FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT - THE PERCEPTION ISSUE
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EDITORIAL
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the youth of this generation is too conservative, hidden behind a computer screen- the decade where personality was lost. a digital decade where word of mouth still thrives and judgements are made within seven seconds, seven seconds to make a first impression. the perception issue- straight from the horse’s mouth. this issue celebrates the professionalsthe originals, the weirdo’s, the interns, the un-datables, the up-and-comers. take note you bright young things.
THIS IS CLAP
CONTENTS THE PERCEPTION ISSUE #1
p.6 mugs of london/ p.16 berwick street/ p.18 the originals/ p.20 sir tom baker/ p.28 mr george/ p.34 just marty/ p.38 the graduate/ p.40 the perfect six/ p.52 introducing/ p.58 the hotspots/ p.60 the last word/
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PAIGE CLAY DAISY MILWARD CHARLOTTE ROGERS ALEX STODDART ALICE JAMES
MUGS OF
LONDON
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GREGOR
“My names Gregor, but you can call me - mon chéri.” 9
GAZZA
‘‘I don’t know Sir.’’ 11
JAMIE
“Go on you can take my picture I’m not wanted.” 13
OLIVER
“Nice to meat you.” 15
BERWICK STREET THINGS YOU MAY COME ACROSS ON YOUR TRAVELS AROUND BERWICK STREET/ SOHO. THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL PLACE OF LONDON WITH A GREAT SENSE AND FEEL OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT. 1. Greek Newspaper 2. Fruit and veg stall 3. Bar Du Marche 4. Flat White 5. Berwick Street 6. Keys Cut 7. Dog 8. Soho Dry cleaners and Shoe Repairers
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THE ORIG
G INALS
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SIR TOM BAKER
ROCK N ROLL TAILOR
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SIR TOM BAKER, THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL TAILOR BOOSTING CLIENTS SUCH AS ROBERT PLANT, KEITH FLINT AND KNOLL FIELDING. A MAN WHO IS JUST TOTALLY DOPE.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF YOU ARE? I WOULD HOPE HONEST AND DECENT. I THINK I COME OVER QUITE CONFIDENT. SOME PEOPLE THINK I’M QUITE COLD ACTUALLY BUT I ADAPT TO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. DOES YOUR INDUSTRY AFFECT YOUR PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE? YES IN THAT, IT MAKES ME FEEL MORE EXPERIENCED WITH THE HUMAN RACE AND I’M KINDA OF PREPARED TO MAKE MORE ALLOWANCES. COS LIKE WHEN YOU’RE MAKING A SUIT FOR SOMEONE, YOU GET TO KNOW THEM AND YOU’VE GOT TO PUT UP WITH CERTAIN ASPECTS OF IT, THEY MIGHT NOT LIKE THIS AND NOT THAT, SO ITS MADE ME MORE TOLERANT AND MORE EXCEPTING. WHEN I STARTED, YOU KNOW, I MIGHT GET ANGRY WITH A CUSTOMER COS THEY WERE GETTING ON ME NERVES BUT I’VE ACTUALLY BECOME MUCH MORE ACCOMMODATING COS ULTIMATELY THEY’RE PAYING THE MONEY. AND I DON’T LET THEM BOTHER ME SO MUCH, I’VE REALIZED THAT CONFRONTATION IS A WASTE OF ENERGY, ITS BEST TO WORK YOUR WAY AROUND THEM AND NOT LET IT AFFECT YOU TOO MUCH. WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON THE YOUTH OF TODAY? ERM, I FEEL LIKE THERE’S A LOT OF PRESSURE TO PERFORM AND TO DELIVER. I THINK LEAGUE TABLES AND ALL THAT BULLSHIT AFFECTED A LOT BECAUSE IT’S NOT FOR EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY DEVELOPS AT A DIFFERENT SPEED. SO I FIND THAT WITH DESIGN OR MAYBE WHEN YOU GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, YOU’RE PRESSURIZED INTO GETTING A JOB FOR A BIG COMPANY. IT’S A LITTLE BIT CONSERVATIVE FOR ME THE YOUTH- THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE EMPHASIS ON DEVELOPING PERSONALITY. DO YOU LOOK FOR THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS IN A FRIEND AS YOU WOULD IN AN EMPLOYEE? YES ACTUALLY I WOULD. THE SIMPLE ANSWER TO THAT IS ‘YES’- HONESTY AND ALL THE USUAL STUFF. HOW TO YOU MAINTAIN A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CLIENTS? I REALIZE THAT CLIENTS WANT A PIECE OF
‘‘Classical, Subversive, Elegant.’’
YOU SOME HOW. IF THEY’RE BUYING YOUR SUITS, OR THEY’RE COMING TO YOU FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU DO CREATIVELY, THEY KINDA WANNA BIT OF YOU’RE PERSONALITY. SO YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE A PERSONALITY TO BEGIN WITH TO DO THAT. I FIND THAT IF I AM MYSELF AND I’M STRAIGHT WITH THEM ABOUT EVERYTHING… BEING MYSELF IS WHAT THEY SEEM TO WANT- IT’S A NICE SITUATION TO BE IN- I DON’T HAVE TO ACT TOO MUCH.
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TOM BAKER STUDIO
WHO’S BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE CUSTOMER? ARGH, THERE’S A FEW… I DON’T KNOW IF YOU’VE HEARD OF LED ZEPPELIN, ROBERT PLANT COMES HERE, SO HE’S PRETTY COOL GUY. HE’S VERY MODEST. ERM, A GREAT MAN IN THAT HE’S VERY UNASSUMING… YOU KNOW HE POSSESSES SOMETHING GREAT BUT HE’S VERY MODEST ABOUT IT. I LIKE THAT SORT OF BALANCE. ER, AND THEN KEITH FLINT FROM THE PRODIGY IS CREATIVELY… ERR HE’S A GREAT MAN AS WELL ACTUALLY. BUT KEITH FLINT ALWAYS HAS REALLY INTERESTING PROJECTS, HE’S GOT MAD MAD IDEA’S FOR STAGE ATTIRE, MOST OF THEM, OF COURSE, I’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE ‘COS THEY’RE NEW AND COMPLETELY ORIGINAL TO HIM AND I HAVE TO SWEAR BY EXCLUSIVITY. I’M NOT IN ANY WAY ALLOWED TO REPLICATE THEM FOR ANYONE ELSE. A RECENT ONE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW MASTER OF THE HUNT WITH THE RED COAT AND THAT. HE COMES IN WITH CRAZY IDEAS, HIS BRIEF IN THAT CASE WAS- MAKE ME LOOK LIKE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MASTER OF THE HUNT. CAN YOU RECALL ANY SPECIFIC IMAGE IN FASHION/ART/PHOTOGRAPHY THAT IMPACTED YOU WHEN YOU WERE REALLY YOUNG? YEAH I DO ACTUALLY. IT’S THE HELMUT NEWTON PICTURE. A BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO OF A GIRL IN AN YSL SUIT, SMOKING IN A STREET IN PARIS.
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WOULD YOU RATHER LOSE ALL OF YOUR OLD MEMORIES OR NEVER BE ABLE TO MAKE NEW ONES? LOOSE ALL MY OLD ONES. FOR ME LIFE’S ABOUT THE FUTURE, ONCE THE PAST IS GONE, IT’S GONE- ITS EVAPORATED. WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR A GRADUATE? BE ORIGINAL, PROVIDE SOME SORT OF SERVICE AND FIND WAYS TO RE-INVENT YOURSELF. SUM UP YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE IN 3 WORDS? CLASSICAL, SUBVERSIVE, ELEGANT. SINGLE OR SINGLE
DOUBLE
BREASTED?
MR GEORGE
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MR GEORGE FLOURENTZOU, BESPOKE TAILOR SPECIALISING IN BUTTONHOLES. IN THE HEART OF SOHO, ONE OF THE ONLY BUTTONHOLE SPECIALISTS IN LONDON, THIS IS THE GUY EVERYONE GOES TO. WHAT DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF YOU ARE? A LITTLE BIT NUTS. CHATTY, FRIENDLY- I’M GOOD WITH PEOPLE. SUM UP YOUR CRAFT A TAILOR THAT SPECIALISES IN FINISHING’S LIKE BUTTONHOLES. I’M ONE OF TWO PEOPLE IN LONDON THAT SPECIALISE IN BUTTONHOLES. HOW DID YOU GET INTO SUCH A NICHE SPECIALISM? FAMILY. MY DAD HAS A TAILORING BUSINESS AND WE USED TO SEND OUR STUFF TO D.M BUTTONS BUT HE KEPT MESSING THEM ALL UP SO I SAW THAT NICHE AND STARTED UP MY OWN BUSINESS. ON AVERAGE, HOW MANY BUTTONHOLES DO YOU MAKE EVERY DAY? IF YOU THINK EVERY GARMENT HAS 10 BUTTONHOLES, ABOUT 2000 A DAY. THAT’S A LOT OF BUTTONHOLES. HOW DOES YOUR TRADITIONAL BUSINESS SURVIVE IN THIS DIGITAL WORLD? FOR ME I’VE HAVEN’T EVER HAD TO HAVE A WEBSITE, ITS ALL WORD OF MOUTH. A WEBSITE CAN’T SHOW YOU WHAT I DO JUST MERELY A DESCRIPTION, UNLESS YOU SEE THE QUALITY OF ME WORK, THAT WHEN YOU KNOW GOOD MY WORK IS COMPARED TO SAY D.M BUTTONS. IN THIS INDUSTRY, WHAT IS MORE VALUABLE, A DEGREE OR AN APPRENTICESHIP? I WOULD SAY APPRENTICESHIP ‘CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME FROM UNI- THEY HAVEN’T GOT A CLUE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING REALLY. AT MY DAD’S WORKSHOP WE TAKE A LOT OF STUDENTS ON AND TEACH THEM TAILORING. THEY COME THINKING THAT THEY KNOW TAILORING AND WE SAY TO THEM- GO ON THEM MAKE SOMETHING AND WHEN THEY START THEY CAN’T. AT UNIVERSITY THEY TEACH YOU HOW TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER LIKE A PUZZLE, BUT THIS IS THE SAVILLE ROW. AT SAVILLE ROW WE START FROM SCRATCH, EVERYTHING’S DONE BY HAND- THERE’S NO MESSING AROUND.
TRANNY OR GRANNY? GRANNY DOUBLE OR SINGLE BREASTED? SINGLE HAND OR MACHINE? MACHINE WHAT PUSHES YOUR BUTTONS? PEOPLE WITH NO CLUE, THEY THINK THEY KNOW BUT THEY DON’T. PRETENTIOUS PEOPLE.
“I haven’t ever had to have a website, it’s all word of mouth. A website can’t show you what I do.” - JANUARY 24TH, 2012
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JUST MARTY
MARTY @ THE SANCTUM HOTEL. AN OVER CHEERFUL SCOTSMAN, THE PERFECT MAN TO GREET YOU AND BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DAY. FULL OF WISDOM AND WITTINESS.
WHAT’S YOUR JOB ROLE HERE AT THE SANCTUM? I AM THE CONCIERGE, BUT I AM LEAVING IN MARCH. I AM GOING TO GO AND LIVE IN SWITZERLAND. I HAVE GOT TO SHOW YOU MY HOUSE. WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO AS A CONCIERGE? YOU KNOW, THAT IS A QUESTION I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WOULD GET ASKED AND I CAME UP WITH A BRILLIANT ANSWER. BUT I CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT IT IS. IT’S MY IT’S THAT
SOMETHING LIKE KISS PIXIE OR SOMETHING. NEVER HAPPENED, BUT WOULD BE MY ANSWER.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ADVICE FOR A GRADUATE TODAY? vWELL, TAKE DESIGN, I KNEW SOME KID AT CENTRAL ST.MARTINS AND YOU KNOW RAFFIA. YOU KNOW THAT STUFF YOU HAD AT
SCHOOL? YOU USED TO MAKE BOWLS OUT OF IT. WELL, THEY MADE SOME TROUSERS OUT OF IT, AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE AMAZING. BUT THEY KEPT TEARING EVERY TIME YOU SAT DOWN. SO THEY WERE TOTALLY IMPRACTICAL. SO, THERE IS THAT SIDE OF IT. THERE IS THE BORDERLINE BETWEEN DOING SOMETHING NEW AND FRESH BUT NOT COMPROMISING ON PRACTICALITY. MOST PEOPLE WHO MAKE CLOTHES ARE ARTIST’S. AN ARTIST, THE LAST THING THEY CAN DO IS SELL THEIR OWN STUFF. LIKE A PROSTITUTE, NOBODY CAN TALK ABOUT HOW GOOD THEY ARE. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT YOUR FRIEND THOUGH, HOW GOOD THEY ARE. MOST PEOPLE ARE HUMBLE. WHEN YOUR AT SCHOOL, THERE IS TOO THINGS YOU SHOULD BE TAUGHT, HOW TO WIRE A PLUG AND HOW TO SIGN ON THE DOLE. BECAUSE ALL OF US WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE TO DO BOTH THESE THINGS.
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THE G RAD
ADUATE
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THE PERFECT SIX WORK WEAR SHOULDN’T BE BORING. MAKE YOUR MARK ON YOUR FIRST DAY AT WORK. MATCH YOUR OUTFIT TO YOUR FRUIT SALAD. BE NOTICED. MATTHEW E J ALAND, PHOTOGRAPHER 1. THE JACKET COLOUR OF THE SEASON THIS JACKET IS BOUND TO BRIGHTEN UP ANY OFFICE. 2. THE STATEMENT NECKLACE WITH THE MINIMAL LOOK BEING ONE OF THE BIGGEST TRENDS, CHUNKY JEWELLERY IS A KEY ADD ON. 3. THE MULBERRY DAY OR NIGHT THIS BAG GUARANTEES TO SPRUCE UP ANY OUTFIT READY FOR WORK OR PARTY. 4. THE COSMETICS A SAVIOUR FOR ANY LAST MINUTE HAPPY HOUR INVITATIONS OR JUST SIMPLY TO FRESHEN UP. 5. THE MIU MIU’S 1940’S INSPIRED SHADES, FIT FOR ANY SOPHISTICATED LOOK. 6. THE SHOES TRAINERS FOR TRAVELLING, HEELS FOR HIRING.
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INTRO 52
DUCING 53
Name: Rosie Reeves Age: 20 Job Title: Web Intern at Harpers Bazaar
WHAT DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF YOU ARE? IN THE WORK PLACE EVERYONE KIND OF TELLS ME HOW YOUNG I AM, I DON’T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE HOW YOUNG I AM WHEN THEY FIRST MEET ME, BUT AS SOON AS THEY FIND OUT, THEY’RE ALWAYS LIKE, ‘OH MY GOD I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’RE 20 YEARS OLD?!’ THEY ALWAYS THINK I’M OLDER THAN I AM. WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL? I CONTROL THE HARPERS BAZAAR WEBSITE, SO WRITING CONTENT, BUILDING CONTENT, PICTURE RESEARCH ETC HAVING NOT STUDIED AT UNIVERSITY, DO YOU BELIEVE A DEGREE IS NECESSARY? NO, I THINK WHEN, NO OFFENCE GUYS, I FEEL WHEN YOU DO THINGS LIKE, IF YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR OR DO ART HISTORY AND REALLY ACADEMIC SUBJECTS, I THINK YOU NEED IT, TO HAVE THAT ON YOUR CV. BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY, THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GO AND WORK THAT YOU LEARN A LOT. I’VE LEARNT MORE IN A YEAR AT HARPERS THAN I DID IN A YEAR DOING MY FOUNDATION, SO. HOW DID YOU MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION TO YOUR EMPLOYER? I THINK I WAS JUST REALLY POSITIVE; NEVER SAY YOU CAN’T DO SOMETHING UNTIL YOU’VE TRIED EVERY POSSIBLE OPTION. ALWAYS SMILE, ALWAYS STAND UP STRAIGHT. JUST BECAUSE I’VE SEEN GIRLS COME IN FOR WORK EXPERIENCE AND THEY GET SHUNNED AWAY SO QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY’RE REALLY SLOUCHY, GRUMPY AND ALWAYS SAY ‘OH, I
CAN’T DO THAT’ WHEN THEY’VE ONLY TRIED ONE WAY OF DOING IT. SO NEVER SAY NO BASICALLY. WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER GOING BACK INTO EDUCATION? NO, ALTHOUGH I’VE BEEN DOING SHORT COURSES AT CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS. SO I’VE DONE A JOURNALISM ONE AND AM DOING A VISUAL MERCHANDISING ONE NOW, WHICH IS ON SATURDAYS, FOR 5 WEEKS. BUT I WOULD NEVER GO BACK INTO FULL TIME EDUCATION, I CAN’T THINK OF ANYTHING WORSE. I THINK THESE SHORT COURSES ARE REALLY GOOD, IT’S LITERALLY ONE DAY A WEEK, BUT THEY RAM SO MUCH STUFF IN, IN A DAY. IN THE JOURNALISM ONE, AGAIN, I LEARNT SO MUCH MORE THAN I DID IN MY FOUNDATION DO YOU THINK YOU LOOSE A SENSE OF CREATIVITY WORKING TOWARDS SOMEONE ELSE’S BRIEF? YEAH I DO, I DON’T FEEL THAT CREATIVE, ESPECIALLY ON THE WEB, AS IT’S VERY DIGITAL. IT’S DIFFICULT TO ABIDE BY WHAT THE HIGHER FORCES SAY. BUT THAT ANOTHER THING ABOUT MAKING A GOOD IMPRESSION, IS TO GIVE YOUR IDEAS TO PEOPLE, BUT NOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT’S CHANGING THEIR IDEA. THEN YOU CAN ADD IN YOUR OWN TWISTS. WHAT IS YOUR STYLE ESSENTIAL FOR THIS SEASON? UM, MY HAT! SUM UP YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS. BLACK, CASUAL AND SOMETHING VINTAGE.
Name: Louis L Tarbuck Age: 22 Job Title: Product Video Editor
WHAT DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF YOU ARE? ERRRRMM, FROM COMING IN HERE, I TRY AND PRESENT MYSELF AS QUITE A POLITE PERSON. ALSO, TRY AND DRESS WELL WHEN COMING TO WORK. SO I HOPE I GIVE OFF A GOOD IMPRESSION. ERRGH, YEAH, LETS LEAVE IT THERE. WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL? MY JOB? I AM THE PRODUCT VIDEO EDITOR FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOES ONLINE. SO THEY WILL FORWARD ME THROUGH THE VIDEOS IN THE MORNING, THEN I HAVE TO GET THEM ONLINE BY 5.30. SO YEAH, WHETHER IT IS EDITING CATWALK CLIPS OR PRODUCTS SPINNING AROUND. SO BASICALLY, CUTTING THEM DOWN AND PUTTING ON THE MATCHES LOGO AT THE END.
HAVING NOT STUDIED AT UNIVERSITY, DO YOU BELIEVE A DEGREE IS NECESSARY? PERSONALLY, I WAS VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE I HAD CONTACTS IN THE INDUSTRY. WHICH ENDED UP IN ME GETTING THE JOB HERE. TO BE HONEST I THINK IT IS ALL ABOUT EXPERIENCE. IF YOU HAVE DONE AN INTERNSHIP SOMEWHERE OR WORKED SOMEWHERE, OR KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU OUT IN THE SAME SORT OF INDUSTRY. YOU SHOULD BE ALRIGHT. FOOTBALL OR SEX? SEX, ALL DAY LONG. SNOG, MARRY, AVOID? CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES, THE QUEEN, KATE MIDDLETON GOT TO MARRY THE QUEEN, JUST FOR A LAUGH. I WOULD SNOG… KATE MIDDLETON AND I WOULD AVOID CAMILLA
PARKER BOWLES. WHEN IT COMES TO ‘TEA BAGGING’, DO YOU RETRIEVE BEFORE OR AFTER MILK? I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO GO A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY. BEFORE MILK, I MAKE SURE I SQUEEZE IT OUT PROPERLY AND EVERYTHING. FORKING OR SPOONING? IN WHAT SENSE? WHAT’S FORKING? OH.. SPOONING OR SEX BASICALLY? BIT OF A MIX. SPOONING MONDAY TO THURSDAY, FORKING THE REST OF THE WEEK. FINALLY, GRANNINES OF TRANNINES? GRANNIES! THE SECOND WORD SCARES ME. GRANNIES ARE MUCH NICER AS WELL. SWEET, OLD LADIES.
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Name: Sumaya Dada Age: 24 Job Title: Senior Product Technical Specialist at Matches Fashion
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WHAT DO YOU FEEL PEOPLE’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF YOU ARE? I’D LIKE PEOPLE TO THINK I’M A STRONG PERSON, I ALWAYS SPEAK MY MIND SO… SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT LIKE THAT BUT, I THINK IN THIS INDUSTRY YOU DEFIANTLY HAVE TO BE STRONG BECAUSE IT’S QUITE TOUGH. I LIKE TO THINK THAT PEOPLE THINK I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING, WHICH IS IMPORTANT AS WELL; I DON’T KNOW I’M QUITE SMILEY AND GIGGLY AND ALSO A BIT CHEEKY…I DON’T KNOW, I’M NOT A GIRLIE GIRL. WHAT DID YOU STUDY AT UNIVERSITY AND WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL? MY UNIVERSITY PATH WAS QUITE UNUSUAL, BECAUSE I CHANGED MY MIND; STRAIGHT AFTER SCHOOL I DID MY ART FOUNDATION, IT GAVE ME TIME TO DECIDE WHAT I WANT TO DO. THEN I DECIDED TO GO TO LOUGHBOROUGH AND DO ‘TEXTILE DESIGN’. I SPOKE TO MY TUTOR SHE SAID, “I THINK YOU’LL BE GOOD AT THIS”. AS I GOT OLDER, AND MORE PLACEMENTS I DID, I SAID HOLD ON I DON’T WANT TO DESIGN I WANNA BE IN THE BACKGROUND, I WANNA BE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW CREATIVE ONLINE AND THAT’S WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS GOING…ONLINE! SO I CHANGED MY MIND, MY PARENTS WENT MENTAL BUT IT WAS THE BEST MISTAKE I DID. THOSE 2 YEARS I LEARNT SO MUCH; IT WAS GREAT! I THEN WENT ON TO LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION TO DO FASHION BUSINESS, THE BEST THING I DID. I GOT ONTO A PART TIME COURSE, WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I INTERNED DURING THE DAY AND THEN WENT TO SCHOOL IN THE EVENINGS, SO I’M ALREADY
GETTING THE VALUABLE EXPERIENCE BY THE TIME I GRADUATE. I CAME IN AS AN INTERN [AT MATCHES] AND I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I FOUND THERE WAS NO SIZE AND FIT, NO PRODUCT WRITING, I MADE THAT MY OWN. THAT INTERNSHIP TURNED INTO A JOB, THE JOB MEANS I WILL, SHORTLY BE MANAGING TWO TO THREE [PEOPLE]. IF YOU STICK AT IT YOU CAN DO IT, OWN YOUR ROLE AND SHOW YOUR POTENTIAL. SOMETIMES IT’S GOOD TO GET BACK TO BASICS HAVE THAT PERSONAL CONTACT WITH A MANAGER, YOU MOVE QUICKER, AND THEN YOU CAN MOVE SIDEWAYS, THAT’S WHAT I RECOMMEND, BUT THAT’S JUST BECAUSE I’VE BEEN LUCKY THAT WAY! HOW DID YOU MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION TO YOUR EMPLOYER? OH GOD, WELL, I’D LIKE TO THINK, I HAD MY OPINION AND ALSO KNOWING WHO YOUR CUSTOMER IS AND WHO YOUR PROPOSING TO. URM, YOU KNOW, I WENT AND WORKED IN THE SHOP, I UNDERSTOOD WHO MATCHES WERE AND THE ETHOS OF THE COMPANY SO WHEN I DID TALK TO MY EMPLOYER THEY KNEW THAT I KNEW WHAT WE WERE ALL ABOUT. HOPEFULLY I PORTRAYED THAT, BEING LOYAL AS WELL, SAYING ‘I WANNA BE HERE, I WANNA PROGRESS AND I WANT YOU TO HELP ME TO DO THAT’ THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT I THINK. HAVING STUDIED AT UNIVERSITY, DO YOU BELIEVE A DEGREE IS STILL VALUABLE? DO YOU KNOW WHAT, IT’S DIFFICULT ACTUALLY, I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE ART INDUSTRY WHO WENT STRAIGHT FROM SCHOOL AND JUST GOT WORK PLACEMENTS.
I THINK EXPERIENCE IS MORE VALUABLE TO HAVE IN THIS INDUSTRY BUT I WOULD NEVER TAKE AWAY MY FASHION BUSINESS DEGREE, I LOVED IT, I LEARNT SO MUCH, ESPECIALLY AT LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION. I MET SO MANY PEOPLE. I THINK IT’S A GOOD EXPERIENCE, BUT I THINK IF YOU DO IT THE WAY I DID IT WITH THE PARTTIME DEGREE YOU GET BOTH. ALSO YOUR NOT WASTING TIME AFTER, THAT’S WHAT I RECOMMEND. 5.HOW IMPORTANT TO YOU THINK INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE IS? OH, TOTALLY, TOTALLY THE BEST THING EVER, YOU HAVE TO DO THAT, YOU WONT GET EMPLOYED IN THIS INDUSTRY WITHOUT AT LEAST A YEAR’S EXPERIENCE. FITTING IN 6 MONTHS HERE, 6 MONTHS THERE. YOU NEED IT, NO ONE WILL PAY YOU. YOU HAVE TO DO IT FOR FREE, IT’S HARD, AND YOU GET THE FREEBIES THOUGH. ITS UNFORTUNATE IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING WORKING NIGHTS AT A RESTAURANT OR SOMETHING BUT IT’S ONLY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU REAP THE REWARDS LATER. DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE 7 SECONDS THEORY? WHAT’S THE 7 SECONDS THEORY? OH THAT YOU JUDGE SOMEONE IN THE FIRST 7 SECONDS. OH ERHHH, UNFORTUNATELY YES. I’VE BEEN INTERVIEWING AND YOU DO JUDGE, BUT YOU HAVE TO LEARN AS A MANAGER NOT TO JUST JUDGE BUT LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. MEETING SOMEONE CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND COMPLETELY. FOR INTERVIEWS YOU DEFIANTLY HAVE TO LOOK THE PART, BE WELL GROOMED, BE
ON TIME IF SOMEONE IS 10 MINUTES LATE THAT’S A BLACK MARK ALREADY IN MY BOOKS BECAUSE YOUR GONNA BE LATE EVERY DAY FOR WORK. SO YES UNFORTUNATELY YOU DO JUDGE, BUT, IN MY EXPERIENCE FROM BEING ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU HAVE TO LEARN NOT TO LOOK AT HOW THEY ARE. 57
SUM UP YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE? MY MUM WAS MY ROLE MODEL GROWING UPAND SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL, SHE WAS VERY CLASSIC. A BEAUTIFUL SHIRT, A NICE PAIR OF JEANS, GOOD HEALS, CLASSIC JEWELLERY, A BIT OF LIPSTICK AND YOU’LL LOOK FINE. WHAT DON’T YOU WANT TO SEE ON A CV AND WHAT STAND’S OUT TO YOU? OH GOSH, I DON’T KNOW UM, I THINK WHEN YOUR YOUNG, THINGS YOU DID AT SCHOOL, DON’T MATTER ANYMORE. WHEN YOUR YOUNG EVERYONE’S LIKE “OH YOU GOT AN A IN ART”, NO ONE GIVES A SHIT ANYMORE. JUST PUT THE BASIC STUFF, BUT DON’T PUT GCSE GRADES, DON’T PUT I WAS CAPTAIN OF MY FOOTBALL TEAM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IF YOU’VE GOT ALL OF YOUR PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS DATING BACK FROM MOST RECENT, AND WHAT YOU DID AND WHAT YOU LEARNT, THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT. ALSO FOR WHATEVER JOB YOU GO FOR, CHANGE IT JUST TO MAKE SURE. EACH CV WILL HAVE TO CHANGE; YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT RELEVANT TO WHAT THAT EMPLOYER WANTS TO SEE.
THE HOTSPOTS 1. KONDITOR & COOK BOROUGH MARKET- KNOWN FOR ITS NOTORIOUS BROWNIE BAR, WITH A SCRUMPTIOUS SELECTION OF DIFFERENT FLAVOURINGS OF BROWNIES. A PARTICULAR FAVOURITE BEING ‘THE FUDGEPACKER’! 2. JOE & THE JUICE SOHO- A DANISH CHAIN OF RELAXED JUICE BARS. AN IDEAL SPOT TO TAKE THE WEIGHT OFF YOUR FEET AND WATCH THE WORLD GO BY, WHILST SIPPING A ‘SEX ME UP’ 3. ARMENTS PIE & MASH WALWORTH- ESTABLISHED IN 1914 THIS PLACE OOZES WITH TRADITION AND AUTHENTICITY. PIE, MASH AND LIQUOR THE PERFECT COMFORT FOOD TO DELVE INTO AFTER A STRESSFUL WEEK OR SIMPLY JUST FOR A YUMMY TREAT. 4. THE SANDERSON HOTEL 50 BERNERS STREET- LONG BAR AT SOME 80 FT IN LENGTH OFFERS CLASSIC AND INNOVATIVE COCKTAILS THAT WILL GET YOUR TASTE BUDS TINGLING. NO RESERVATIONS NEEDED SO GREAT FOR A QUICKIE! 5. BURGER & LOBSTER SOHO- THE POSH VERSION OF NANDOS, WHERE ANYONE WHO IS ANYONE CAN BE SEEN. WITH ITS NO NONSENSE 3 ITEM MENU OF BURGER, LOBSTER AND LOBSTER ROLL WITH AN ALL IN ALL PRICE OF 20 IT SURE IS A FIT BANQUETTE FIT FOR ALL! 6. FLAT WHITE SOHO- DESPERATE FOR A GOOD COFFEE? HEAD TO FLAT WHITE THEY TAKE COFFEE-MAKING TO AN ART FORM. WITH THE LOVELY KATE SERVING YOU YOUR HOT DRINK IT IS WORTH TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY FOR.
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THE LAST WORD