Editor’s Letter
Welcome to The Hashtag’s first issue! I’m thrilled to have finally get this issue released despite the proposed launch month which was September. This is a very experimental issue in that we’re still trying to find out style and feel of the magazine and will continue to explore this through our future issues. #freedom What does that mean to us? Is it independence? The fact that we can do whatever we want? This first issue will talk about what freedom is like as someone who is taking their next step - university life. What does that involve? Moving out, moving in, living on your own. We have people talking about student lives and experiences with advice and tips to pull under your
their some sleeve.
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as we did making it! Priscilla Aroean
Dear Freshers... And so, this is it. You knew this was coming for a long time. Amidst bags and belongings you sit. Squashed by luggage, your head pressed against a window, the world around you is moving, slowly at first, then gradually, you are leaving. North, South, East and West are only details, technicalities which end up meaning the same. No matter where you are, your direction is Away, and as you get further into the journey, you get swarmed by new emotions. Anticipation. Confusion. Happiness. anxiety. Expectation. Independence. Freedom. And that is what you feel when you realise you’re responsible for yourself. Truthfully, this is an open introduction. No matter whether you’re going to uni, backpacking for the summer or to a festival, these are the feelings that will go through your head as you start your journey. You might be terrified, you might be sad, you might be excited. That’s independence, and freedom, and you need to remember they are as positive as they are negative, as fun as they are challenging, and as good as they are bad. It is said that independence and freedom are achieved when you go to uni/ start living by yourself, but that’s not exactly true. Independence and freedom are found throughout life, anytime a person does a new thing for themselves. Remember that, and you’ll realise that not only is it easy to be independent, but achievable, and realise you’ve been prepping for years. Truly, the process of leaving for uni is the same as leaving for a festival, especially if it’s your first time. For both,
you’ve heard about it, liked it, and decided to go; some go with their groups and stick together, others go on their own, looking for a new start and friendships. For both you plan, compare notes with others, and pack strategically. Maybe you’ve joined social groups beforehand and be semiacquainted, maybe you’re waiting to get to your campsite/ halls, to become acquainted. And then you get there and again it’s the same. In both situations you are constantly surrounded by people you can relate to, whether it being you having similar taste, age, or expectations, you all share the same hopes and worries, to a certain extent. As a group, you and your friends/ campmates/ roommates will buy supplies and share them together, and the shared responsibilities, and the fact you’re all cohabiting and learning together will guide you, and help you realise that this is not scary, but doable. Sure, you might batter your body and get too hangover, but the resulting disappointment in missing acts and guilt in missing classes will serve as valuable lessons on their own. What’s important to remember is that, while both places are fun and have their dangers, it is up to you to find the balance, and learn from your mistakes, which while unavoidable, aren’t meant to be shameful, but thought upon and treated as life lessons. More than anything, both of these situations and their problems and good memories are what cause your personal growth. Love, Bekhi Valls Moragas
Being fashionable on a budget - The broke girls guide to being trendy Fashion and budgets traditionally don’t go hand in hand, with Shelley Hazlewood designer and off the runway pieces costing thousands, the high street going up in price and smart marketing tricking the consumer into buying more than they need. It can be hard to be fashionable on a budget. Fortunately when one high street store increases in price another more affordable one is ready to take its place. It’s still a minefield though, knowing which look to go for, what to invest in and what’s going to be a fleeting trend, especially if you’re on a budget. However where there is a will, there’s a way! The key is being smart, figuring out your budget and then working out which pieces can effortlessly slip into your current wardrobe. The first rule of smart shopping is to invest in your key wardrobe pieces — items that don’t go out of fashion and that you can build trend led pieces around. Think the classic white tee, the black skinny jean, a leather biker jacket and so on. Invest in these as they can last a long time - you’ll probably find yourself wearing them to death. Pairing these classics with different accessories can dress up or dress down an outfit, making wearing your favourite tee for the tenth time look a little different! The next step is staying trend savvy, you need to be aware of what’s in this season and next season. Some styles never go out of fashion (think florals for spring and a military coat in the winter), invest in these key pieces providing they fit with your existing wardrobe. For more fleeting styles, cheap is the way forward. There are a plethora of high street stores offering trend led pieces for next to nothing. H&M, Misguided and Primark are the places to be. Trawl eBay or Depop and check out fashion bloggers’ sales to snap up some trendy bargains. For the more creative people out there, sewing is the easiest way to update pieces. Adding and changing details to outfits can instantly update them and change the look. Switching up the buttons on a classic coat can give a nod to one of this seasons more fleeting trends for next to nothing. The same goes for DIY’s tutorials, there is a plethora of them online, meaning it will cost just pennies to update an outfit. Finally when you’re out and about hitting the shops, think smart and ask yourself the following questions: Will it go with my existing wardrobe? (This will save you spending more money on completing the outfit.) Do I really like this? (If you’re unsure, leave it — you can always go back later.) Will I wear it more than once? (If this is unlikely is it really worth buying it even if it is a bargain?) Is this actually a good deal? Get 20% off when you spend £50 or more may sound appealing but do you need that £50 worth of stuff? The answer is probably no! If you’re in need of a wardrobe overhaul, now is a good time to do it, as the summer sales are in full swing and there are plenty of bargains out there, providing you shop smart and don’t get suckered into clever marketing. So go on, get out there and treat your wardrobe!
Bournemouth’s Fashion Guide Have you just moved to Bournemouth? Not sure which is the best place to shop here? Then, spare a few minutes to immerse yourself in this fashion guide! Whether you need a new pair of Adidas superstar, an elegant dress for a date night or a snuggly onesie, Bournemouth offers something to please every purchaser. The Square – “shop till you drop” The Square is in the perfect place to start some retail therapy. Located in the centre of Bournemouth, within a walking distance to the beach and beautiful Lower Gardens, guarantees a unique shopping moments. Here you will find a wide-range of high-street brands such as River Island, H&M, Primark, Miss Selfridge as well as vast choice of department stores with a variety of designer clothes and lifestyle items. After a busy day of shopping you can unwind and revive in one of many café shops surrounding the Square including famous café Obscura situated right in the centre of it. What is more, the Square is a vibrant place where various events take place all year round. During winter it becomes a traditional German-style market at other times a music concert or a Food and Drink Festival. In a nutshell, whether your style is, the Square is the place to go when you are looking to explore up-to-the-minute trends and experience the hustle and bustle of High Street.
Marta Karzpak Photography: Ray Lee
Think big The Castlepoint Shopping Park is the largest shopping park in the UK. What goes with it every shop is bigger, better stocked and of course more busy than those ones in town. It is a home to all popular brands from Gap and New Look to large anchors like ASDA and Sainsbury’s. If you’re really stuck for ideas, a huge variety of shops will provide you with multiple concepts and inspiration for the unusual styling. Additionally, cyclic events organized in Castlepoint shopping park are undisputed advantage of this place. One of them, The Student Lock-In is a one-day event when you can enjoy exclusive discounts, giveaways and entertainment organized especially for students. However, if you missed that opportunity, don’t’ worry. There are a number of stores at Castlepoint who offer student discounts all year. What is also vital is that Castlepoint is situated in a convenient location, easy to access via public transport with direct links to Bournemouth Town Centre via the Rail Station and to Poole. The final piece of advice you should bear in mind when you are planning a new shopping spree: Don’t go here when it’s raining, as you will still get wet! Poole and Surroundings If you are willing to spend a little bit more of a time on shopping, take a quick trip to Poole. Visit the Old Town and the Quay for out of the ordinary in the boutique stores or shop in the Dorset’s largest indoor shopping centre, The Dolphin Shopping Centre. This marvellous place is located right at the heart of Poole and therefore is convenient to access by public transport. Poole’s central bus station right outside the shopping centre and the railway station just a 5-minute walk away makes commuting even more approachable. If you wish to get here by the car, the Dolphin Shopping Centre has a large parking with a multi-storey car park adjacent with 1,400 parking spaces. Not to mention the excellent array of products including, fashion, beauty, music, food and gifts that you can find in over 100 stores. Modern architecture, ample of shops, cafes and remarkable location make this place a great destination for your next shopping trip and excuse to explore this magnificent coastal town.
First Day in the City Photography: David PD Hyde Stylist: Shraddha Bajaj MUA: Sylwia Wojsiat Model: Claudia Elizabeta
Photography: Verginiya Yancheva Make-up: Alina Manova Model: Magdalena, Ivet Fashion Modelling Agency Photography Assistant: Georgi Zhekov
Beauty Essentials
Your New BFF – Coconut Oil We all know the amazing health benefits of using coconut oil in cooking (high energy, reduced fat etc., etc.) but did you know this kitchen wonder also holds some rather fabulous beauty secrets too? Here are 8 alternate uses for coconut oil that will make it your latest beauty essential. Hair Conditioner Gone will be the days of forking out for expensive hair masks and deep conditioners. After shampooing, apply a generous amount to your hair whilst still wet. Leave for five minutes and rinse away – just like your normal conditioner. At room temperature coconut oil has a crumbly soft texture, so run the jar under warm water (it melts at 76 degrees F/ 24 degrees C) before applying, to make it easier application. Hair Tamer Ok, so your hair REALLY loves coconut oil, but can you blame it? Melt a pea size amount in your hands and run through the ends of your hair to tame any frizz and flyaways. It will last until you wash it out at the end of the day. In Shower Skin Moisturiser So whilst you are leaving your hair to soak in this wonder oil, share the love with the rest of your body too. Apply generously while your skin is still wet. Lip Balm Melt a small amount between your fingers and apply as normal to your lips, easy as that. It has the same nourishing effect as any other lip moisturisers, and shields from harsh winds
too. You can also make a really simple lip exfoliator by mixing a spoonful of brown sugar with half a spoon of coconut oil. It’s no exact science, but should make a gritty, paste like consistency. Apply to your lips once or twice a week and scrub away, removing all the dry skin. Apply lip moisturiser (or more coconut oil) after exfoliating. Sunscreen Sidekick Coconut oil is not, I repeat NOT, an alternate for sunscreen. However, applying coconut oil in-between your regular sunscreen applications helps to lock in all that moisture and sunscreen-y goodness. You can buy unscented oil, but this can mean some of its natural goodness is lost. So embrace it’s naturally tropical scent. *Personal* Lubricant Oh yes. Use as needed, but be warned: SOME PEOPLE MAY BE ALLERGIC TO COCONUT OIL. And that would not be an appropriate time to find out if you are. It is also NOT compatible with latex. Makeup Remover Who doesn’t want a zero-added-chemicals makeup remover? Apply a small amount to cotton pads or flannel, and wipe away. Added bonus – it moisturises too (had I mentioned?). Makeup Highlighter OK, so it’s the middle of summer and as yet, we haven’t had all that much sun. So fake your own ‘summer glow’ and apply a smidge to the areas of your face you wish to highlight i.e. The tops of your cheekbones, just under the arch of your brows, the tip of your nose and chin (but you do you and highlight where you like). Note- I do mean the tiniest smidge. Too much and It will start becoming obvious that you’re just smothered in oil… BONUS- Gents, coconut oil also moisturises and conditions those lush beards of yours. So make that special someone in your life happier, and get conditioning. Work a pea size amount throughout, making sure it reaches your skin. Wipe away any excess. So now go forth and become besties with the magic of coconut oil. Your body (and bank balance) will thank you. Coconut oil can be bought in most large supermarkets and health food stores. Alternatively, you can purchase it online. Sammi Chad
Venturing out of Heidiland Three years ago, I decided to leave my little nest in Switzerland and embark on a journey to a place called Bournemouth. Growing up, I got to appreciate picturesque scenery of mighty Swiss mountains and elongated lakes, as well as to indulge in abundant amounts of the finest Swiss chocolates. Even though I was pretty content with my life, I still had this hunger for something new lingering in my belly that “Heidiland” wasn’t able to satisfy. Since graduating from high school, I have developed this desire to move to the UK to attend university, not only for educational purposes, but also to pursue my aspirations of facing new challenges in new surroundings whilst hoping to embrace new people in my life. Culturally, I was already familiar with UK popular culture growing up thanks to having access to British TV channels. However, there was so much more that I learnt about the culture once I started living there. It’s different when you are a tourist. Usually most tourists would flock to places like London and spend about a week there, only getting to know a small fraction of the culture, rather than experiencing what it’s like to actually live in the UK. For instance, one of the phrases I became familiar with during Freshers Week back in 2012 was “fancy dress.” As someone who grew up speaking US English (I’m technically American), I initially associated the term with black tie/cocktail-like events. But in fact, I was in for a treat once I experienced my first fancy dress. The term misled me since I didn’t expect to attend a night out dressed as a purple haired witch accompanied by two wild cats, Princess Fiona and a lurking ninja. I soon learnt that dressing up was quite a popular thing amongst students in England. Whilst expanding my culinary taste buds and being introduced to things such as crumpets, Jaffa Cakes and marmite, I have had debates with some of my British friends about certain meal-time phrases. For instance, one of the most popular debates was the whole “pudding vs. dessert” ordeal. Now as a proud speaker of US English, I was pretty patriotic about this one. Pudding is a type of wiggly dessert, but the term doesn’t describe ALL other desserts. I have embraced all other aspects of UK culture, but to this present day, I simply refuse to call dessert “pudding”! Sorry, just no… I was compelled to not only adjust to cultural changes, but also get used to living away from home for the first time. But not just me: 49 other students in my halls of residence building had to do the same! Having to adjust to a new living space with complete strangers can be a bit daunting. Naturally, your initial thoughts consist of light-hearted fears such as “will I make any new friends?” “What if they don’t like me?” However, those people around me who started off being complete strangers – mostly those who resided on the same floor as me – became the most integral part of my first year at university. And thanks to having that commonality of not knowing one another, friendships developed and so did the celebration of birthdays, Halloween, bon fire night, Christmas, building forts out of cardboard boxes and ordering from Pizza Hut on a weekly basis. Getting used to a new environment and finding a new routine is the beauty of starting a new chapter in your life. You will have successes, you will have fuck-ups, but most importantly you will learn. You will learn about yourself in ways that you would have not been able to without being obedient towards mommy and daddy. You will understand what responsibilities come with independence whilst enjoying the taste of its freedom. This is why my dear Freshers of 2015, I wish you nothing but good luck whilst you embark on your own journey and hope you are also able to make your university a home away from home. And especially if you are a foreign student, I hope you are able to embrace the British culture as much as I have (except the term “pudding”)!
Kebaya Culture Photography: Tara Ortega Styling: Priscilla Aroean Model: AustĂŠja Rostkauskaite
Well done UK, I have just apologised my bowl for burning me under hot running water Having been to the United Kingdom several times, before I actually moved in a month ago, I did know very well how helpful and kind nation you, British people, are. It feels almost like Brits were seeking for people to help them on purpose. Another theory says that British people can read your mind. You just give one look to a person you pass by and not only do you hear a cheerful “Hii-yaaa” but immediately the next following question is “Are you alright?” I’m starting to hear it more often than a question how I am. Obviously, I doubt that there is another correct answer than “I’m fine, thank you”. Your politeness and help to one other has already impacted on me and I can’t help apologising inanimate objects and I can’t help feeling guilty. I heard “Sorry, I’ll go way around” when I was cleaning hotel floor which left me feeling guilt for that poor man. I heard it when I accidently hit a woman with my bag. I said “Sorry” for being sorry… Wait, what? When I was walking back home from work, I had a man and his dog in front of me. I didn’t notice them due to Mumford & Sons in my headphones and imaginary dance performance in my head until the man stopped to let me through. I felt guilty for walking too loudly. In fact, after I passed him I had to increase my walk pace, so he could think I was in hurry indeed. I’m still wondering whether the man who showed me the way to a bus
station caught his bus. I didn’t know that Chester has two main bus stations. So when I asked how to get to one, people gave me directions to the Bus Exchange, which apparently was not the one my bus was leaving from, so I kept on asking again and one elderly man, who had a lovely conversation with his friend, offered himself to go with me for a little bit, to show me where I should go. He said he had had fifteen minutes to his bus. I hope those fifteen minutes were enough. I do hope that a young man who helped me on the train to Chester didn’t break anything. Imagine it: a young woman with a bag and a huge luggage trying to get on the train. You, British people, couldn’t resist, could you? So, a man, who I had a lovely talk with, tried to lift the luggage but I wish you all could see his first try. He underestimated the actual weight of the luggage. It looked like he was about to lift and carry ten kilos, not twenty something. At first I laughed but he could have done something to himself and the same day he had lost his credit card, according to what he said to me. I should feel guilty for not warning him about how heavy my belongings were. And please don’t assume that the country where I come from, which is Poland, is opposite to the UK. There are many kinds of people, the same as in your country and not everyone keeps saying “Sorry” twenty times a day, but I swear, your manners are
on a much higher level than in Poland. When random people, I presume my neighbours, smile to me, something melts inside my body. I hate speaking for the whole country but at least in the place where I had spent nineteen years of my life, people were rather grumpy. If the look could kill, I would be dead as soon as I smiled to another person. What else has surprised me after a month of living here? That you do say “Thank you” to a bus driver or “Cheers”. In Poland, people barely speak to each other in a bus. You seem to perceive speaking to random people as a hobby. Talking to bank workers or shop assistants is really a different experience than in Poland. While you as always ask how the customer is, sometimes you have a longer chat, in my country people have a paper attached to the front desk saying not to forget about three essential phrases “Good day” “Thank you” “You’re welcome to come back soon”. Besides your manners, what is incredible about your country from my point of view, is this weird contest which no one talks about but every neighbour participates. I would call this The Best Garden and The Most Beautifully Decorated Window competitions. It’s hard to tell whether there is a prize. The prize could have been self-satisfaction but then again, if you spend your leisure time on decorating your front window, there must be something wrong with you Brits but I’m buying it. It proves my theory about you living somewhere beyond the normal timeline. You and your kind temper, ability to stay calm and constant patience. If I have already started to apologising inanimate objects, I’m looking forward to transforming myself into a gardener or farmer who would do a sheep cheese, because apparently you don’t have one. Come on Britain, almost everyone has a sheep in a house, you are missing the most delicious goodness which grilled sheep cheese with cranberry sauce is. It’s called “Oscypek” in Poland and please try it in Cracow, when you will visit the city. Nevertheless, I have moved out from Poland and there is no way to explain how happy I am to be living here for the next three years. Some people change their hair thinking that Mother Nature has been mistaken, I have changed a country for the very same reason and I haven’t regretted it yet. Ewa Ferdynus
Contributors Writers:
Geneve Anderson Sammi Chad Ewa Ferdynus Sheley Hazlewood Marta Karzprak Bekhi Valls Moragas
Photographers:
David PD Hyde Ray Lee Tara Ortega Verginiya Yancheva
Stylists:
Priscilla Aroean Shraddha Bajaj
Make-up Artists: Sylwia Wojsiat Alina Manova
Models:
Claudia Elizabeta Magdalena from Ivet Fashion Modelling Agency