Posted by Rebekah Roy on January 6th, 2009
I’ve always believed luck favours the prepared. The tricky thing about luck is that you have to be able to recongnize the opportunity and go for it - take a risk. Leisa went for it and ended up working for Vogue!
What got you interested in fashion?
LB - I had a pretty low-key upbringing in the North East of England, and I was the girl who got laughed at because I didn’t have "real" Adidas tracksuit bottoms for PE - I had the cheap ones off the market, with two stripes instead of three. I have always loved dressing up but it was really only when I went to university and a friend introduced me to Vogue - which I had always known about, but had never realised could be for people like me - that I started paying a lot more attention. I worked weekends at Wallis and pretty much all my wages went back into clothes. And shoes. Shoes are my weakness.
Where did you go to school?
LB - I went to a regular comprehensive in Stockon-on-Tees, where I grew up. I loved languages and always wanted to be a writer.
How did you start working at Vogue.com?
LB - An insanely lucky break. I lived in Japan teaching English for two years after I graduated (with a BA Hons in English from the University of York), and when I came back to the UK in 2005 I moved to London, where I took an admin job to pay the rent. Every year I’d thought about entering the Vogue Talent Contest, the annual competition the magazine runs to promote young writers, but never quite done it. That year I was at a bit of a loose end and just went for it. I remain shocked that I won. That got me a month’s work experience on the magazine, who have always been amazingly supportive of me, and I did a little freelance work around the company following that until the opening at VOGUE.COM came up.
Is fashion as cut throat as everyone says it is?
LB - I can only speak from my own experience, which has been an incredibly privileged one. I don’t know about cut throat, but just like any competitive industry, it can be tough. It might look easy and glamorous, but it’s intense; everybody works very, very hard. But the upside to that is that everyone really wants to be doing it, so they’re willing to put in the hours and the effort, and that’s an inspirational environment to work in.
What is the best thing about your job?
LB - Feeling that you are literally at the cutting edge of everything that’s happening in the industry. When something major happens, we can get a story live on the website in less than 20 minutes. It is such a thrill to be the first to break news then see it picked up by all manner of other sources. Of course, that extends to supporting young designers, too; it’s great to be able to write about someone relatively new then watch their business grow season on season. I get to go to some pretty nice parties, too - but that’s a bonus, and I always remember that it’s work.
What is the biggest challenge you have at work?
LB - Time. I always need more of it. Because we turn things around so quickly, there’s no time to sit back and reflect on your achievements - before I’ve finished one thing, I’ve already got to be halfway through the next. It’s madness when show season is thrown into the mix. But a thrilling, delirious kind of madness.
What has been your best fashion moment?
LB - There have been a million. Most recently, it was meeting Stefano Pilati when he came to London for his Sunday Times Style lecture with Colin McDowell. I am a huge fan of his work at YSL and to hear him speak in public, then catch up with him over drinks afterwards – in the Connaught Bar, no less - was pretty much my dream evening. I had an "I need to pinch myself" moment in the cab on the way home.
What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into the fashion industry?
LB - That’s a really tricky question for me to answer as I went down such an unconventional route. The one thing I regretted not having when I started out was enough technical or historical knowledge, so a fashion course would be the obvious place to start. But above all, I’d say it’s like anything; know your stuff, put in the time, learn who is who, and be willing to start at the very bottom and work your way up. I came to VOGUE.COM first as a show coordinator, requesting catwalk tickets, then moved on to coordinating the video content across all of the CondeNet UK websites before my current job – the one I wanted – came up. If you can get your foot in the door, it’s all good, so be prepared to readjust your short term expectations for long term benefit.
Who is your fashion icon and why?
LB - I’m not sure I really have one - though somewhat predictably, I went through a phase of being obsessed with Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany’s when I was younger, so I guess I err towards the chic and neurotic.
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Posted by Rachel Wood on January 5th, 2009
New Years Resolutions - We all make them at the turn of each new year so hear are a few for your makeup bag
If your resolution is for a detox -
If it smells- chuck it, if its crusty, dry or cloggy then bin it! If it’s a beauty product that’s off or in bad nick do you really want to apply it to your skin?! So often I hear women complain that they think their makeup gave them spots- but ladies if it’s a product that is dirty or old that’s probably why! Also wash those makeup brushes in a touch of warm water and mild shampoo and lay flat to dry. You can wash makeup sponges out too but if they are over a month or 2 old I’d replace them as they aren’t very expensive to replace and fresh is better!
If your resolution is to be less wasteful If your powder or bronzer compact broke, maybe you dropped it on the ladies room floor after too many drinks at the office party! Don’t fear- get yourself a little empty clear plastic pot- you can find them in places like Superdrug or Muji and put the remaining powder into the pot and use a soft powder brush to apply the makeup!. If your favourite lipstick broke- you can also put the remaining bit into a small plastic jar and use a lip brush to apply, better yet mix in a touch of clear lip gloss like MAC lipglass and create a new texture of your favourite colour
If your resolution is to save money -
Try to be a little more thrifty with you makeup shopping, if you love expensive foundation but aren’t as fussy about mascara- try switching to a high street brand - Max Factor More Lashes is great for full lush lashes and is more reasonably priced. Ask your favourite beauty counter for testers and don’t forget those after Christmas January sales also applies to many of the makeup counters so see what great bargains or half priced makeup kits they have left over from the holidays- you can find some great stuff out there!
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Posted by Rebekah Roy on January 4th, 2009
"It’s great to see things you may not buy - because you don’t have the money - but it is very ugly to think they shouldn’t exist because you can not buy them…If you want only things you can afford, it’s boring." Karl Lagerfeld tells BBC.co.uk (source)
Some people like to visit the "7 Wonders of the World", me I like to go to markets, Liberty’s, Selfridges or cafes - to be inspired. Lack of inspiration creates boredom. Although maybe something desperate and great is really created from boredom…anyway, there are so many things that I like and so few things that I want. As a stylist I’m not very materialistic, I’m not a pack rat or magpie although I do live surrounded by clutter.
I love the new Louis Vuitton campaign with Madonna. I love this image but I don’t want or desire the bag, the shoes or the clothes. I want something more - I want to have a small pot of hot chocolate and sit with a friend for hours in a cafe like that.
I love the dreams and desires that fashion creates. In reality this is not a cafe in Paris but a cafe in LA. Dare to dream!
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Posted by Rebekah Roy on January 3rd, 2009
I’m already looking forward to 2010 just to see the costumes in Tim Burton’s "Alice in Wonderland," with Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter as The Red Queen - you just know it’s going to be unreal. The Red Queen’s head is huge - about 3x the size of her body! I imagine the caterpillar will be an extraordinary CGI character!
This picture is apparently an early makeup/costume test (source)
Mia Wasikowska - Alice
Johnny Depp - The Mad Hatter
Anne Hathaway - The White Queen
Michael Sheen - The Cheshire Cat
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Alan Rickman - Caterpillar
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Posted by Rebekah Roy on January 2nd, 2009
Pantone has declared mimosa the colour of 2009. Pantone 14-0848, a bright sunny yellow!
It’s been so cold and grey that a yellow dress sounds good right about now. Something cheery. Maybe we need yellow. Things are happening that we just didn’t imagine, the world of luxury that seemed so permanent has changed. When icon fashion houses like Chanel lay people off what can we have faith in?. Everyday there is some fashion brand going into receivership. With everything in flux, yellow just seems safe. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute® explains "The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance. Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."
You’re going to see lots of yellow for Spring 09!
Alexander McQueen
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.jpg "Pantone Selects Color of the Year for 2009: Mimosa!")
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