New Kids on the Blog...

  Gemma Carey.

Creator of gemfash.blogspot.co.uk, speaks about her career, style, free time and shares her favourite celebrity looks.

What first inspired you to start blogging?

I started blogging at 16 years old. I was enjoying reading other peoples and loved the idea of writing my own. When I begun gaining followers and positive comments, I realised that people were enjoying reading my work too and that pushed me to continue. 

Your blog is very diverse, why did you decide to create a blog based on more than one topic?

I simply write about what I like and my interests revolve around fashion, beauty and lifestyle inspiration. So I enjoy writing about all of these.

You state that you didn't attend University and have instead worked and taken Internships, how do you feel this has made you evolve?

I had a head start in my career by not attending University. It simply isn't neccessary to work in fashion. I got my dream job at 19! If I'd gone to Uni, I'd still be there now.

Who/what are you influenced by?

Blogs, Instagram, Tumblr, and entrepreneurs for career inspiration. Celebs- Olivia Palermo, Mary-Kate Olsen and Reece Witherspoon. 

Have you always been interested in style?

Since I can remember! It's always been a part of me. I would read teen magazines like Bliss and Sugar. I would do my hair and makeup like my favourites stars at the time! I always tried to look my best. 

What are your style and lifestyle rules?

Be yourself. Be happy. Don't care about others opinions. Treat every day like it's your catwalk. 

Your favourite clothing and beauty stores?

Fashion - River Island, Topshop, Matalan, &OtherStories, Marks & Spencer, Ted Baker, French ConnectionBeauty - Estee Lauder, Max Factor, No7, Elizabeth Arden

What's the best thing about being a blogger?

The great feedback from influencing readers. It's such an amazing feeling when readers tell me they enjoy reading my blog. It makes it all worth while.

And the hardest thing about blogging?

Finding the time! Blogging is very time consuming so it's difficult when you have a normal 9-5 job, but you make time if you love it that much.

What's an average day in the life of Gemma Carey?

I'm a fashion PR 9-5 which I love. After work, I go to the gym for an hour (normally a spinning or freestyle class), head home and cook something healthy. I FaceTime my family every day as I get a bit home sick! (I moved to London a year ago to pursue my dream career!) I'll check Twitter and Instagram before having an early night. 

What do you hope to achieve by blogging?

I would love to make it my full time job one day. But for now as long as I am inspiring others, that's all that matters!

What hopes do you have for the future, personal and career-wise?

I hope I'm still working in fashion - whether it's styling, blogging or PR. Personally, I would like to be fit, healthy and in love. 

What trends do you predict will popular next year? 

I hate to say it but skinny jeans are going out. Next year will be all about the bootcut - something I'm going to have to get used to! 

Aside from blogging, what do you like to get up to in your free time?

Keeping fit in the gym, going for dinner/drinks with friends, seeing a movie at the cinema, shopping and swimming. 

New Kids on the Blog...

     The Fabulous Nobody.

Name: Robbie  

Location: Sicily

Hometown: Palermo

Blog: www.thefabulousnobody.net

How long have you been blogging? 

I started with the "The fabulous Nobody" project about three years ago with the idea of ​​using the blog as a container of my main interests, even if I have to say that lately I have become a more fierce instablogger 

How do you feel about the affects of blogs and social media?

I think that instagram and Tumblr are the most immediate ways to express my point of view and find creative exchanges.

How long have you been interested in fashion? 

When I was eleven, rather than comics and games - and except for some Barbies - I started buying my first fashion magazines. I come from an artistic family, so I was interested in illustration and patining. I went on to study at an art school and then the academy of fine arts.

Who/what are your influences? 

The post punk culture and all the creative wave that emerged in the 80's. I can say that the monster that still influences me is a frankenstein made up from: Picasso, Vesace , Westwood, Grace Jones, Memphis design group, Rei Kawakubo, Leight Bowery, etc...

How hands on are you with your blog?  

I personally take care of the blog with the support of my partner. From the beginning of 2015, I plan to redesign the site, and my London based editor, will join the team.

How has your style evolved over the years?

Style is a reflection of who we are and the direction we've taken in life.  

For me I always choose what I'm going to wear in a very instinctive way,  always with the intention of having fun. As a stylist I learned to play with all kinds of things, I particularly like strong contrasts.

What's the best part about blogging? 

The human relationships that I have established, thanks to my project I  come in contact everyday with people from all over the world and so many new friendship have been created - I very much appreciate the encouragement of my followers .

What's the hardest part about blogging? 

It is always a race against time, I would need a day of 48 hours and a private jet to reach the right place at the right time.

What's your current favorite brand? 

Although I am bound to some brands, mostly British, I always look more at  collections rather then labels .

What's the next step for you and your blog? 

The fabulous nobody project is not only about the blog but it involves a lot of ideas that are developing slowly. In the last year, many important things have happened, collaborations with brands and stores and new important contacts have taken the light.

What are your hoped for the future?

My aim is to grow as a human being in all the aspects of my life .

What trends do you think will be popular next year? 

After returning from fashion week, I have noticed that there is a strong reference to the 70's, with a few exceptions. The great achievement of our time is to be able to direct our preferences to a wide range of varied proposals.

New Kids on the Blog...

Her Visual Diary.

Name: Payzee Mahmod 

Age: 27

Location: Surrey

Hometown: Iran. Iraq & Saudi Arabia 

Blog: fetishforfinefabrics.tumblr.com

How long have you been blogging?

I have just started blogging this week due to the number of requests I had. I have had a tumblr and Instagram account for a few years which I used as my blogs up until this week. 

How long have you been interested in fashion? 

I have always been interested in fashion for as long as I remember, I always asked my parents for a specific item of clothing on special occasions and birthdays. As a child I watched my mother make some of out clothes and other things around the house such as quickly pillow covers and bed covers. 

I really started playing with my clothes at school because I hated how I looked like everyone else in my uniform, I started taking in my school trousers and making them skinny, and adding slits to my skirts. All this was done on my mothers sewing machine which I wasn't allowed to use, I now have my own, which is identical to my mothers. During my teens I continued to experiment and found in my early twenties I really found who I was in terms of fashion. Now at 27 I look forward to putting my outfits together everyday and sharing it with others. 

Who/what are your influences?

My mother is my biggest influence, she is a woman who has never given up and that drives me in all I do. I adore women like Cher and Elizabeth blow. 

I would also say my heritage has a strong influence in the way I dress and the person I am, I am very proud of my heritage and always try to incorporate into my designs. 

How hands on are you with your blog?

I have been updating it every day and will hopefully remain a frequent blogger as I want to inspire daily, I thought about doing a weekly or fortnightly post but the reason I wanted to blog everyday or as often as possible is to show how to style things in different ways.  

How has your style evolved?

I feel my style is eve loving everyday, I have never been to look at trends and use them as inspiration when I dress at that particular time when the trend is big, I mix what I wear so some days it could be classy but 90s with a hint of street wear. 

What's the best part about blogging?

I like sharing my ways of styling garments and allowing others to be able take inspiration from that, the feedback I get is always a big motivator. 

What's the hardest part about blogging?

So far I think the only thing is I have not gotten a camera man to do all of my pictures everyday, but I am working on that, as I want very clear pictures to show as much detail as possible. 

What's your current favorite brand?

My favourite brand at the moment is my own, even when I don't produce everyday or as often as I want to I love wearing my own clothes made by me. 

What's the next step for you and your blog?

I would like to continue to inspire and build my blog a great reputation for inspiration and ideas.

What are your hoped for the future, career wise?

I hope to be a successful designer and fashion icon, I want to be able to share my passion with others and be successful at it. 

What trends do you think will be popular next year?

I think sheer is going to stick around for a while, as well neoprene and oversize.

Liz Taylor - on a budget

I am obsessed with jewellery, it's a well known fact between my nearest and dearest. You an be assured, during every shopping trip, I will make a bee-line for the accessories - they're my addiction, and my bank accounts kryptonite!

For me, the more unique the better, the price isn't important, I'm Liz Taylor on a budget. You can find the most stunning pieces in the places you'd least expect. 

My favourite low price jewellery finds are; Primark, Accessories, H&M, Topshop and Peacocks. Though the online jewellery stores are becoming more and more impressive.

Jewellery is the best accessories, it's a multi-tasker; along with making you feel like great, even the simplest piece of jewellery can add more glamour to your outfit, or it can make quite a formal outfit look more low key. Jewellery can recycle a daytime outfit and take it to night. 

It's my favourite part of getting dressed and I am always searching for new and upcoming jewellery makers that will make me succumb to the beauty and purchase even more and try my hardest to squash the into my jewellery drawer - yes drawer, I said drawer. No jewellery box will do for this accessorie addict, I need some serious space, or help...

This morning my jewellery was inspired by the gorgeous blue, pink and white hues that pained the sky I woke up to. The moment I saw the sky, I immediately digger into my drawer and picked out the jewellery I felt best portrayed the stunning sky this morning. 

 

Afternoon of feeling inspired...

Let's talk about Deichmann.

I'm usually very skeptical about low price shoes, you can guarantee a sacrifice of appeal, appearance and comfort... Or so I thought.

On a recent shopping trip, I found the most beautiful pair of shoes I've ever seen, well, ones that I could afford anyway.

I was in Deichmann, a low priced shoe store, which has a large variety of shoes in stock. I've never really found shoes in there that have suited my style and I hate to confess this, but I found the shoes cheap looking. Until I found these gold, sparkling, embellished point ballerinas. They truly are a shoe masterpiece, and I was pleasantly surprised by the shoe, the design and the effort really opened my eyes to the talent of the store. 

The shoes look great with almost everything, they add glamour to a pair of skinny jeans and they are the perfect finishing touch for any outfit. 

When I purchased them they were reduced at £24.99 and now I have found they're £19.99. How can such a beautiful shoe be so affordable? They do them in three colours; gold, red and black.

Want my advice, run out and buy them, then feel pretty in these gorgeous glamour shoes!

Death of a Genius.

As a lover of all things beautiful, it isn't hard to be left in awe at the work of Oscar De La Rena, let's be honest, the man could do no wrong, it's almost as though he peered into our deepest desires and saw that we all want a collection of princess dresses.

When I woke this morning and heard that he had passed, I was genuinely devastated. No, I didn't know him personally, not many of us did, but you only need eyes to appreciate the luxe of his work. Each dress that would come cascading down the runway would be perfection. Colours, styles, fabrics, what perhaps wouldn't normally work, would be fashioned into these beautiful pieces of artwork.

Let's face it, we'd all love to be thrown around a dancefloor in a stunning Oscar De La Renta gown, but unfortunately we have to keep dreaming. Luckiy we get to appreciate the beautiful women of Hollywood look like visions on the red carpet.

My personal favorite Oscar looks have been:
1. Cameron Diaz [at the 2010 Academy Awards] - the dress was a shimmering crystal glass of
    champagne. You can imagine the way it swished as she strutted down the carpet. It's the kind of
    dress you'd never want to take off, or one that you'd secretly wear while doing the hoovering.

2. Lea Michele [at the 2011 SAG Awards] - Lea slipped on that dress and transformed from preppy,
    obnoxious school girl, to sex siren. Her body looked incredible, a body we'd never noticed before,
    until she appeared like a steaming hot vision in that low cut, slim fitting, shining silver gown.

3. Amy Adams [at the 2013 Academy Awards] - Amy fulfilled every girls Cinderella fantasy that
    night by becoming an absolute piece in the palest violet, bustier top half and feathery dream of a
    skirt.

There is no one who can create a skirt  like Oscar. Large and expansive, slim and revealing. I somtimes wonder if designers ever run out of ideas, but I think it's patently clear that they have minds that are constantly inventing and reinventing. Unfortunately we have lost one of our great minds, one of our great artists.

But out of the sadness comes hope and I truly believe that Peter Copping will maintain our fairytale love with Oscar De la Renta. As one chapter ends, another begins.