Our day in Soho

I remember when we got to Soho, my first thought was just "wow". The streets looked like stylish runways off of a Hollywood film. Soho had so much personality, I remember being totally consumed by it, soaking it all in. It was so stylish; an urban paradise.

The newspaper dispensers on the street corners looked so urban and just inspired some kind of Graffiti / trash couture in my head... and this Simpsons sticker on a metal scaffolding structure along with a New York sticker just justified it for me. I loved it!
There were several stalls on the blocks surrounding Soho, and this one particularly grabbed my attention because it had small, framed back catalogues of Vogue.

Riding in style in a limo from Little Italy to Times Square.

We walked through Little Italy after Cannal street and we adored all the quaint, little intimate italian cafe's and restaurants. We all decided on a traditional looking resaurant for dinner, and the food was AMAZING! . The lasagne was like something I'd never tasted before, very authentic!

I loved the exterior setting of this cafe, the old style street clock creates an atmosphere of an old italian street.. it gave this little cafe a great personality and a lovely setting.

After dinner we stood outside the restaurant discussing where our first night in New York city was going to take us next, when a gorgeous white limo pulled up infront of us and the rep of the Limo service asked us if we fancied a lift...obviously our response was "We wish..but we only have under $10 each sooo..."

Well...lets say New Yorkers are very generous to young english fashion students!

This was deffinitly one of my most memorable times in New York, riding in style with the rest of the girls around Midtown New York, up 5th Avenue and ending up in Time Square. We all felt like celebrities, it has to be said..Americans sure know how to be good hosts!

When we arrived in Times Square everyone on the street was looking to see who got out, was it a celebrity? What do I do, my foot slips on the door to the limo and I fall out onto the times Square sidewalk..Glamorous!

Once we got to Times Square we walked up the Red light Stairs and took it the most iconic New York view.

Just the top off the best day ever...we managed to get our faces up in lights in Times Square! Urban outfitters and Nivea were doing a promotion, and we got to have our photo taken and posted up on the big screen.

What made it even better was the caption that read :

For Tim and Matt (our fashion lecturers)

Fashion group, Nottingham, U.K

Fantastic experience!

Pier 55, Meat Packing District

Crossing the bridge from the main streets we saw a slight glimpse of the beautiful view!

We had to take an elevator down from the bridge and through the green perspex window this view could be seen. I thought it was quite cool to capture on camera.

We crossed a main road from the main fashion streets of this district, and found an industrial looking pier with rusty metal gates and abandoned scrap metal.

The water surrounding the pier was filled with old boat mooring piles and added to the character of this old pier.

There was only 4 of us , we'd split from the rest of the group earlier in the day, and as we walked down to the end of the pier we didn't expect the seriously mesmerising view that we met at the end!

The silhouetted skyline infront of the setting sun was gorgeous! It was one of the most spectacular views i had seen of the city, the colours were incredible and i loved how it turned out on camera.

The silhouetted people at the front of this photo are Rosie, Lauren and Emily...the three girls that i saw the Meat packing district with. This was my favourite day in New York, we saw a fantastic array of shops, walked in fashion paradise, spoke to a lovely fashion boutique owner and , after all this, we even managed to find a little visual treasure where we experienced a stunning sunset in NYC!

This is shot down the entire Pier as we were walking away, I was snapping away so furiously and then I saw this aeroplane in the sky and loved the contrast between it and the skyline.

This was an amazing finish to such a good day.

Meat Packing District

One of my favourite places in New York has to be the incredible Meat packing district.
Away from the touristy, commercial bustle of mid-town is this chic, serene fashion paradise.
A few of us seperated from our big group and explored the hidden treasures and boutiques.

The first stop was the inspiring Alexander McQueen Boutique, it was set out like a museum, each garment and accessory set out like a piece of art! it was beautiful.

The window display at Diane Von Furstenberg studio.

Looking up washington st.!

One of the most captivating elements of this NY district is the Graffitti art scattered along the beautiful streets!

I found these 2 Marilyn Monroe graffiti arts particular unique.

We found a tiny bar tucked away on the corner of the main street. It was covered in graffiti and urban art. Considering the drinking age in the U.S is 21, we were concious of the fact that we may get kicked out...however curiousity got the better of us and we poked our heads through the door.

after being asked for I.D, we swiftly left..but it was so worth it!

There was this adorable independent denim boutique that had a tiny pair of jeans hanging above the door!!

We walked around the Meat packing district for several hours, going into several shops and admiring the unique shop layouts and quirky in-store environments.

It has to be said, the most inspiring shop I visited was the Charles Nolan boutique tucked away on a corner.

This family created and run boutique has a gorgeous interior, with family portraits and photo frames giving it that original personality and homey feel, and the chandelier of ribbons was lovely!

We loved the store so much, we chatted to the wife of the owner for a good half an hour asking her about the heritage behind the boutique! she was lovely and told us all about her father, Charles Nolan, started the business! She was also very interested to know about our fashion course we were studying back in England.
Afterwards she asked us to sign her visitors book with our thoughts and feelings about the store, of course we had nothing but nice things to say about the whole experience.
Outside the store, I couldn't help taking my camera out and geeking out a bit with my slr. The district had SO much personality and was so different to Mid-town and anything we'd seen before!

So I took a view cheeky snaps, messing around with the focus and contrasting the texture of the buildings and the barbed wire fences.

It was only when I turned around when I saw this.. the sun was setting and this incredible building was lit up behind the shadowy derelict blocks in front of it. I have no idea what building this is and this might have very well been a luck of lighting but, I was so pleased with this shot after I took it and this really summarises The meat packing district for me ( especially as it has an American flag flying and everything|!)

:)

The glamourous 5th Ave.

Hello 5th Ave

On awaking on our first morning in NYC to the glorious 7am sunshine, we ignore the jetlag and minimal hours sleep and we hit the sidewalk!

For the day ahead, along with seeing the amazing sights that New York has to offer, we also visit F.I.T...the gold gem for fashion students all over the world.

The American Beauty exhibition at F.I.T was a complete inspiration; the flawless collection of classic gowns from designers such as Charles James was incredible!

It was a true insight into the history of American and also world fashion and garment trends.

After F.I.T we gave into temptation and hit 5th Avenue to do some serious shopping!!

The walk up the avenue alone was impressive, the countless window displays showing the current seasons eye candy! One store that was particularly impressive was Juicy Couture on 5th Ave.

The preppy circus inspired display of over-sized popcorn boxes and pink mannequins smattered in gold bubble text was a delicious eye full of preppy, girly luxury!

We sneaked in to experience the shop and found the personality exploded as you walked through the glass doors; from candy jars filled with pastel coloured bracelets and stripey circus horses displaying handbags...the shop was incredible!

I treated myself to a gorgeous silver necklace, and although it was only $35 (in the sale..although I'm convinced a cheeky bit of "English discount" was involved!), it came on THEE most extravagant promotional material!

So along with a friendly sales assistant, and amazing in-store environment....I walked out after purchasing a tiny little necklace...with THIS......

(later , back at the hotel...we found a sale sticker on the base of this "juicy Queen" glass head....for $75!!....fair enough! :) )

FCP hits NYC!

Okay, so I'm starting a blog to record my trip to the Big Apple, and its no secret I am extremely excited about jet-setting off to the glamourous fashion capital of the U.S

Apart from my obvious enthusiasm, I'm studying fashion at university and the U.S fashion retail market is our main module topic at the moment, and isn't it every fashion girls dream to walk in Carrie Bradshaw's footsteps down 5th Avenue?!

On the 6th of January after many months of eager anticipation of the trip I, along with about 80 other girls from my fashion course, arrived outside our student union at half 5 in the morning to get on the coaches down to Heathrow airport. Words cannot describe the excitement that was buzzing around us all! It may have been in the small hours of the morning, and we may be sleep deprived Uni students.....but it was like Christmas morning and Santa had just left us all a trip to NEW YORK CITY!!

After a 3 hour coach trip, 2 naps, and everyones excited banter.....we came off the rainy M1 and got ready to board the plane!

My excitement was totally justified, as it was my first trip to the Big apple... and I just knew this would be a trip of a lifetime!!

...And it is definitely mandatory for one of the first pictures taken in the U.S was to be of an American school bus!

It has to be said theres nothing more exciting than driving down the highway (if thats what its called in America) towards New york City , all lit up against the night sky. Everyone instantly started pointing out everything...The Empire State, Chrysler building ...the bright lights shining in welcome to our group of excited english fashion students!

Hello New York!