The Projects

Documentation of my journey as a stylist and creative director, alongside the exploration of photography, illustration and writing skills.

Stepping Stones Nigeria

It’s been a loooong time I know, busy days, busy nights!

But here I am with a few updates…

IDOL Magazine recently published my article on Gary Foxcroft, co-founder of children’s charity, Stepping Stones Nigeria.

I saw a documentary about these guys and their fantastic works a few years back on Channel 4 Dispatches; Saving Africa’s Witch Children (sorry I can’t seem to find part 1 or 2 right now) and it affected me so profoundly I knew I would one day work with them in some way. Volunteering is not recommended in the area of the Niger Delta and so I thought an IDOL interview would be a great way of bringing more publicity to the cause.

Gary recently ran 10km in Blackpool (not in this beautiful weather, in that other weather we had) raising £800 which he is thrilled with. If you are interested in giving a one off donation to these guys or becoming a regular donor, you can visit their website to find out more about what they do and how to help.

Gary Foxcroft is the go getter whose career has brought him threats from governments, intimidation from religious leaders and an inbox full of hate mail. He is the man behind Stepping Stones; the only international charity working to protect and change the lives of children in one of the most dangerous regions in Africa; the Niger Delta.

Like the majority of Africa, Christianity plays a very dominant role in Nigeria and due to lack of education and corruption; religious leaders are able to exploit this and turn religious belief into fear for money and power. This has led to a devastating number of children being accused of witchcraft and wizardry and are in turn ‘exorcised’ for a hefty payment. After being horrifically tortured, the children are usually labeled as a hopeless case and abandoned by the Church, their families and their village; in many awful cases, some are even killed in horrendous circumstances. The ones who do survive face rape, malnutrition and trafficking on a daily basis on the streets of Nigeria.  A large number of these children have not even reached their fifth birthday.

Despite opposition, Gary has tirelessly and relentlessly led the way for change in attempt to give these children a chance at a brighter future. IDOL managed to track the courageous activist down between his trips to Africa and busy life in the UK to further the awareness of these issues and the work of Stepping Stones Nigeria. We hope that this interview will inspire and motivate; and most importantly encourage our readers to support such a courageous charity on its pursuit for change. 

To read the rest of the article, visit IDOL Magazine.

glamgiving is Born

Hello!

So this month saw the launch of our sustainable, charitable fashionista baby; glamgiving. It’s so wonderful to see all our hardwork come to life; but there’s still much more to be done! In fact, according to business expert Darren Shirlaw (check him out), we have just left the ‘start up’ phase and are entering ‘good time’ phase (which is true, we’re inundated with AMAZING parties that I really want to tell you about but currently I am sworn to secrecy).

Now I can officially let you all know that our launch charity is the very worthy Breakthrough Breast Cancer and we are thrilled to be working together.

Beautiful jewellery boutique astrid & miyu donated this quirky bracelet as a prize to our first buyer, who was very happy indeed!

We also had some amazing feedback in the first 2 weeks with MTV Style writing a lovely blog post on us:

We have up to 5 parties, if not possibly more between now and August, not to mention heaps more of fantastic pieces that need shooting and uploading on to the site, so we’re not exactly going to be twiddling our thumbs this summer! We’ve also got a few press pieces being published in the coming weeks so keep your eyes peeled. :)

Check out the homepage to see the fabulous pictures of Amy Wilsmore (now Amy Clayton) shot by Vicki King, that I blogged about a month or so ago and some images from our more recent shoots.

Marc Jacobs Denim Jacket

Marni Top and Shorts

And if you haven’t already… visit us!!

glamgiving Party Three

Last Thursday 19th was our glamparty 3, held in Alexandra Palace hosted by the lovely Alison.

This was our first collaboration party and we had jewellery boutique Astrid&Miyu selling their unique and fabulous pieces with 40% of the proceeds going to glamgiving.

Another first was the attendance of two representatives from the breast cancer charity Breakthrough, who we are pleased to announce are our official charity launch partners and who gave an encouraging and informing speech on their work and their partnership with glamgiving.

There was an exciting and lavish selection of donations from local retailers for our prize draw; including a one to one private session of pilates, champagne, a manicure, a cut and blowdry, a dinner for two, chocolates, flowers, clothing vouchers and much more. In fact we had so many prizes every single guest who bought a raffle ticket went away with something!!

 A great number of garments and accessories were donated to us on the evening- some sold straight away, some I have my eye on and some will be online soon! I was INCREDIBLY excited to see our first vintage pieces being donated, including a 60s silver and pink fitted dress and a green 70s button front dress which I tried on and wore as a coat- in love. We had a fantastic selection of Karen Millen, Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith, Calvin Klein and Gucci to name a few, so keep your eyes peeled for them over the next month on our site.

We had a beautiful spread of food and drink and a friendly environment with lots of enthusiastic guests, who really believed in what glamgiving was doing and happy to be supporting us. Most importantly we raised over £500 and everyone had fun!

(My TopShop socks with Georgina Goodman shoes and H&M glitter leggings, below.)

Looking forward to the next one!

Trainer Love

I have a new obsession. One I never believed could exist. But the overwhelming trend of trainers has caused a production of high tops and plimsolls and wedges and all sorts of sneaker-esque designs that actually suit me. This can only mean one thing. Bad news for my bank balance. I’m telling you, I want them aaaaall.

These are my babies thus far:

River Island Silver Trainers, £20

River Island White trainer/plimsolls, £15

River Island Hidden Wedge High Tops, £40

Clearly River Island are on point this season!

These are the ones I’m after:

Asos Lilac High Tops £35

Aldo (US) Wedge Sneakers $62.99

TopShop Mint High Tops £28.00

TopShop Aerobic Sport Wedge Trainers £48.00

TopShop Mesh High Tops £28.00

River Island Hidden Wedge High Tops £40

Gah! That’s a lot of trainers to be buying. Let’s see what payday brings…

Albania with a twist

(Above you can see Ksamil, one of the most beautiful beaches in Albania and adored for its Caribbean-esque scenery).

So about two weeks ago I was asked to write a piece on Albania for lowcostholidays.com to test whether I was capable of freelance writing for them (I got the job btw), but when they sent me the subject I kinda thought I was fighting a losing battle. I had no idea Albania had so much to offer and was even voted Lonely Planet’s number 1 destination to visit in 2011. After the country’s difficult past the people are eager to welcome tourists to develop the economy and will greet you with warm hospitality in a land rich with culture and heritage. There was so much to write about and so much of interest I am now obsessed and determined to get over there and write a piece for IDOL.

Anyway, rather than raving about it all over again, I thought I’d paste in my test piece for lowcostholidays.com just to give you a little idea of what Albania has to offer and what is required when writing copy for a travel website. There are structures that need to be followed and SEO has to be taken into account massively, so it’s very different from writing an article but if you are interested in travel writing it’s a definite step forward and way to make money from something you love.

Albania at a Glance
For a holiday with a difference, Albania is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. This beautiful country offers unspoilt beaches, rich heritage and scenic landscape, all presented to you with welcoming hospitality and a mediterranean climate.

You’ll Love Albania If…

  • You want to sip coffee in atmospheric city cafes, whilst soaking up 100,000 years of history.
  • You’re looking for a family friendly holiday with clean beaches and a host of outdoor activities.
  • You’re a group of friends searching for exploration and adventure.


Which Resort is Right for you?
From skiing on the Albanian Alps, sightseeing in TIrana to relaxing on the coasts of the Ionian and Adriatic seas; there’s something for everyone.

  • The Baron is a fantastic budget holiday choice for friends who want to see the capital Tirana but are also after a taste of Albania’s outdoors. Surrounded by hilly backdrops, you can enjoy fishing, birdwatching, boating and even a game of volleyball.
  • For a more luxurious stay opt for the five star Sheraton in the centre of Tirana. Rated as the best stay in town, this exquisitely designed hotel is surrounded by its own private gardens. Perfect for a romantic holiday whilst exploring a magnificent city.
  • With the sparkling Adriatic Sea only a 20 minute drive away in Durres and being just a short walk from the city centre, the four star Mondial Hotel will keep the kids happy on your family holiday and even offers an all inclusive option.


Top 5 Attractions in Albania

  • The Et`hem Bey Mosque in Tirana is not only fascinating for its historic design, but became a landmark for religious freedom when 10,000 worshippers reopened it after its communist closure!
  • The Skanderbeg Fortress in Kruja is a must-see castle that was the home to Albania’s national hero, Skanderbeg. There is also a museum which gives tours on the history of this courageous man and Albania’s battle for freedom.
  • Renowned for its Caribbean resemblance, the Ksamil beach is a perfect option for a family holiday thanks to clean facilities, cafes and affordable hotels. For dinner hop over to a near by islet for delicious fresh seafood.
  • If you’re the action type, Albania is the country and skiing is the holiday. The brave among you can’t leave without spending some time on Mount Korab, the highest peak in the entire country.
  • The Butrint National Park is an unmissable day out on your holiday to Albania. This awe-inspiring attraction is blooming with wildlife amongst the remarkable ruins of a city’s history, dating back to Bronze Age up until the 19th century.  


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    •    Cheap full board stays
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Please note none of these images are my own and were taken from Google images.

Centre Point

Last year I was desperately wanting to get involved in charity work. Strangely enough, charity is not the easiest sector to get into-especially if your background is crammed full of fashion. Luckily I found glamgiving as a way to merge the two and as a step forward into charity but I wanted to do something directly.

Someone suggested mentoring so I began looking into it. The fantastic thing about mentoring is that you get to work with individuals rather than paper work and you get to see the difference you are making. There are lots of mentoring schemes out there for all different types of people and it can be quite tricky to get into, so maybe some relevant work experience here and there would help.

I looked at quite a few mentoring schemes before finding out that Centre Point had their own programme as well and decided that this was it, I had to work with them. I waited for the scheme to re-open and applied immediately; four months later, I have met my mentee. :) It’s a fairly long process and a bit of a waiting game; I think I waited 2 months before hearing I had an interview but once I attended that the ball really began rolling. There are 2 training days you have to attend before being officially accepted and these are really eye opening and you have the opportunity to meet some of the young adults they help and hear their stories.

It’s not the easiest volunteer position in the world either; after spending a year with your mentee you have to say goodbye permanently and agree to never make contact with them again. I gulped a bit when I heard this but it’s to enable the young adults to become independent and move forward in life responsibly so I accept it and understand. But having said that the rewards of seeing someone grow will be beautiful and after just one meeting with my mentee I am full of hope and encouragement for her and can’t wait to see her blossom. Each person who is mentored is another individual we are helping to take off the streets and aids Centre Point in the fight against homelessness, so a blow to our heart when we say goodbye is a sacrifice worth making.

On your mentoring programme their is a wide range of issues you could be dealing with depending on your mentee’s needs. This could vary from job seeking, uni applications, enrolling in college, confidence building, learning about the UK, improving their English, helping them with past issues and money budgeting. The list goes on!

You are entitled to £10 per session for a coffee, etc between you and your mentee and twice a year you have an allowance of £30 in case it’s their birthday or you wanted to take them somewhere they are interested in. You meet with your mentee every week for 3 weeks at first before moving on to once every two weeks. The sessions can last from 45 minutes to 2 hours, whatever you are comfortable with.

Centre Point is looking for all types of people from all walks of life because their mentees are individuals with individual needs, so if you are interested don’t hesitate because you are worried you don’t have the skills! There are an array of vastly different people they are interested in.

Some facts about youth homelessness:

80,000 experience homelessness in the UK every year.

Only some homeless people are legally entitled to government help and support and this has become even stricter since the cuts were introduced.

Centre Point not only takes in homesless people who are living on the streets but…

  • In temporary hostel or bed and breakfast accommodation
  • ‘Sofa surfing’ (staying temporarily with lots of different people)
  • In unsuitable or unsafe accommodation

58% of homeless young people are homeless due to a family breakdown.

33% of young homeless people have a mental health problem.

A third of young people at Centre Point are refugees who have escaped their country and entered the UK alone, often fleeing extreme violence.

29% arrive at Centre Point with no qualifications and as a result, only 5% of adults at Centre Point are in work when they first join with the charity.

To learn more or to look into volunteering with Centre Point, visit their website.

Lucy In Disguise

So last Friday I found myself in Soho, 48 Lexington Street to be exact, styling for Lucy In Disguise.

Lucy In Disguise, if for some reason you’ve been living under a rock, is the vintage store owned by sisters Lilly Allen and Sarah Owen, which opened back in September 2010 and was the focus of their reality documentary From Riches To Rags.

The girls are currently in the midst of launching their new look website and are re-shooting not only all the beautiful pieces on the shop floor but everything else that’s currently in the stock room- and that’s a whole lotta clothes. So the very lovely Sarah has got me on-board to do some of the styling of these pieces, which happens to be one of the most enjoyable shoots ever considering that I want to buy every single piece we photograph and I’m simply making the garments look pretty on the mannequin (and I usually hate mannequin shoots with a passion).

On Friday I worked with the very sweet photographer Florence Smith and came back yesterday with my new found creative partner in crime Vicki King to continue where I left off. The days were full of ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ and lots of confusion over what to spend our Lucy In Disguise vouchers on.

Below is a few blurry images (my HTC has been so abused it now refuses to focus) of a fraction of the pieces we worked with.

This is a ridiculously unique and extraordinary dress that literally oozes glamor from its very seams. A 1940s Givenchy piece, it features popper button fastening around the waist, practically removing the skirt from the top section- which can be very fiddly when trying to get it on to the mannequin! The sheer front and back are most likely to be organza whilst the amazing petal sleeves and full length skirt are silk. This stunning dress would be showstopping for a really special evening- but I would stay completely away from the champers because this beautiful design is super delicate and drunken stumblings would most definitely not bode well!

Loving the lace detail on this black taffeta frock.

Gah this dress! It’s Carrie Bradshaw and Black Swan rolled into one and just perfect for the season’s feminine trends. I think you could get away with wearing it as a day dress teamed with cute pumps or if you’re brave a pair of S/S12 sneakers, I wouldn’t say high tops but a simple pair of converse/plimsole style ones could look quirky and offer a different approach to the obvious ways of wearing it.

The ‘Fish Dress’. I adore this dress but I don’t think I could carry fishes off without looking a bit like Eddy from AbFab. However, this 1960s neckline is so rare to see nowadays and I can’t believe it has been forgotten about- I am in love!

Now this is my baby. Not only is it a reasonable price of £95 but it’s in summer’s must have shades- yellow and mint (apparently merged into one, in one light it’s lemon, in another it’s a delicious apple green). A 50s master piece with a full circle skirt (ticking yet another SS12 trend) and my favourite part- a sheer mint sash neckline that drapes down the back and cascades to the hem line. I tried this on thinking it may just be the ultimate way to spend my Lucy In Disguise vouchers but it’s pretty damn big. :( I also wanted to rock it with my new River Island trainers but it’s almost ankle length so might not work so well considering I’m 5’2. The very friendly and sweet (other) Sarah who is a shop assistant at LID suggested it could be taken in, so this could well be an option that I consider on my return to the store this Friday, when me and Vicki will commence with round three of the website shots.

Finally, I just have to show off the bathroom. The team did an amazing job of the decorating the shop and the bathroom is a girly paradise. Antique mirrors adorn the plum coloured walls and roses and perfume sit prettily on a glass table. This is so my inspiration for when I move to New Cross this summer.

And lastly the brilliantly styled front window. I was speaking to the girls yesterday and the shop merchandising is a team effort between them all and what an effort it is! The entire shop is segregated into trends and looks and styles and it flows seamlessly. I’m in love with the pastel rail, obviously.

The sisters also have their own collection which has a vintage feel with a modern take. I’m going to try and get a few snaps of that tomorrow for further posting.

Very excited to see the new site indeed!

astrid & miyu

Last Thursday Louise Stacey (founder of glamgiving) and I were busy with meetings at the BHive Covent Garden, when we met Connie and Jenny, owners of the fabulous online jewellery boutique astrid & miyu. The duo were at Lynne Franks’ women only member’s club showcasing some of their amazing pieces and selling them at 20% discount for the day. They were also inundated with customers who had scheduled appointments to gaze adoringly at the pieces and hopefully walk away with some beautiful new purchases (which many of them did!)

Lou treated me to this fabulous and now sold out rose gold plated brass Swarovski crystal ring, named Butterflies in My Stomach, which retails at £49.00. It proved popular with all my friends so hopefully they get it back in stock!

The ladies who met at business school, collaborated on the idea last year and launched the website 3 months ago and are now shipping to Belguim, the US and Japan as well as all over Britain. They have already been featured in Stylist, Red and Company Magazine to name a few and have a press event at Shoreditch House this April. They are even working on a bigger and better website- clearly these girls are unstoppable.

The two travel the world in order to source beautiful costume jewellery and then sell the pieces through their online store. Each week they launch a new, exciting collection, which can be seen here.

glamgiving is very happy to now be in partnership with astrid & miyu and are currently working together on our launch and next glam party. The pair have generously donated a piece for one of our lucky first customers and will be attending our party on April 19th to sell their stunning designs with 40% of the proceeds going to glamgiving’s charities.

As Humphrey Bogart said, “I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship”.

Some of my fav pieces:

The Itchy Marks and Spencer Jumper

I’m sure you’ve seen this gorgeous thing in a previous post advertising my high-tops, but I thought I’d dedicate a post solely to its itchy self.

I saw this jumper in early Jan for £29.95. I had been meaning to go and buy it but more essential purchases kept getting in the way. But fate played a hand and whilst shopping for gg I stumbled across it in the changing room, reduced to £12. Well, clearly I just had to have it even if it was 3 sizes too big. The great thing about this jumper is that it is cropped so perfect for spring and plays with the high waisted theme that’s so big this season- you could team with a pencil skirt and leave a little flesh showing to really knock the look on the head. It features a bird print which is everywhere right now and is in pretty, feminine hues.

My only problem with this baby is that it is Goddamn itchy- wear with protection and if you’re interested; hurry! There are only 12s and 14s left throughout London.