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Fashion trends that need to die in 2020
Behind the FashionFashionStyle Inspiration

Fashion trends that need to die in 2020

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Fashion trends that shouldn’t follow us into 2020.

New year, new trends. However, some trends tend to outstay their welcome (or were never even welcome in the first place) and stick around for too long.

One of my previous blogposts ‘Fashion trends that need to die in 2018‘ seemed to be popular, so why not reflect on the trends of 2019 that need to die?

This is a disclaimer: don’t get offended if you like any of these trends; this is just my opinion. If you like to dress like this, I’m sure you’re still a nice person.

Here are the 8 trends that need to disappear in 2020:

1. Cycling shorts

Unless you’re training for the Tour De France, you have no place wearing these outside of a gym. They do not look good with a T shirt, a baggy jumper, a nice top, a shirt, trainers, sandals or heels… they do not look good with anything. I’m sorry, cycling shorts are awful and should not be worn for “every occasion” as Glamour magazine suggests you should.

2. Ridiculously tiny ‘bags’ aka ‘micro bags’

It was the 2010s – where mobile phones started to get bigger and bags became so small the phones cannot fit in them. It is extremely logical… (note the sarcasm).

These are not functional by any means, but fashionable? Also no. There is literally no point in these but to make people look at you and think ‘did that bag get shrunk in the wash?’ or ‘is that person carrying a Barbie doll’s bag?’.

I’m not talking about the bags that are also classed as a ‘wallet on chain’, you know, a device that can actually fit in your credit cards and a set of keys. No, I’m talking about the micro bag by French designer Jacquemus which sparked the tiniest trend yet.

The bag I’m referring to is a massive one inch deep, two inches high and wide and weighs 3oz. You’d be lucky to fit a Lil-let tampon in there.

But don’t worry, for your £200, you’ll also get a dust bag included, and I can see why a dustbag is necessary, because by the looks of it, it’ll only take two specks of dust to disintegrate this thing.

3. Bucket hats

The only person that can get away with wearing a bucket hat, in my opinion, is Billie Eilish. But, even the most stylish celebrities I’ve seen wearing a bucket hat end up looking like a long-lost member of Hanson. Bucket hats paired with floaty dresses and chic suits? For me, it just doesn’t go and looks off-balanced. I guess it works if you’re going straight from fashion week to fishing though.

But maybe I’m just jealous because I struggle to find hats that suit me.

 

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A post shared by BILLIE EILISH (@billieeilish) on

4. Shoes without socks

I’m talking about the typical Essex boy look here. Leather loafers or trainers worn WITHOUT socks. I mean, some shoes will lend themselves to the ‘no-sock’ rule, such as espadrilles, but fully enclosed leather brogues? That’s just screaming fungal breeding-ground.

Every time I see a guy without socks I want to ask: ‘are your feet not extremely sweaty??’. I’ve even seen some go sockless along with tight, rolled-up chinos to a wedding. Unless its a wedding on the beach, this is not acceptable and Ascot agrees – as men without socks will now be refused entry to the races.

Finally, this trend has introduced the word ‘mankles‘ to the English lexicon. MANKLES! If that’s not a sign to ditch this trend I don’t know what is.

5. Socks and sliders

Now this is why I’m confused… Aforementioned men who don’t wear socks with shoes will also be the ones who wear socks WITH sandals? Oh, the irony.

Socks and sandals has notoriously been a fashion faux-pas, so it’s actually quite impressive that this one has caught on. Well done socks and sandals.

6. Joggers

Couple joggers with the socks and sliders and you’re on track for the perfect outfit for taking the bins out in the morning.

I’m not hating on joggers; they are very cosy. I have many pairs. The reason I wear them is either for slobbing about watching Netflix, travelling or actually jogging (pffft who am I kidding? I don’t jog).

I would just like to campaign for people to stop wearing joggers to restaurants and other public places. Nando’s isn’t Michelin star cuisine, and Odeon doesn’t call for a black-tie dress code, but come on, have some decency to wear actual clothes to go out to eat. And proper shoes with socks too.

7. Saddle bags

Okay, this may be controversial… but the Dior saddle bags and all the liver-shaped replicas that it inspired should have stayed in 1999. I liked it on Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City and that’s where my interest in this bag ends. Vintage pieces can bring another layer to a modern outfit, but a brand new copy-and-paste version of the original that has been brought back by Maria Grazia Chiuri still feels out-dated (and over-priced at that).

Carrie Bradshaw played by Sarah Jessica Parker in an episode of 2000's Sex and the City. She wears a Dior saddle bag (original) with a white vest top and a purple flower brooch on the strap.

Photo: Getty Images.

8. Boiler suits

So this last one I’m a bit on the fence about. Perhaps it’s because I’ve not yet found a flattering boiler suit, and yet, it can look quite chic when styled up the right way. However, I can’t really get the image out of my head that if I wore one I’d look like I’m about to shovel some coal or like an extra in ‘Orange is the New Black’.

Trends will come and go

Every year there’ll be some new weird and wonderful clothing styles and I look forward to seeing them. Perhaps we’ll have creative clothes made out of old Tesco uniforms, in the same way the IKEA blue bags had a moment. I was going to say Sainsbury’s in stead of Tesco, but Beyoncé’s brand Ivy Park already has that covered.

Are there any ‘ugly fashion’ trends that you like? What do you think 2020 will bring?

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment and be sure to come back again 🙂

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Five Bloggers, One Trend: Leopard Print
FashionStyle InspirationTips

Five Bloggers, One Trend: Leopard Print

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The Leopard print trend, styled by five bloggers.

This blog post is literally what it says on the tin! Lindsey who blogs at cozystylist.com rounded us bloggers up together to create a collaboration blog post and I think it’s been a success. It’s so interesting to see one trend styled in different ways by bloggers with unique, personal styles. We hope you enjoy it!

🐆

1. Leopard print coat

Me | hannahgladwin.com

Hannah wears leopard print coat, pink culottes and wrap knot top

Coat: H&M | Bag: Diane Von Furstenberg | Blouse: River Island | Culottes: Asos |Shoes: Asos

A faux fur leopard print coat adds a bit of luxuriousness to any outfit… plus it’s really warm! Normally, I’m not afraid to mix prints together but, for this outfit, I let the coat be the statement piece and chose a neutral palette for the rest of the outfit.

Oversized pieces and flowy fabrics has also been a big trend, so I put together my favourite nude-pink culottes with a light copper tone blouse with a twist front. I think the tonal colours really compliment the leopard print – the mix of textures and colours create an elegant final look (so, of course, I wore this to the Dorchester!).

To finish the look, I picked out the black spots in the coat and accessorised with a beautiful croc textured DVF bag (another animal print big for autumn and winter!) and some simple black heels. However, the great thing about this look is that you can easily dress it down, by wearing some chunky sneakers or some leather chelsea boots, if you’re wanting to go more casual.

🐆

2. Leopard print boots

Kait | teacupsandthings.com

Sweater and hat: H&M | Jeans: ZARA | Purse: Kate Spade | Boots: Blowfish Shoes

I’ve always been a huge fan of statement accessories – be it a necklace, statement earrings or a loud shoe. Statement accessories are a great way to experiment with trends that may be out of your comfort zone, and for many people, animal prints can be a little intimidating. What I love about these leopard print boots is that they are so incredibly easy to dress up or dress down. You can wear them with virtually anything, like jeans and an oversized sweater for a more casual look like I did here. These boots also look great with a dress or skirt and some tights for a dressier look.

Follow Kait on

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3. Leopard print dress

Michelle | dressingwithstyle-s.com

dressingwithstyle-s.com
Dress: ASOS Shoes: Vans Earrings: H&M
I’m a 90s gal through and through, so when animal print came back into fashion, I immediately picked up literally everything in leopard print. My favorite find?! This ASOS dress that is perfect for nearly every occasion! I’m always running late in the morning, so a dress is my perfect go-to outfit. With this piece, you can easily dress it down –like I’ve done here– with a pair of Vans. If it’s chilly where you live, black booties and a nice leather jacket give it a bit of an edge. Headed somewhere a bit fancy? Throw on a pair of heels and you’ve got yourself a sexy drape neck dress. And, because of the leopard print, there’s a little pop of that extra something!
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4. Leopard print scarf

Lindsey | cozystylist.com

Linsdey Stout Cozy Stylist - wears leopard print scarf, copper coloured sweater and over the knee greige boots

I am usually the type of girl to stick to solid colors or very simple prints like stripes or polka dots. So when I saw that leopard was going to be a big trend this season I had to think of ways that I could incorporate the print into my wardrobe. I ended up buying this fabulous scarf and pointed flats. I found that I could style this scarf with many different outfits. It goes perfectly with a long sleeve tee, jeans, and flats or a cute sweater dress and boots. You can mix the leopard print with other patterns but I choose to wear it as the only printed piece so that I don’t overwhelm my outfit. The scarf works perfectly against fall tones and neutral colors.

Follow Lindsey on:

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin’, Pinterest

🐆

5. Leopard print skirt

Brittany | brittanyabraham.com

Brittany wears leopard print skirt, black sheer tights with a black knit sweater and black boots.
Skirt: Forever 21 | Top: Target | Tights: Forever 21 | Boots: Vince | Watch: Michael Kors

I love incorporating prints into my fall wardrobe, and leopard print is the perfect way to spice things up while staying on trend. I decided to style this leopard print skirt from Forever 21. I love this piece because this particular print is subtle and great for everyday wear. I paired the skirt with a knit black sweater and lace-up suede booties. I accessorized my outfit with polka dot tights and rose gold jewelry for a cohesive and warm look.

Follow Brittany on

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Which look is your favourite? If you’ve been given inspiration for outfit with leopard print, let us know in the comments! 🙂

Thanks for reading and thank you to all these lovely bloggers for putting together this post, especially Lindsey for organising it.  x

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If you invest in only one autumn fashion trend, make it this…
Behind the FashionFashionStyle InspirationTips

If you invest in only one autumn fashion trend, make it this…

By Posted on 3 3.3K

The bouclé jacket

It’s a timeless classic that will never go out of style.

And this one from River Island is the best thing I’ve worn this year.

*In collaboration with River Island 😍

Continue reading…

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Four staple pieces you need this Autumn
FashionStyle Inspiration

Four staple pieces you need this Autumn

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On-trend staple pieces for autumn

*In collaboration with Boohoo.

Okay, it’s time for round two. By that, I mean I’ve written this before. Déjà-vu. If you think you’ve already read or commented on this post, then you probably did. Just for context, I was having a bad day (I mean really bad) and something went wrong with my code in the back-end. What was a fairly simple fix, I made things more complicated than they needed to be and restored my blog to its last backed up state. So, the last four blog posts I’d written WERE DELETED FOREVER * crying face emoji *.

Autumn fashion

I don’t know about you, but autumn fashion can be tricky to get right. The weather in October is never sure what it’s doing in the UK. Will we have a mini heatwave or will it storm? You just never know what to dress for. This is why knitwear is always the answer for me. You wear can wear a knitted cardigan or jumper on its own when it’s too warm for a coat but you can also put a coat on top for when it is cold.

Four staple pieces for autumn

1. Black turtleneck

The black turtleneck has never really gone out of style. They are so simple, chic and classic. It’s been a fashion favourite ever since the 1930s. While the first person to come to mind when you think of black turtlenecks may be Steve Jobs, who isn’t exactly known for his style sense, you can’t deny the number of fashion icons that have been photographed wearing the black turtleneck: Yves Saint Laurent, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Steve McQueen… and of course, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in that vintage photo. (I’ve included it at the end, you’re welcome).

Hannah wears a black turtleneck, leopard print skater skirt and black sock boots with a perspex heel

Channeling Posh Spice

Hannah wears a black turtleneck, leopard print skater skirt and black sock boots with a perspex heel

Cropped turtleneck knit* | Leopard print skirt* | Sock boots*

Hannah wears pink knitted trousers and a black knitted cropped turtleneck

Cropped turtleneck knit* | Knitted Co-ord set* | Sock boots*

2. Animal print

Animal print is a massive trend for autumn. I love this leopard skater skirt (it’s only £12 – bargain!) not only does it look stylish but it’s also comfy. You could get away with wearing this bare-legged on the warmer, balmy days or put on some knee-high boots or tights for warmth on the cold days – which makes this skirt a great transition piece.

It doesn’t just have to be leopard print though. Snake-print is everywhere, as well as tiger, zebra (I’m lusting after these beaut palazzo pants), crocodile – anything exotic.

Cropped turtleneck knit* | Leopard print skirt* | Sock boots* | Knitted Co-ord set*

3. Sock boots

These were on-trend last year and they’re back again. They’re so flattering because they fit, well, like a sock. The ones I’m wearing are perfect if you want to wear a statement but are not ready to go all-out. The clear perspex heel is an interesting twist on a classic black boot which makes a statement but is still classy.

Cropped turtleneck knit* | Leopard print skirt* | Sock boots* | Knitted Co-ord set*

4. Knitted co-ords

I love a co-ord. Even better when that co-ord is knitted and comfy. I was afraid knitted co-ords would look too much like pyjamas… but the pyjama as outerwear is still going strong so I’m all for it. I also love that you get more outfits for your money with this. You can wear the top and bottoms together, or you could mix and match with other items in your wardrobe and that’s what makes it so versatile.

*These items were gifted.

What are your staples for autumn? Are you loving the animal print trend too? Leave me a comment 🙂

Thank you to my lovely friend Laura for taking these bomb photos! Follow her for yoga inspiration: instagram.com/ripetideyoga

This post is in honour of the Rock rocking a turtleneck. We stan. 🙌The rock rocking a turtleneck

 

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Style Inspiration: Dolce & Gabbana
FashionStyle Inspiration

Style Inspiration: Dolce & Gabbana

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Get the Dolce & Gabbana Look on the high-street

I hope the people remember Dolce & Gabbana for the sensuality, for the Mediterranean sense, for our honesty to the life.

-Domenico Dolce

Dolce & Gabbana has one of the most distinctive brand personalities – think of Dolce & Gabbana and you think of sunny Sicily, small Italian villages, big italian families and big designs. It’s one of the most recognised fashion houses since the 80s, so it’s no surprise that there is so much on the high street that has clearly taken inspiration * cough * or ripped off * cough * from D&G. Being one of my favourite designers, it made sense for my next ‘inspired by’ post to be on D&G.

[Check out my Style Inspiration posts on Gucci and Chloé]

If there is one thing that Dolce & Gabbana doesn’t do, it’s doing things by halves. It’s the definition of maximalismo. Everything is exuberant.

Fun fact: Dolce & Gabbana have said that when they die, their eponymous fashion house will die with them – they do not want anyone else to take over after they are gone. Every offer they have received so far, for example, when they broke up as a romantic couple, floods of offers came in to take control but they refused.

The DOLCE DNA

If you want to experiment with your style and add a splash of D&G flavour to your high-street outfit, then here’s what to look for:

  1. Lingerie pieces
  2. Feminine florals
  3. Colourful prints
  4. Regal and religious accessories
  5. Baroque extravagance

Photography by D Rayner Photo (edited by me)

Hannah wears an embellished and jewelled black bustier with straps and baroque patterned red silky pyjama style trousers/pants. Shoes are red mules and she holds a black weaved wicker box bag outside a old white Manor House.

Powerful but romantic. Womanly.

-Tim Blanks, Vogue

1. Lingerie pieces

Bralettes, camis, satin pyjama pieces, corsets, structured tops… These are the types of pieces that make up the basis of Dolce & Gabbana’s aesthetic. Perhaps, the corset is the most iconic – a favourite of their muse Sofia Loren – which subsequently returns to their collections. I saw this bejeweled bustier top on Zara and immediately knew where they got their inspiration from. Black and red are staples of the D&G diet, more specifically, black lace and red jewels and lips.

Hannah wears an embellished and jewelled black bustier with straps and baroque patterned red silky pyjama style trousers/pants. Shoes are red mules and she holds a black weaved wicker box bag, in front of a white stately house.Look One | Earrings: Etsy | Bodice: Zara | Trousers: Zara | Bag: Zara | Mules: River Island

To me, flowers are happiness.

-Stefano Gabbana

2. Feminine florals

Florals make up a large proportion of Dolce & Gabbana’s prints, especially roses. Instead of ditsy prints, look for large flowers that dominate the fabric. This white and red rose rockability dress is absolutely stunning (any weddings coming up soon?) and a complete D&G dupe.

Have fun with the florals – clash them with other prints, like polka dots or leopard print, maybe go for a nautical vibe and pair a floral top with stripes.

Hannah kisses a pineapple

Hannah holding a pineapple to her hear

Look Two | Earrings: Asos | Top: New Look (Similar) | Skirt: Asos | Bag: Asos

In life you need to take a risk

– Stefano Gabbana

3. Colourful prints

Go for statement prints that remind you of summer. Prints that are beloved by D&G (and lucky for us available on the high-street) are florals, as mentioned, prints with fruit, post-card prints (an example of what I mean below), animal prints – especially leopard, a classic – scarf prints and tile prints to evoke their gorgeous maiolica print…

This H&M dress may be a bit extra, but as soon as I saw it, I needed it. The sweetheart neckline, the ruffles, the banana and yellow lily print just screamed Dolce & Gabbana.. which may be why it sold out straight away. I tried three times to buy it when it went out of stock! Eventually, I came, I saw, I conquered! It was all worth it. This dress has earned so many compliments every time I’ve worn it.
If you’re afraid of wearing something like this, then maybe first try it out with flats and understated jewellery and start by wearing it to an event like a wedding, where you’ll feel more comfortable all dressed up.

Hannah wears an H&M bright, floral and lemon flounce dress in front of a mediterranean looking house. Hannah in yellow floral dress leaning on a red post box. Unfortunately, this dress is sold out! But here are some gorgeous alternatives:

We built our fashion around three fundamental concepts: Sicily, tailoring, and tradition.
– Domenico Dolce

4. Regal and religious accessories

Sicily is at the heart of the brand, so pieces that reflect the traditions of this Italian city are key. Domenico and Stefano love to play with bringing Italy’s historic and religious past into their modern-day looks. Expect to see a lot of big crosses and headpieces that would be fit for a queen 👑.

Gold is a key metal, so pick out items with gold buttons and or cute headband to jazz up an outfit. Statement earrings are a must – the bigger the better. You’ll find loads of earrings on Etsy that are especially made to look like the ones seen on the runway.

Go for jewels upon jewels! Jewelled earrings – check. Embellished bag – check. Stone headband – check. Pretend you’re Beyoncé in the ‘Bow Down’ video.

(Okay, I cheated with this outfit, because the top is not a high-street dupe, but I’ve listed a few tops below that are similar to the D&G top I’m wearing).

Hannah crossing the road, wearing a Dolce & Gabbana vest top which says 'Sicila, Mare, Sole, Amore' with an Asos polka dot skirt with gold buttons. Floral and embroidered sandals with a rose gold flower headband and cross baroque earrings with red lips. Dolce and Gabbana style inspiration

Look Four | Top: Dolce & Gabbana – in blue | Earrings: Etsy | Skirt: Asos | Bag: Asos (sold out – similar) |  Shoes: Topshop – similar | Headband: Asos

Purse friendly versions of this Dolce & Gabbana vest:

Baroque  /bəˈrɒk/)

is a highly ornate and often extravagant style of architecture, art and music that flourished in Europe from the early 17th until the late 18th century. The baroque style used contrast, movement, exuberant detail, grandeur and surprise to achieve a sense of awe.

5. Baroque extravagance

The pattern on this Asos jumpsuit fits perfectly into the baroque category; it’s got the roses, the ornate gold borders, panelling and the colours are stunning together. Reminds me of the Sistine Chapel ceiling!

To get this look, make sure you have some gold or silver tones, along with textures like embroidery on top of intricate patterns and jacquard fabrics.

Hannah wears a scarf print jumpsuit in blue, red and gold baroque pattern. She holds a minaudiere box bag in black. Dolce & Gabbana designer inspired high-street look. Style inspiration. Fashion blogger. Photos taken by D Rayner photo

Look Five | Jumpsuit: Asos |Bag: Zara | Sunglasses: Primark

I had a lot of fun putting together these outfits! Are you inspired to jazz up your outfit with a statement earring or cute box bag? Let me know in the comments what you thought 😉

Also would you want me to share the Lightroom presets I made for these photos? Let me know!

Thanks for reading!

x

More Dolce & Gabbana inspired pieces

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Is Snapchat dead?
Digital MarketingSocial Media

Is Snapchat dead?

By Posted on 3 2.3K

Did Kylie Jenner just kill Snapchat or was it already a sinking ship?

Snapchat boomed out of nowhere. Now, it’s an advertising platform for multi-million-pound companies; a far cry from being known as ‘that shady app’ for people sent ‘those kind of photos’ that conveniently disappeared.

It seems that Kylie Jenner killed Snapchat overnight with her tweet:

Kylie Jenner's tweet: 'sooo does anyone else not open Snapchat anymore? Or is it just me... ugh this is so sad.'

A tweet that cost Snapchat ONE BILLION DOLLARS.

However, it’s probably a little more complicated than that. Snapchat was being beaten to the floor and Kylie’s just delivered the final blow.

I just have the image of Scar and Mufusa (RIP) at the edge of that cliff. Here’s the metaphor:
Mufusa = Snapchat. Kylie = Scar. Cliff = shit tonne of money.

Image of Kylie Jenner's face photoshopped onto Scar from the Lion King and the Snapchat ghost photoshopped onto Mufusa, hanging from a cliff.

This is the worst photoshop ever. But I wanted to bring the vision to life. (Rights belong to Disney)

Following this episode, they made a very distasteful joke about Rihanna’s domestic abuse at the hands of Chris Brown. This led to a lot of angry Rihanna fans, and well most people on Snapchat, leading to further damage to their bank account ($800 Million).

There were a few bumps in the road before this. Snapchat was growing fast and making so much money, that perhaps these blips weren’t taken seriously.

Here is the timeline of Snapchat’s ups and downs:

2011
Snapchat launches

Everyone’s like: ‘hey I’m on Snapchat, add me!’ and then you’re like: ‘WTF is Snapchat’
Everyone: ‘It’s this thing where you send a photo to someone; it lasts for 10 seconds and then it disappears’
You: ‘So, it’s for sending dodgy pics that you don’t want other people to save to their camera roll’.
Everyone: ‘Uhhh… I guess’.

2012
Funding

Major funding goes on. They raise $10million and then value the company at $70million.
One of the funders of Instagram also invests.

October 2013
Stories

Snapchat launches the famous ‘snap stories’ function, which was an instant success.

November 2013
Snapchat pisses off Facebook

Facebook tries to buy Snapchat for $3billion. To which they declined. This probably turned Facebook’s friendly competition into: “I WILL END YOU”.
That’s what I took from it, but both companies declined to make a statement, so that’s PR talk for ‘i f*ckin h8 u now’.

2014
Hacked

Snapchat is hacked to send people spam pictures of fruit smoothies.

(Not that important. Highlights security problems, but I included this part mainly because this the nicest sort of spam you could receive).

2014
Snapchat gets in trouble

Snapchat broke the terms of the Federal Trade Commission. If you’re a blogger or in advertising, then you’ll be aware of how hot they are on their rules. Basically, Snapchat made out to the public that photos would not be saved and would disappear, when, in fact, that wasn’t the case and actually they were stored on a cloud somewhere.

2016
Snap’s estimated market value climbs to $25–35 billion.

August 2016
Facebook goes head-to-head

Facebook updates Instagram to include Instagram ‘stories’. Like… Ohhhh no you di’n’t!’
The is one of the worst things that has actually happened to Snapchat.
Snapchat growth slowed 82% after Instagram Stories launched and a lot of its audience was lost to Instagram.

March 2017

Snap Inc. goes on the NY Stock Exchange, selling 200 million, priced at $17 per share, for a total of $3.4 billion

June 2017
Snapchat are worried

Downloads drop by 22% and Snap’s share price falls in one week from $27 a share back down to its IPO* of $17… In other words ‘oh snap’ (pun intended).

August 2017
One year on since Instagram copies stories

Snap’s stats are crap.
Snapchat’s monthly active user rate down from 17.2% to 5%
Snapchat’s Stories users halts at 166 million daily users, whereas Instagram now has 250 million.

“Facebook and Instagram didn’t have to outdo Snapchat. They just needed to copy it and put it in a more convenient place in apps that people of all ages already use.”

Instagram Stories turns 1 as daily use surpasses Snapchat

January 2018
People hate Snapchat

Snapchat’s big redesign bashed in 83% of user reviews (*2.)

February 2018
Kylie’s tweet

One simple tweet from a reality person wiped $1billion of Snap’s stock market value.

March 2018
Rihanna vs. Snapchat

A ‘thrid party ad’ – put in airmarks, because Snapchat may be trying to place blame on someone else – slipped through their approval process and the ‘joke’ fell flat. It was a game of ‘would you rather slap Rihanna or punch Chris Brown?’. This alludes to the domestic abuse that Rihanna suffered at the hands of her ex-boyfriend and massive douchebag Chris Brown.

The result? Snapchat loses $800 million

Snapchat stocks plunged by 4 percent on Thursday, losing the app nearly a billion dollars this week—evidently due to Rihanna fans who decided to delete the platform from their smartphones.

‘Snapchat Lost $800 Million After Rihanna Criticized Its Offensive Ad’

So what’s going to happen?
Predictions

I don’t have a crystal ball, but it’s not looking great for the app, although I’m sure we haven’t seen the end of Snapchat. Now there are a lot of investors and companies relying on the app to make big money, so they won’t let it die so easily. It may be the case that Snapchat stops growing and gradually users begin to become inactive over a period of a couple of years, as advertisers stop paying.

The developers will do all they can to claw back their reputation and the users. I think it could be heading for a MySpace funeral. A site that was once visited MORE THAN GOOGLE, MySpace is now probably only visited by people looking up their old profile to have a laugh at photos from year 7. To fill you in, MySpace lost its users as soon as new owners began to monetise it. This is exactly what everyone is getting annoyed with on Snapchat.

What I think Snapchat might try next

Live videos

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and even YouTube all have live video facilities. To compete and stay relevant, Snapchat may end up doing the same. Well, they’ll need to do the same. They dabbled with broadcasting the Winter Olympics in February, however, have no plans to let users launch their own live videos. Missing a trick there.

Influencer Marketing

They’ve had a lot of bad press from some of the biggest names in celebrity culture, so maybe to counteract it, maybe they’ll try some proactive positive PR by using celebrities to promote it, to counteract the negative from Kylie and Rihanna.

Make advertising easier for brands

Digital marketing research showed that “brands and media buyers believe Snapchat is the hardest platform to advertise on” over Facebook, Twitter, Google and Amazon. It’s also one of the most difficult to gauge Return On Investment. If Snapchat is to survive, they need to stay competitive with Facebook – where marketers put most of their marketing budget – so, Snapchat need to lure back their advertisers, so they can keep their investors happy and retain profit.

Snapchat will most likely have a few more tricks up its sleeves before it disappears. What do you think will happen to Snapchat?

Do you think Snapchat has had its day? Or do you think it will ride out the rough patch and survive?

Sources

1. Twitter

2. Tech Crunch

3. Forbes

4. Vanity Fair

5. Digiday

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Fashion trends that must die in 2018
Behind the FashionFashion

Fashion trends that must die in 2018

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8 fashion trends that need to stop!

“A trend simply reflects what seems to be going around at any given time.”*

Some are born out of necessity, some are expensive, some out-stay their welcome and some are downright wrong (see number 8). Some are all of the above. Trends come and go and these are those that need to go.

They’ve gotta go…

1. Ridiculously ripped jeans

Cue the jokes about me sounding like your nan, but why am I paying so much money for something that is already torn before it leaves the shop?

I’m here for rips in the knees and some artful fraying – modest rips, shall we say – but what in the hell are these rips all the way up to your butt cheeks? You know the ones. Just imagine Kylie Jenner as an extra in the Walking Dead – the sort of jeans that character would wear. Just please. Someone make it stop. Or, just give me £40 and I’ll happily ruin some of your old jeans for you.

2. Nude everything à la Yeezy

I like nude colours. They can look so chic. Especially suiting pieces (see my photo below 😉). But what I can not get on board with is nude body-con pieces paired with more nude and even more nude, so you become all camouflaged. I’m thinking most things Yeezy and these sorts of outfits that Kim Kardashian wears. Unless penis in a condom is the look you’re going for. (Sorry for all the weird imagery. And we’re only at no.2 in the list).

You know what I want to see this year? More colour!

Kim Kardashian wearing some god awful latex, shiny, nude colour dress

3. Gucci marmont belt

“A trend simply reflects what seems to be going around at any given time.” And there has been a lot of Gucci belts going around. I mean A LOT. It’s hard to open Instagram without seeing one… and it’s (dare I say it) a bit too samey. This isn’t new either; I think this has been around the last two and half years now and I’m a bit tired of it.

The GUCCI BELTS NEED TO GO.

“But I spent a lot of money on this!” you may cry. Don’t get me wrong, I actually love these belts and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want one. I even considered getting one… But y’know – money, sizing, stock problems (what you gunna do?). But the main problem with this trend is that it’s just that: a trend. An expensive one at that.

Alas, it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. I have a feeling this will probably divide a lot of opinions!

PS I know Moschino belts were a big blogger thing a while back. They were an eighties revival, and for me, a classic. So, after the hype died down I got one in a thinner width and less in-your-face. I see less people (and less fakes) with this belt, so it looks a bit different.

Want a designer belt? Why not try one that’s not ‘trendy’ so you’ll never have to worry about it going out of fashion?

My top alternatives to the Gucci belt

4. The ‘choker’ dress

To be honest, this one isn’t offensive at all; I’m just not sold on this trend – is it a choker or is it a dress? You want to wear a choker, why not put on a necklace? This one looks a bit faffy for me to buy one of these, although it does look good on a lot of people, I’m just probably not one of them.

5. UGLY sneakers!

Just… No. I couldn’t ever jump on this bandwagon. If I wore some of these trainers in P.E. back in school in 2008, I would have got so bullied. Don’t these Balenciaga trainers just remind you of something you get out of lost property when you left your kit at home?

I’m still seeing these this Fashion Week… Part of me thinks there’s an inside joke. I can imagine the brands and influencers talking ‘let’s make the ugliest shoes possible a ‘thing’ and see how much people will pay for them?! It’ll be hilarious”.

Yeah… I’ll stick to my white Nikes thanks.

Louis Vuitton's extremely ugly sneakers

Louis Vuitton

6. Slogan tees that make no sense

Don’t get me wrong, I love a slogan T-shirt. I have too many to count. And they are definitely going nowhere… if anything, we’ll see more of them (if that’s possible), but what I just don’t get, are slogan tees that chucked some words together to form a sentence that doesn’t mean anything. These are some hilarious examples I’m talking about.

7. Low jeans on men

This has gone on for too long. Wear your trousers properly! I can see your pants and it looks like you shit in a nappy. That’s all.

Liam Payne wearing jeans so low you can see his boxer pants!!

8. Wearing IKEA bags

Let me repeat that for you, so you can let that sink in. People were actually making clothes out of those blue Ikea bags and wearing them, out in actual public. Now, I don’t know if this was a full-on trend; I didn’t see my Instagram cluttered with Ikea, nor have I seen anyone wearing this, but this wave of nonsense is too funny not to include.

I believe the whole thing started to poke fun at Balenciaga for producing a £1,600 bag that looked eerily similar to Ikea’s shopping bag. Is it just me or has Balenciaga had an identity crisis?

I gotta give to those people for their creativity with this though! Check out Some of the Best (and Most Ridiculous) Products People Have Made From IKEA Bags.

Three people wearing IKEA bags as 1. a coat, 2. shorts and 3. bralette

Do you agree/disagree with my list? Is there a trend I missed that you would really like to see disappear this year?

Leave a comment below 🙂

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Why are we ALWAYS so busy? Even when we’re not?
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Why are we ALWAYS so busy? Even when we’re not?

By Posted on 1 2.2K

Millennial ‘busy-ness’

We’re busy. All. The. Time. Even when we’re not busy.

If that makes any sense to you, then you’re certainly experiencing the same phenomenon as me.

These days, being ‘busy’ is the modern-day curse. Or luxury depending how you look at it.

When I started this blog back in May, I didn’t quite realise how much time it would actually take. That’s not a problem, because I love doing it, but it does seem to add to the pressure of another thing to make time for.

Work has been hectic and I’ve been staying late, I’ve booked myself in to see different groups of friends and said ‘yes’ to various outings all at the same time… and it just feels like I have no time to tidy up and keep on top of my blog. I’M JUST SO BUSY, YOU GUYS.

Except that I’m not. Not really. I still found time to watch ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ most evenings and that’s one hour I could have spent writing. And that’s okay, we’re allowed to have downtime. But it just feels like I have no time because my brain is still whirring away. There is a pressure to always be ‘on’, so relaxation time is spent worrying about what we’re not doing.

More time, so much more to do.

In fact, we have more leisure time than we used to. On average, we work less than they did in the 60s. Yet, with so much available to us, the wide variety of choice and the overwhelming amount of information, everything seems hectic. Thanks to technology it can also seem as if time is going quicker and so it feels like we have too much to do in the time we have.

Competition and status.

If I slip into a conversation: ‘oh I’ve been so busy recently’, in stead of a question about what I’ve got going on, I’ll be met with a dismissive ‘oh yeah, me too!’. This could be a competitive, or simply, a statement of fact: we’re all busy. And we’re all guilty of it.

Studies suggest that people between the ages of 21 and 34 have become workaholics or want to appear to be. And the below quote suggests why:

A full Outlook calendar seems to have replaced the sports car as the new status symbol. Being busy means you’re important, needed, valued.

Forbes

The busier you are, the more important you are? There are whole studies dedicated to the relationship of busyness with status. See: ‘Ugh, I’m So Busy’: A Status Symbol for Our Time.

FOMO and learning to say no.

“Oh I have to do abc…”, “I absolutely need to get xyz done…” unless these things will directly impact us right there and then, like paying a bill, we probably don’t HAVE TO do half the things we say we do. I know, easier said than done!

You know I mentioned how many things I have going on at one time? Well, that’s my own fault. I wouldn’t be so busy if I didn’t keep organising my schedule like that. You get that ‘Fear Of Missing Out’, and you want to be a part of what’s going on. When you’re not a part of it, you see everyone else’s busy timelines on social media. There you have it. You’re busy looking at everyone else being busy and you’re worried that they’re busier than you and you’re not busy enough! Phew… It’s just exhausting thinking about it.

There is no shame in having to say no. And sometimes we should.

There is a pressure to always be ‘on’, so relaxation time is spent worrying about what we’re not doing.

Time to switch off.

The reason we’re SO BUSY, or feel busy is that nowadays, we are never disconnected. Unlike never before, there is always a constant connection to the rest of the world via internet, phones etc etc. Technology is so ingrained into our lives, that we can be connected by work, friends, companies trying to sell us things and so on, at literally any time of day.

So, even when we’re not actually doing anything, we’re so aware of everything that’s going on, that we don’t feel like we’ve had a break.

There is no room or time to exhale and let go of everything. I’m often multi-tasking so much, that when I’m left to myself, I feel restless.

Let’s all just try to chill out. Let’s relish in not being busy when we have the chance. Give me Netflix and chill any day. And switch off that social media!

(She says, whilst tweeting this out to the world!)

What do you think? Are you getting stressed about how busy you are? And do you have any tips on how to cope with it?

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The secret to shopping Erdem x H&M
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The secret to shopping Erdem x H&M

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H&M is back with its latest designer collaboration: ERDEM x H&M

Thursday, 2 November. PUT IT IN YOUR DIARIES.

As of today (25 October) The Erdem x H&M collab release is only one week away. If you want to get your hands on something from the collection you’re going to need tactics.

The H&M designer collections are notoriously popular; so much so that it crashes their website every time. The most coveted pieces sell out within minutes. I always get sucked into the hype, so after a few years of shopping the H&M designer collabs, I have learnt a couple of tricks to shop online and without camping out in the cold to queue! So, if there’s an Erdem x H&M piece you absolutely need in your life, I’ll share my tricks that seem to work!

The full collection of pieces with prices were released last week, and, to be honest, it’s one of the priciest collections yet. Unfortunately, everything is at the higher-price point, with not much to pick up for less than £50, unless you’re after a T-shirt or earrings. So, it’ll be interesting to see how it goes down this year (no doubt the site will still crash).

A bit about Erdem

Established: 2005 in London by Canadian/Turkish designer Erdem Moralioglu.

Known for: Exquisite romantic garments and beautiful floral prints with a vintage, timeless feel.

Notable clients: Cate Blanchett, Emma Watson, Felicity Jones, Nicole Kidman and the Duchess of Cambridge, Emma Stone…

Kate Mara, Zendaya and Kate Bosworth. wearing Erdem X H&M at the launch party. Source: LA Times Looks from H&M's collaboration with London-based designer Erdem Moralioglu, presented at the Wilshire Ebell in Los Angeles. (Erdem X H&M)

1. Decide what you’re buying BEFORE

This is important. Browse through the collection and decide exactly what you’re after before the launch. You won’t have time to dither on the morning.

2. Make notes

H&M normally release the collection onto their website a day or so before the launch. You’ll be able to view details, but not add to your basket. This is the time to note the details, while you still can. Previously, there has been a product number (they didn’t do this for Kenzo though), so if there is, this is the most important thing to note down. If not, jot down exactly how they describe the product on the site.

3. Make sure you have an account

Got something in your basket? Yay! But, it’s not safely yours until you pay, so it can still get snatched from you at the last second. So, make sure you have an account set up with H&M already, log in, save your password. If you can, it’s better to remain logged in.

4. Be ready at 8:45am

The collection will be released at 9am.
Make sure you have their sales phone number: 0344 736 9000. I have H&M saved in my phonebook (what a state of affairs 🙈)
Okay, so you need to be able to multi-task. You need to try to place an order online AND on the phone. Hopefully, you’re still logged in – you’ll need to be in your account a  couple of hours before, as the site will probably crash way before 9am.

5. 9am: go, go go!

All systems: go. At 8:59am, phone H&M; you probably won’t get through and will have to call numerous times. If you’re lucky, you’ll get through to someone. Meanwhile, keep refreshing your webpage. You may just slip through! If you get in, search for your product as quickly as humanly possible and add to bag.

I normally have more luck on the phone… after several attempts at ringing, You see why I saved the number to my contacts – it’s quicker when you’re calling again and again. When you get through, use your notes to give the sales advisor, so they understand exactly what you want and will be able to process your order before the stock runs out! Also, tell them your name and name and email address you used for your H&M account. If you managed to put something in your basket, it should still be there.

6. Pay

This is where your H&M account helps you get through on the quicker. They’ll have access to your details, so you just need to confirm your payment card and security questions and then your postage address. Just confirm you want your order sent to the address on your account.

7. What to do if you’re not successful

You have up to 28 days to return your online order (online 3 days in store), so keep checking the website every few day, in case someone has returned a piece in your size! And you can always check out eBay, although be prepared to pay more than the RRP.

Pieces I predict will sell out in minutes

Silk scarf

A silk scarf with the signature Erdem print? At £25 this will be a steal.

Hoodies

There is a floral and logo hoodie. Everyone loves a logo – from previous years everything with a logo sells out first and doesn’t come back into stock and this year will be no different.

Tea dress

As the least-expensive of the dresses in the collection, and maybe the most versatile, I think this will get snapped up early on.

Don’t want to wait?

These pieces have an Erdem vibe, that you can get right now (fuss-free!):

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