It has happened!

Finally, all my hard work has payed off!!! 


I am now in-store Visual Merchandiser for Cath Kidston!!!! Yayyy me! 

 I love the bright colours, the beautiful florals and the vintage feel. Although it is not too everyones taste, it suits me down to the ground. 

 So it is not a full on fashion role, but I am so glad to have got the job. I love interiors, design, making things look pretty that I believe it is the right step for me. And if I am right, which I really hope I am, this job will be more beneficial to my future than the fashion world I was constantly trying to get into. 


Time to learn even more about an amazing brand, tap into my vintage loving side, and work just as hard as I have been to get a job!!!! 


Smile and all is okay! 


I want to say a massive thank-you to everyone who helped me get to where I am now... Joanie! All the companies I interned for, my parents and friends who never gave up believing in me, and Vanya, Jewellery by Vanya was one of the brands that helped me realise my love for vintage inspired things, and my love for pretty things! 


THANK YOU! 


xxx

Jewellery by Vanya... Friendship Bracelets

We all know I have a deep love for friendship bracelets. and layering one after the other on my wrist.


Well move over and make some room for the latest beauty.

Jewellery by Vanya has created a gorgeous one, in a variety of colours, with lovely little charms and a tassel. I adore it and would have it in every colour if I could!!! Orange, Nude and Turquoise being my absolute favs! 

All images from Jewellery by Vanya x

If, like me, you love a friendship bracelet to pile onto your arm, make sure to check out Jewellery by Vanya's here! Take your pick, what colour do you feel like today? 


Enjoy,
Smile.
xx

Forever Friends Bracelets...

At Vanyas this week I have been looking at all sorts of friendship bracelets... 


I wear a selection of bracelets all the time, most of which have meaning to me... 

I have my Blue Toby's Dream Band, an amethyst bangle from my Ma and Pa for my 22nd birthday, my Red Herring watch, a J bangle from Harrods, also a purple beaded beauty i made myself! And then what you can't see here, I have a special silver bangle from my daddy :) and a silver bangle from my aunt and uncle for my 21st, so lots going on.


I tend to keep most of these on, but take of the larger items to sleep, shower etc. 


So when I was trawling the web for more friendship bracelets I found LOADSSS that I wanted .... opps, even more to add to the unaffordable Lust List...


The most obvious one would be the Links Of London friendship bracelet... I particularly like the two following colours, although they may get a tad dirty! 

Pics from Links Of London 

Being super close to my Mummy Hudson, I am o so fond of these special edition Mother and Baby friendship bracelets by Links Of London. 

Mother and Baby Links Of London. 

But we all know Links of London are rather expensive, more to lust after! I also found some more purse friendly options that I love, and hope you might too...




These Links Of London lookalikes from amazon are only £9.99...

Ebay Bracelet

I really like this style of bracelet, and as much as I would love a real Links one, that will have to wait, but one of these similar styles would do for now.  Majique Bangle Marc Jacobs Bangle Heart Bangles  Pics: Ebay  I really like these final friendship bracelets, I love the little messages, the simple thread and the little dangly extra is beautiful. I definitly want one from someone special... and am thinking a few of my besties are due a thank you from me too... :)  Ps at £7.50 a pop they are an absolute bargain, and a lovely little gift to one of your closest buddies. :) Enjoy,  Jade xx

Final Major Project: Sophia Tutorial 3...

Todays tutorial went really well, I showed Sophia my plans for a questionnaire and she was rather impressed. She gave me a few extra questions to consider, and other interesting facts I might want to learn about the customers, but overall she was pleased with my developments.

Image of Jewellery by Vanya from Vanya. 

I plan to create the questionnaire and then ask Vanya ever so nicely if I can put it on her blog for the customers to answer. Sophia thinks that I should try and make it personal and friendly, rather than work based, for example asking the customers to answer it because me and Vanya want to know them as people. I think this is a brilliant idea, and plan to come up with something super friendly, so each customer feels special and wanted. This would make me more enthusiastic to do a boring questionnaire! :)


I also showed Sophia the start of my SWOT analysis... God these are boring. Boring but necessary.


I have to outline the Strengths and Weaknesses of the brand and the Opportunities and Threats to the brand. Heres a brief outline...


Strengths

• Hand-made 
• Attention to detail
• Crafty
• Personal touch to each order
• Online shop & retail stockists

Weaknesses

• Lots of competitors
• Not the cheapest
• :( business cards
• :( webpage
• Website doesn't flow and link to blog well
• No Lookbook

Opportunities

• Create a better website, that flows
• Promote the USP: Hand-made personal touches
• Add new lines
• Put Look-book online
• Create more personality on the website
• Pop up shop at festivals
• Constant branding image for back drop, webpage and look-book. Theme.

Threats

• Other cheaper competitors
• Competitors personal touches
• Becoming less popular = less demand
• People preferring to physically view the products before buying

All of these points are based on the Jewellery by Vanya brand, which is what my final major project is based on. Hopefully between Vanya and myself, not only will we be able to improve the branding website, but also further promote and better the brand itself. (And get me a good mark for my work)






Just to make things a little more interesting I thought I'd give you a glimpse into my wardrobe...


The outfit of the day: Big knit Jumper and Maxi skirt :) 

Jade xx

The Lust List... A|wear.com

I don't know why I do it to myself... I really don't!


I spend agessss online, wondering through the online stores of places like Topshop, River Island, Office (Shoes are my weakness), Kandee Shoes, Jewellery by Vanya, A|wear and many more, just to find loads of things I have fallen in love with, but can not buy due to my lack of funds! :(

I'll share a few of my favourite finds with you, and continue saving madly... hopefully you'll find something fabulous you can spend a few pennies on!


Like I mentioned in a previous post, I was pleasantly surprised, and rather impressed, by A|wear's latest fashion do's. I had previous preconceptions that did not show A|wear in a very good light, but recently this has changed, and now the spotlight is fully on them!!!

With a few new ranges worthy of the summer sun, I have started to find myself drawn in by the A|wear collection. Gorgeous shapes and bold block colours, and all at a affordable price, what's not to love :)


One area definitely worth checking out, in my opinion, is The Boutique Closet, which hosts Mad Men inspired 1950's silhouettes, in a range of gorgeous vibrant colours. Heres a few of my personal favs...

Blue Belted Flared Dress £45 Awear.com 

Purple Button Back Dress £38  Awear.com

Tropical Print Belted Dress £45  Awear.com

Red Cowl Neck Dress, £38.  Awear.com 
(This looks orange to me :/ ) 

These Boutique prices are not super dooper low, but they are definitely competitive and I love the simple style.


They a gorgeous range of shorts, and a few fabulous trousers too!

Awear.com shorts and trousers.

The shoes aren't really anything to brag about, but a few of the bags are definitely grab worthy.

Cut out Detail Satchel £25 Awear.com 

Coral Mini Satchel £18 Awear.com

Printed Satchel £25  Awear.com 

The most disappointing thing is that awear.com don't tell you the size of the bags, and there is only one picture per bag, doesn't really make me 100% happy to buy :( But I am a lover none the less!


Not everyone's cup of tea I know.... but a definite summer wardrobe booster for me!
But don't take my word for it, have a browse yourself.


(All images from the A|wear website) 


Jade xx

Jade The Intern: Day 2...

Back to the office :)


Day 2 with Vanya has been as exciting as the first! Today I learnt a little bit more about the day-to-day running of the business, helping out with making the business cards and jewellery cards.  :)

The card the jewellery is presented on, hand stamped.

The Business card each order receives a personal note on :)

The gorgeous handmade pouch each package is delivered in.

A selection of the business cards.

All images from Jewellery By Vanya website. 

So I was able to help personally make and stamp the little jewellery cards that the jewellery is so beautifully displayed on, as well as adding a variety of images to the business cards.


Another of my many jobs, was to design and create a tag for the webpage, explaining how Vanya would be on holiday for a while, and any orders met when she was back....
Here was what I came up with....

Although this will come down when Vanya returns, I was so proud to see something I had done out in the big wide web!! :)


I also got to do my first blog post (Take a look) for Vanya's blog, another thing I was proud to do for her!


This afternoon we discussed my final major project again. For it I need to compile a customer analysis/target market report. This means discovering who buys Jewellery by Vanya and the lifestyle they lead. I thought to do this I could come up with a customer survey, put it on her blog, and my own, and gain information that way... So keep your eyes peeled!!! :)


We also discussed web page ideas.... for my project I would like to redesign Vanya's webpage, which is something she has been considering for a while. I suggested to her the idea of create a wall of vintage frames that would then be the buttons to navigate around her website. Not only did she really like this idea, but had had a similar idea herself :)


Here are a few inspirational ideas for the website...

From prettylittleworldfashion

From Shabby Blogs

Really sorry don't have the credits for these, please tell me if you know.

We both really love the mix and match type feel, and I would love to do an installation of all different vintage frames to showcase the jewellery.


What do you think??

Jade xx


(Please respect all creative ideas are my own, Copyright @Jadehudson2010.)