The world of blogging is a funny old thing on the one hand we have the return of Liberty London Girl and a number of exits stage left such as Je Ne Sais Quoi, a holding pad with Observationmode (possible return?) and a gone gone gone with Mrs Fashion. Blogging is still small fry in the UK compared to the USA and it is no surprise the three I mention are stateside.
Attending the talk with Susie of Style Bubble seemed a bit surreal after having read her blog for 18 months, having done a blogosphere interview with her and then to be sat there in a room with other people listening to her discussing blogging and her passion for it. Susie truly is an A+++ blogger (sorry lazy ebay speak!) and has plans for her blog. Moi, I am a mere amateur. When I started last January I did it as an outlet for my writing, the inner journalist (I was one once!) who was creative and opinionated. I didn't find my styling work demanding, as working part time with a young child limits the effort you can put in, and therefore the work you get to do.
So, I had a blogosphere chat with Mrs Fashion (all my sleuthing and cajoling didn't result in a revelation) on a couple of courses I was considering and went with my heart's desire, my MA in Fashion and Film. Since, I am nothing but always honest, I choose it thinking I was going to up my game on styling and work on films as costume designer or wardrobe supervisor - along those lines anyway; plus maybe a few published articles here and there...
Nothing prepared me for a) absolutely loving being a student again and this time a studious studying one not the social butterfly I was last time around! And b) realising that my writing and visual executions (plus my photographic memory which relates only to images, I store light and scenes in my head - I can evoke a place and a face anytime. Names, things to do - forget it! I have to take a list with me and even then I miss things off) meant I knew I wanted to create and direct films. I have a vague memory of wanting to do this before, I think that is why I went into advertising when I left university but I was too much of a sensitive soul to stay. I can't watch Mad Men as it reminds me too much of my bastard creative director! I learnt photography and film techniques and copy writing but it wasn't enough to keep me hooked into the world I was desperate to leave.
It took me years even to step foot in Soho Square again and I did it by accident in last November as I walked from Central St Martins in Charing Cross to LCF at John Princes St off Oxford Street. It was weird walking there and now I'm ready for the industry - mainly because my confidence now controls my humility and I'm no longer in awe. You see I told you this was a ramble. It is just weird when you realise what you want to do and as a realist, I know I might just spend the rest of my life scrabbling money together to only make hi res video shorts, but at least I'll be doing what I want.
Styling, fashion stuff all seems a dim distant memory. It's dreadful but I'm just going through the motions regarding styling work at the moment, I feel a teeny tiny bit guilty and I need to fess up soon to my contractual work. I still absolutely love the fashion industry and fashion itself but I've taken a step out and feel like I'm peeking in at it. None of this would have happened if I hadn't started my own blog, it is like a stream of consciousness for me and I admire the focus of other blogs who have a defined remit and deliver against that because I've become such a rambler!!
My question is to you the blogosphere (truly it is the new answer to clairvoyance and consulting ones horoscope) do I continue to execute posts per se as I've been doing? Or do I really up the ante on make do style stuff - more recessionista (yukky word)? Or shall I raise my Fashion and Film blog to the fore and be an informative soul? What do you like to read and why?
If I was a rich girl I wouldn't be using my computer to post a blog, I'd be online buying these!
sunglasses Oliver Peoples at Net-A-Porter
leather ballet flats Lanvin at Net-A-Porter
bag Anya Hindmarch at yep Net-A-Porter
Exactly I'm a shallow wannabe film director!
