Tag: All

LOVE IT, WEAR IT AUTUMN STYLE

. AUTUMN STYLE X WALLIS #LOVEITWEARIT AW15 .

Summer seems to have been and gone this year without a single 48 hours straight of sunshine. Whilst the lack of sunshine is rather a disappointment, I can’t lie that I’m getting a little bit excited over the imminent arrival of Autumn. And more importantly, my Autumn wardrobe. Whilst I don’t do a set seasonal shop every year, when the high street does transition from one season to the next, I can’t help but fall in love with all the new clothes & stocking up on beautiful new items. And embracing new collections I have been, in particular a few newbies from Wallis as part of their new LoveItWearIt AW15 launch collection.

. WALLIS RED BLOUSE, BLACK SKIRT & PRINT JACKET (ALL ℅) . ZARA HEELS . ASOS FEDORA .

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This look is the perfect outfit to transition from Summer to Autumn. It’s not quite time for duffle coats, wooly hats & winter boots, so a simple layered look is the easiest way to transfer your wardrobe from Summer into Winter in my opinion. This ensemble is a fab transitional outfit for work or a little date night with your loved one. A simple, monochrome A-line skirt (always my go to), a chic blouse (red & burgundy are always favourites of mine when the winter months fall) and lots of layering to keep you cosy. A boyfriend blazer, long line cardigan or a sleeveless coat are great layers for the transitional months. Et Voila. And when Winter truly hits, tights & ankle boots are easy upgrades.

What are your transitional styling tips & your go to Autumn looks?

September 6, 2015
5 OF THE BEST WAYS TO UNWIND THIS WEEKEND

. THE WEEKEND RELAX EDIT: 5 OF THE BEST WAYS TO UNWIND .

Lately i’ve been living for the weekends, that time away from work, to myself, to see loved ones, relax, dedicate some time to my blog & generally just live a little. Whilst the last couple of weekends have been jam packed with weddings and hen do’s (I am away this weekend in Somerset for a girly hen do weekend), I still always like to find a little time for me.

So today I thought i’d share my 5 favourite ways to unwind on the weekend, and hopefully you can use a couple of the ideas tomorrow to have a super chilled Sunday.

MY 5 FAVOURITE WAYS TO RELAX ON THE WEEKEND

#1 BLOG

I love to spend a good few hours on my weekend catching up with my blog, shooting & editing for the week ahead and generally catching up on all your guys blogs too. Whilst I blog everyday of the week, my weekend is the chance I really have to catch up on all my favourite bloggers content & really get my content sorted for the week ahead. I find blogging so relaxing and enjoyable it’s an essential part of my weekend relax routine

#2 MAGAZINES

I have always been a magazine obsessive, I used to spend all my earnings on magazines when I was at college, and for years kept and collected all of my favourite editions. These days I’m a little more selective and now only have subscriptions to Elle & Instyle, probably my two very favourite magazines. I don’t get much time these days to sit and really indulge in my fave mags, but when my subs come through the door each month I always try and dedicate a good hour to reading them with a good cuppa! This weekend they’ll be my pool side reading – perfection.

#3 FIZZ & PAMPER

I can’t pretend fizz & pamper time happens every weekend, but I do like to indulge a little at the weekend, especially when there’s a special occasion to celebrate like there has been the last few weekends. But when the time for champagne isn’t there, simply just spending some time pampering myself is always a nice treat, a long lazy bath, a good hair wash & beautifying session, or simply a nice hot water bottle & a movie with a glass of red wine. A little indulgence is always a nice weekend treat.

#4 SHOP

I do most my shopping online these days, mainly for ease & also I like getting deliveries, but on the weekend I do like to hit my favourite hot spots in London for a little browse on the high street & a late brunch to finish things off. The Kings Road & Westbourne Grove are two of my favourite weekend shopping locations, they have my favourite stores & plenty of fab restaurants and cafes for well needed coffee & cake breaks.

#5 FRIENDS

There’s nothing better than spending time with my friends and family, and the weekend is the best time to spend some quality time with my nearest and dearest. Whether it’s a BBQ in the garden, a little dinner party or simply a coffee date in between running errands. Using the weekends to spend time socialising is the best way to relax, unwind, have fun & maximise your time off work. I’m forever planning weekends away with my girl friends, escaping London to visit my family back home or simply just planning fun things with my friends.

What are your favourite ways to relax on the weekend?

September 5, 2015
A TIMELESS ESSENTIAL: THE TRENCH

. THE CLASSIC, ALL TIME, ALL ROUND, TRENCH .

The trench coat is one of those staple outer wear items that no matter what year, what century & what season, it works. The best thing about this is that you can get last season coats, for an absolute bargain, yet they’re still totally on point, and if anything could be taken off the shelf this season. This trench coat is a little French Connection number I spontaneously bought as a result of the price tag (i’m a sucker for a bargain). A £170 coat reduced to £39 … who was I to say no. Yes I already have a trench coat, but this is a little chicer, more professional, a little more durable. The coat has proven a rather worthwhile purchase too, because with this seriously nippy weather (i’m afraid Autumn is approaching before we’ve even had a summer in the UK) i’ve been getting tons of wear out of it.

. FRENCH CONNECTION TRENCH (OUTLET) . TOPSHOP MOM JEANS . ASOS STRIPE SHIRT . ASPINAL BUCKLE BAG . ASOS FEDORA .

. SHOP MY FAVE TRENCHES BELOW .

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Things have been really busy lately, with work & my blog upping the anti, that i’ve found myself wanting to wrap up in warm and comforting clothing, this look is the perfect comfy look that’s suitable for work too. The silver lining to a busy blog line up is that I have loads of exciting projects and collaborations in the pipeline, i’m really excited about where this all might lead to, and hopefully if it continues on this little path I may be actionin-ing my own tips on turning my blog into my full time business (as opposed to juggling two full time commitments). Oh the dream! But yes, lots of exciting things to come & I have loads of ideas I’m putting into action on my little www dot. Including the launch of an app which you can now download here … how very exciting!

Let me know what you think of the app? And your thoughts on the trench, are you a fan?

September 4, 2015
THE DENIM STAPLE

. DENIM. THE MOST RELIABLE THING IN ANY GIRLS WARDROBE .

Denim in every guise is an essential in any girl or boys wardrobe, it’s that trusty item that you can rely on in those moments of desperation where nothing else is right, those moments where you have no time to think, and those moments when understated is required. I have a lot of denim in my wardrobe, the usual suspects, the denim jacket, denim dress, denim skirt, denim shirt and of course too many denim jeans. This season’s discoverie though was a new take on denim i’d not before embraced, the MOM jean.

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“I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity – all I hope for in my clothes.”

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. TOPSHOP MOM JEANS . WHISTLES CA VA TEE . ASOS FEDORA . ZARA LACE UP HEELS . ASPINAL BUCKLE BAG .

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This weekend i’m escaping the city for a little weekend getaway for my dear friends hen do, i’m super excited to escape the demands of London & work right now, it’s a super busy and exhausting time, so having a little fun this weekend is exactly what I need. I’m also counting down, by the second, my holiday. I don’t have anything booked right now but am planning on escaping for a couple of weeks to some late summer sunshine & a real relax! I can’t wait. If you have any recommendations for October summer holidays, do let me know!

Whats your denim staple? Are you a boyfriend jean, a skinny leg or a mom jean lover?

September 3, 2015
HOW TO MAKE YOUR BLOG A BUSINESS. NEW 6 PART SERIES

. HOW TO MAKE YOUR BLOG A BUSINESS – A NEW 6 PART SERIES .

I’ve been writing my blog and career tips for a very long time now, in fact I’ve written well over a hundred posts full of advice on life, blogging, careers, photography and everything in between. But to help keep things fresh & of course helpful to you, I’ve decided to create a new series specifically about turning your blog into a business.

It’s something that’s becoming ever more pertinent to bloggers in the UK and around the world, and if like me you’re driven to make your blog into something more, then understanding how to push your blog from hobby to career & learning how to run your business is super essential.

So I wanted to create a little series to help guide you (and myself) on this journey and of course act as a little resource for as and when you want a little advice of guidance on the topic. The series will run in 6 parts and cover everything from creating your business plan to understanding when the right time it. Starting today, with defining your brand, the first step in turning your blog into a business arguably.

“Authentic brands don’t emerge from marketing cubicles or advertising agencies. They emanate from everything the company does…” Howard Schultz

PART 1: 5 STEPS TO DEFINING YOUR BRAND .

| Manage Expectation | Blog Manifesto | About Page | Consistency | Social Brand |

When it comes to defining your brand, you need to be thinking about your readers, your clients and of course you as content producer, your brand encapsulates and guides everything you do, you say and everything you create … it’s how you show up.

The first step in setting your blog up as a business is defining your brand, what is it you’re offering, what do you stand for, what do you offer & what makes you unique. To help articulate your brand, not only for yourself but your readers, consider these 5 principles:

#1 MANAGE EXPECTATION:

The reason to create a clear brand identity, is to help manage expectation, the expectation of your readers and off course your clients. Having a defined, and clear brand identity lets your readers know what it is you do, what to expect & helps make you identifiable. Especially key if you want to go full time … being ‘known’ or recognisable is super important to help you cut through.

#2 BLOG MANIFESTO:

One of the easiest ways to let people know what your brand is, is to have a manifesto. A short snappy synopses of everything you stand for … think of it as your on pack description. Not only will it give your readers a clear point of view on what you have to offer, it helps work as a guideline for you too! My manifesto is as follows:

Mediamarmalade is a destination for the stylish, the ambitious and the passionate. It’s a hub of daily inspiration, motivational content and advice and tips for those of us on a journey to sartorial, life and career success.

#3 ABOUT PAGE:

An about page is a really good opportunity for you to tell your readers a little bit more about yourself, its taking that manifesto one step further and giving your readers, brands, PR’s & agencies a little more information on yourself, your blog, your interests and passions and anything else they may need to know. Check mine out here.

#4 CONSISTENCY:

Your brand consists and encapsulates everything from design and style, to content and logos. Creating a clear and consistent brand across all your touch points is key. It’s about having an instantly recognisable presence!

#5 SOCIAL BRAND:

And as we all know, our brand isn’t just about our blog or website, its about our social presence too, from instagram to Facebook, to RL too (real life). Having a clear identity and staying true to it in everything you do will really help you stand out, and stand for something in the eyes of advertisers. And after all, if you’re making your blog your business, advertisers are going to be essential.

If you’d like a little more guidance on the topic, check out this blog post with more tips on how to turn your blog into a brand.

Stay tuned for next weeks feature, all about creating your business plan! And i’d love to know what you thought of part 1 of the series below?

READ THE FULL 6 PART SERIES HERE

Building a Brand | Creating a Business Plan | Learning to Network | Managing your finances | How to measure success | Learn from your failures

September 2, 2015
BOYFRIEND STYLE

. BOYFRIEND STYLE | OVERSIZED .

I’ve always liked menswear, ever since I was at college & frequently borrowed my friends varsity sweaters to team with my denim mini skirt or boyfriend jeans. There’s something so comfy and understated about boyfriend wear, and whilst I can’t say its a look I still sport so regularly these days, since Jase picked up this denim number from a local boutique I’ve been tempted back into the menswear way of dressing.

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THE ART OF MENSWEAR

EDWIN DENIM JACKET

ZARA KNIT DRESS

OFFICE SUEDE BOOTS

ASOS FEDORA

RAYBAN CLUBMASTER

ACCESSORIZE SUEDE BACKPACK (SIMILAR)

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There’s nothing like a good denim jacket at the best of times, to finish off a look and add a touch of ‘i don’t care’ to a look, even better is this Edwin oversized mens denim jacket. I borrowed this jacket a couple of times over the weekend, but perhaps my favourite look was when I wore it with my Zara knit dress & Office ankle boots. It was the perfect contrast of femininity, and rough & ready masculinity.

Do you dabble in a bit of menswear in your day to day style?

September 1, 2015
NEW IN: BURGUNDY TROUSERS

. A POP OF COLOUR FOR EVERY SEASON .

I’ve always been a secret colour coveter, despite how cool and on point monochrome can be, i’m always drawn to colour pops & mismatching combinations (its a skill i’ve mastered over the years – i truly am the most un colour co-ordinated person you’ll meet). Blues, Burgundy & Green seem to be my SS15 favourites and so these trousers were an immediate purchase when I spotted that they were not only burgundy, but also cropped AND high waisted.

. ZARA CROPPED BURGUNDY TROUSERS . BRANDY MELVILLE VEST . REISS SHEENA JACKET . REISS FEDORA . ZARA LACE UP HEELS .

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I picked these burgundy trousers up from Zara on my spree a few weeks back, and despite being a little more ‘out there’ i’ve actually worn them loads, to work & out and about. They’re super comfy & look fab with a simple vest or fitted tee. This ensemble was pulled together for a rare sunshine day & so my new brandy melville cropped knit vest did the job perfectly.

If you follow me on instagram, you’ll know this weekend I’ve been in the West Country for one of my best friends wedding, it was a brilliant weekend and I spent a solid amount of time on the dance floor last night, tonight is going to be spent recovering before it’s back to the grind tomorrow.

How was your bank holiday weekend, what have you been up to?

August 31, 2015
HOW TO GET INSPIRED

. HOW TO GET INSPIRED. THE TIME IS NOW .

Following on from yesterdays post about ‘what makes content good‘, I thought i’d take a step backwards and start thinking about content ideas, the inspiration for editorials & the creation of the blog schedule. It’s all well and good having the tools to make the best editorial features in the world, but unless you have an idea of what you want to write about … you’re a little stuck.

These days there’s a million and one places to go to gather ideas for posts, but I like to be a purist, and instead think about inspiration, rather than ready made topics to write about. Inspiration is the stimulus to that great feature, it’s the things that trigger ideas & those sparks that go off in your head when you come up with a great thought piece.

Inspiration can come from anywhere and everywhere, so today I thought i’d share some super easy ways or places or things you can do / see / look at to get inspired. And I bet before you know it you’ll be flowing with ideas (just make sure you capture them all – read tips on turning ideas into features here).

. 10 PLACES & WAYS TO FIND INSPIRATION .

#1 BE AT ONE WITH NATURE

The idea from this post came from my sunflowers. They’ve been sat in my house all week & yesterday I thought i’d take a few pictures of them before they drop completely … as soon as I started editing the pictures I came up with the idea for this post. Feeling inspired.

It’s amazing how flowers, nature & just the outdoors can fill you with stimulus and ideas in an instant. Of course there’s something about being relaxed when you’re out enjoying the scenery, but even just a simple flower can trigger some great thoughts.

#2 FLICK THROUGH MAGAZINES

Magazines have always been one of my favourite sources of inspiration … just a flick through my favourite titles can fill me with ideas, inspiration & thoughts on editorials I too could create. It doesn’t even need to be a new issue … an old mag or your favourite book can fill you with inspiration and ideas. I love books for inspiration, I always flick through them and feel immediately full of new ideas for future features.

#3 SIMPLY, PEOPLE

Spending time with people is always a good way to get creative … even just asking your friends for their ideas is a really simple way to get tons of thoughts and concepts without even really trying.

#4 LISTEN TO MUSIC

This one isn’t for me … but often listening to music, your favourite artists or even watching a movie can be a great source of inspiration.

#5 READ BLOGS

One of my absolutely favourite ways to get inspired is by reading other blogs, just seeing the types of content out there, finding features that I really enjoy reading or simply looking at imagery to get ideas for how I might like to shoot my own imagery. The inspiration to be had from bloggers is in abundance … bloglovin is a great place to browse to find new blogs, new content & new inspiration too.

#6 BROWSE PINTEREST

Much like blogging, pinterest is another favourite source of inspiration for me, whether it’s reading motivational quotes, browsing beautiful images or just a random image that might trigger a new idea, whatever it is, I always leave feeling full of new ideas. Instagram is another good platform to browse if you’re seeking a little bit of inspiration.

#7 VISIT MUSEUMS

Museums, galleries, exhibitions … what better source of creative inspiration. Spend a day gallery hopping, take your camera, and guaranteed you’ll leave bursting with ideas. For starters …a new gallery guide feature!

#8 JUST RELAX

Run yourself a bath, grab a cup of tea, snuggle up on the sofa … and just BE. The best ideas come when you’re in a relaxed state of mind (more on the science behind that here), and so just giving yourself a little TLC, a little down time, a little time to relax is a really great way of setting yourself up to get inspired. Let your brain just run, and before you know it you’ll be jotting down ideas for new features.

#9 ESCAPE TO THE SEASIDE

There’s nothing like the seaside to inspire me. It’s just the sea, the relaxed state of mind, the beautiful lighting & the instagram worthy scenery … it’s one of my favourite places to just go to clear my mind, and once the mind is clear … the ideas start flowing.

#10 GO THROUGH YOUR ARCHIVES

I actually do this quite a lot … but getting inspiration from your own content is another great way to get ideas flowing. You’ll be surprised about all the work you’ve done, all the amazing features you’ve written & i’m sure all the work, imagery & editorial you’ve produced will inspire new content in a moment.

How do you get inspired & where do you seek your inspiration? What do you do to generate ideas for your blogs or work? I’d love to hear your ideas and tips in the comments!

August 30, 2015
WHAT MAKES CONTENT GOOD

. WHAT MAKES CONTENT GOOD? .

In todays world we probably consume content online more than we read magazines, watch TV or sit and enjoy a good book, content online is there when you want, offers what you want & there’s tons of it too. It’s no wonder that bloggers, you tubers and digital content providers are booming.

But whilst we know the demand is there, so is the competition. With content so readily available, you have to produce brilliant content to cut through and get noticed … but don’t worry it’s not as hard as you may think, after all we bloggers love reading each others fashion, food, lifestyle and beauty content daily. So what is it that makes this content good?

Today I thought I’d share 5 things that I think makes content brilliant, and 5 little tips you can apply to your content creation to help you stand out amongst the crowd.

. 5 THINGS THAT MAKES YOUR CONTENT BRILLIANT .

#1 PASSION

We all know that something created with passion, will shine more than something written because ‘you had to’. Passion and enthusiasm are really obvious in my opinion; you can tell when someone’s talking about something they’re really interested in and as a result it makes it far more enjoyable to read or watch as a consumer too.

I always try and write about the topics that most excite and interest me (style, careers tips, photography & blogging), and hopefully as a result, my passion, knowledge & experience on the matter makes the content better for you guys too.

#2 NEW NEWS

With an abundance of content at our disposal daily, it’s important that content feels, new, fresh and up to date. As a blogger this can be quite the task, ensuring your constantly bringing a fresh point of view to your site & offering new news daily … but it’s that ‘what will be next’ feeling that keeps people coming back, in the knowledge that whatever content you produce will be original, new & fresh.

#3 PHOTOGRAPHY

This is a rather subjective point, but I’ve included it as for me photography and imagery are one of the big things that makes a piece of content good … yes the editorial is important, but some beautiful imagery to entice you in, and tell your story more visually is what really excites me.

Imagery can tell a story often better than the written word, so having some quality, beautiful photos or video content is a sure way to gain some content views. But more importantly than having great imagery, is having YOUR OWN great imagery. A blog, website, or instagram that uses pinterest images or other peoples images, for me loses it’s appeal … it’s not personal, it’s not bespoke to your feature and it’s not original. Each to their own, but for me great imagery created by you, for your specific feature is a super important factor in content being brilliant.

#4 QUALITY

Of course quality is also key, and quality encapsulates a lot, quality topics, quality imagery, quality editorial, quality design and structure. Simply quality in the overall delivery. An article with spelling mistakes, low-grade images or hard to read fonts sadly can spoil what might have been a wonderful piece of content. Having a quality lens over your content is really important.

#5 PERSONALITY

And number one (well technically number 5, but probably number one importance) has to be personality. Content which is unique, and unique to you is what wins at the end of the day. It’s the reason blogs have become so successful in recent years, they’re personable, unique and offer something a little more engaging than the typical traditional magazine.

What do you think makes content brilliant online? Are there any things in particular you look out for?

August 29, 2015