A little window into my world

Sunday 6 February 2011

Self Temptation Press Release

SELF TEMPTATION THE FIRST ONLINE RETAILER TO BE SELLING BACI LINGERIE

The current recession and state of the economy continues people to cut back and not enjoy life to the full and let’s face it people need cheering up. Well Self Temptation, the first online retailer of Baci Lingerie is here to put a smile on your face and give you some good news! With everybody cutting back on luxuries Self Temptation are offering you an affordable luxury to help treat yourself or someone special, beating the recession and making you feel fabulous.

Self Temptation the hottest new lingerie company online is now bringing the beautiful Baci Lingerie exclusively to the UK. Baci Lingerie is the newest and sexiest intimate apparel collection to hit the fashion industry. Baci Italian for ‘kisses’ hosts a beautiful range of collections with innovative design and stunning fabrics. The spirit of Baci Lingerie is producing luxury, sexy lingerie at unbelievable prices to ensure that a greater number of people have access to the gorgeous designs and ultimately helping all women feel better about their lives.

Self Temptation are very excited to be the first online retailer to be introducing the nation to this red hot designer lingerie and welcome you to their online store that launches on Monday 7th March, due to high demand Self Temptation are now taking Pre-Orders for the prestigious Baci Lingerie.

Along with Pre-Ordering, Self Temptation would like to welcome you to their new and exciting loyalty reward scheme. This scheme will be known as ‘The Naughty Points’. All our loyal customers will collect one Naughty Point for every pound spent at Self Temptation. The current amazing promotion is double Naughty Points with any Pre-Ordered item. Welcoming male and female to browse www.selftemptation.com.


Tuesday 23 November 2010

Let it snow!

This year has been ridiculously crazy and especially since I have been back at Uni life seems to be non stop. So this weekend was a pleasant break as me and the boyfriend flew out to Oslo in Norway for a little mini get away. With probably the best packing I have ever done (because we could only take hand luggage to get the cheap flights) and as many layers as it is possible to wear through security we set off on our little adventure hoping to understand our slightly 'crazy' Norwegian friend a little better when we returned.



My main concern was making sure my bag was light enough to fly with and that I had enough layers to avoid hypothermia while away. Getting to the security check I began placing my layers into those trays to go through the scanner. Pretty sure I held up the queue for a good few minutes while trying to take off the hat, gloves, scarf, coat, 5 layers of cardies, watch, ring, jewellery etc etc (Taking no chances of setting off the alarm much to the amusement of the security staff), then stepped through only to set off the alarm anyways and have to get frisked by the security staff anyways. This in itself was distressing as I am ridiculously ticklish and couldn't actually stop laughing and wriggling. Frisk over and shoes through the scanner I continued to redress and grab my bag before heading through to departures.

The flight out there was beautiful but landing was quite rough as the clouds we flew down through were very thick with snow. When we landed all the Norwegians on board gave as massive cheer and some fan fair music played and I began to wonder what the next few days would be like and if this was an explanation to the eccentric behaviour of our buddy.



Stepping off the plane it was sooo cold -5c and very windy. After a cold stint waiting for the bus and heading into Oslo centre we did our usual hostel hunt only with no street names to be found, we followed Christmas lights and a sense of direction that I seem to have developed and managed to find the way!! After checking in we headed out into the city at night with a map and some hope of some warm food, we actually just walked around for a few hours trying to find food and failing before heading back to the hostel and settling for some original Norwegian Pizza. It was actually very very nice and the leftovers made a wonderful breakfast the next day haha.




On Saturday we decided to be education boffs and head to some museums (secretly I was also Viking hunting but this unfortunately didn't happen). We started at the Viking Ship Museum which had excavated ships on display along with other viking artifacts. When they excavated the ships they found the skeletons of humans (thought to be wealthy and so buried in a ship) as well as horses and dogs (thought to protect the dead in after life)on board. The skeletons as well as lot of images were on display which actually made me a little queasy.




After enough boffing in one museum we had a snowy little walk to the Norwegian Folk Museum which is an outdoor museum exhibiting parts of Norwegian life which seems to be mainly wooden huts! The snow started falling fast and it was very cold but we spent hours walking around the woods (I was actually wearing a skirt with tights and long socks...cold!). This was followed by a ridiculously long hunt for food in Oslo city centre and then some street walking to take in the national theatre and other delights.



For dinner I attempted hostel cooking again and the travelling favourite of pasta re-emerged. After dinner we went out to experience Norwegian nightlife. It was very very odd. There are different restriction ages for drinking in Norway with beer and wine legal at 18 and spirits at 20. So you get some odd crowds depending on where you go. We went to a bar that was described as 'a little rough around the edges' which was OK but sitting in a relaxing bar that plays heavy rock music was weird. We attempted a trip to an Ice Bar afterwards but it didn't look so good so we called it quits and headed back.




Sunday was my favourite day! We started by taking a suggested walking route along a river. It was beautiful and the banks of the river were a creative centre with many converted warehouses taken over by artists and statues in trees. There was also a massive chandelier hanging between the buildings. You could hear lots of bands practicing their music and it was just such a lovely creative hive.



Next was a visit to the fortress in Oslo. My boyfriend is obsessed since we went to one in europe. This was no way near as impressive but still worth a visit.This was followed up with a trip to the top of a mountain to have hot chocolate in a little wooden restaurant. We had to get a metro and then jump on a bus which drove up a windy mountain road that was icy and snowy with no issues (England take note, as this was very impressive especially as they go every 10 minutes). Turns out this is actually where the ski jump and cross country ski areas are and many people were going up there for a ski while I was trotting about in a skirt and many many cardies (jokes). It was actually so beautiful though, this huge cabin type restaurant with big open fires and hot chocolate, yummy yummy! The views over Oslo were also pretty impressive.




After a drink with cake and a little slippy walk around we headed back down the mountain to a park where we heard there were a number of 'rude' statues. This turned out to be quite creepy in fact but the park was huge and very beautiful especially in the icy cold and all the snow. Following this we headed for a very expensive meal to end the trip. It was actually (unintentionally) very romantic, eating by candle light while the snow was falling outside. Perfect end to a lovely weekend.



Monday was a day of travelling and waiting but was made better by tax free chocolate in the airport, yummy!! If you ever get the chance to go to snowy Norway, do it!! Its very beautiful and the people are very interesting haha! Here are some more pics of the trip.











































-Rhianna.

Friday 12 November 2010

Dispatches



Did anyone else get a chance to watch dispatches Fashion's Dirty Secret this week? It looked at UK 'sweat shop' style manufacturers where workers were being paid as little as £2.50 an hour to work in cramped, unsafe and dirty conditions being almost abused by the supervisors who are pushing them to constantly churn out more and more clothes. Dispatches sent in an undercover reporter to get an inside look at where our fashion comes from. No body can deny the culture of fast fashion these days and the demand that this is putting on retailers to produce mass quantities in short spaces of time but it is also shocking to discover the ethical cost that this comes with.




When you think of workers being exploited you think of places such as Bangladesh, Delhi and China, but to think the same thing is happening just a few hours away in the UK is actually shocking. Working in a windowless basement where fire exits were blocked by the huge orders they were churning out, the conditions and safety persuasions for these workers is truly unacceptable. piles and piles of clothes could be seen stacked everywhere in the secret footage filmed by the undercover reporter which also showed how workers had to sit on boxes in the factory to eat their lunch as it was too cramped that there was no space for them to eat elsewhere.



Dispatches also exposed the unsafe machinery these workers were using to make clothing for shops such as New Look, Peacocks and BHS. As a fashion student I know the importance of adhering to health and safety as accidents do happen and they can be serious! Perhaps even more shocking is the fact that the manufacturer put the reporter onto the machines without asking about his sewing experience, his legality to work in the UK or even asking his name. These manufacturers are exploiting peoples desperation for money who are working illegally and are stuck in a cycle of hopelessness. One worker described her job and working conditions as 'slavery'.



New Look was highlighted a number of times as numerous items from their stores were being made in these factories. What surprised me the most was that the labels for the clothes were inaccurate stating that they were made in Moldova when in fact they were being made in Leicester, in the UK. This is illegal and highly misleading to the consumer. If you knew something was made in the UK and the price was low then you would think twice about how they could afford to make it so cheaply where as there is something about overseas manufacture that makes it acceptable to be cheap as well as to exploit the workers.

I am currently setting up my own business and as a core principle wanted to keep manufacture in the UK in order to have a tight control over who is making my garments, where and how. My brand will work towards a vertically integrated manufacturing model but until I can fund these ambitious manufacturing plans, I will need a start up supplier if you will. I want my brand to be as British as possible, keeping manufacture, design and sourcing as close to home as I can. I know that realistically this will be expensive and take time, but despite this I want to be able to create opportunities within the UK and build an iconic British sports wear brand.

Taking ethical issues into consideration was always going to be important to the success for my brand but after watching this exposing documentary I am going to make it a core principle for my business. Fashion with a conscience is the way forward. Perhaps it means my prices will be higher but I think its worth paying more to know that no one was exploited to make my clothing, don't you?!




This is genuinely a really insightful look into the British fashion industry and the exploitation of workers taking place right on our door step. If you get a chance, log onto the channel 4 website and check it out.

-Rhianna.

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Just one moment

Just a moment to remember our fallen heroes, those that have fought and those that are still fighting!











-Rhianna

Monday 1 November 2010

Mango Autumn Winter Campaign

Notice anything familiar about the model in the new Mango Autumn/ Winter campaign? Yes, it really is Olivia Palermo from The City. As much as I dislike her onscreen persona she looks amazing in these shots from the campaign where she posed next to her real life boyfriend, German Model Johannes Huebl.











As much as I loved her style, previously I viewed Palermo as an ice queen but seeing her in this campaign has made me rethink, especially after seeing her crack a genuine smile on a video for www.mango.com. I think Olivia should definitely stick to the modelling from now on as it really lets the real her shine through.

-Rhianna.

Fashions Night In

For those not paying attention Fashions Night In is happening right now. With just under 5 hours left to shop I am checking out the action.

*This is the first thing I found that I am tempted to buy.... Toy soldier cushions £20 from The Peanut Vendor. These are actually so cute, I am in love.




*Lily and Lionel are giving away a free bracelet with every order made before 8pm. Follow the link to shop www.lilyandlionel.com

*ASOS.com have just launched two new collections to get the party season started so go online to check it out.

*There is a Kate Moss exclusive from TOPSHOP.com. Dresses form her last ever Kate Moss for Topshop collection have gone on sale. I am loving this cape, though at £200 it is slightly on the pricey side.



Also loving this Tired Diamante Maxi Dress in cream. Again at £150 its more of an investment then a staple.



*If you check out vogue.com there are lots of discount codes for lots of online stores include at www.the-dressingroom.com where you can save 15% with the discount code VOGUEFNI

*For all the dreamers and rich people reading this be sure to take a peek at www.annoushka-jewellery.com The jewellery is just beautiful. I am in love with this ring....If anybody would like to lend me £2900 to buy it I would be very grateful!



*Be sure to check out www.my-wardrobe.com throughout this evening as many fashion insiders will be talking us through their wardrobes....not to be missed!

*Urban outfitters are also in on the action, offering 20% off women's coats with the discount code FNI. I am loving this Renewal Remade Trench and with the discount it is a bargain at £44.



*Also worth a look is www.wrightandteague.com Although a little pricey for a student, this Bee necklace at £250 is on my Christmas wish list.



*To see all the online retailers taking part as well as their discount codes and give aways please check out www.vogue.co.uk/fashions-night-in/participating-retailers I am going to continue writing my dream wish list and following whats happening while trying not to give into my compulsive shopping needs. Be sure to check it out.

-Rhianna.