thread, on online graduate data base representing graudates in the creative arts industry. Hopefully this will boost my profile and possible job prospects.

www.artsthread.com/p/charlottewest