Four Things I Learnt In 2014

As another year draws to a close, the prospect of a new year with new experiences, new encounters, new beginnings awaits around the corner. While it's important to focus on resolutions and goals for the year ahead, it's almost impossible to do this realistically without first reflecting on what we can learn from the days that have passed. I'd like to think that I've learnt a fair bit more than four things in 2014 but hey there's only so much time I have to write before my concentration flounders!

Natasha on Westbourne Grove

On a last minute jaunt down to London last week, I finally got to meet with and shoot the oh-so-lovely and oh-so-stunning model and blogger Natasha Ndlovu, otherwise known as Bisous Natasha. It was also my first time visiting Notting Hill - scandalous, I know! - and despite it being a moody grey day I was rather in awe of how pretty it is. Aye indeed, I realise this is old news but honestly, even 232 000 posts worth of #nottinghill on Instagram couldn't prepare me for how elegant the rows upon rows of Victorian townhouses look en réalité. Anyway, I digress, here's a couple of photographs from my shoot with Natasha. Head on over to her blog to check out the full shoot!

Waiting On You

ASOS ovoid dress (similar here) / John Smedley polo neck (similar here) / Caterpillar boots (here)

Photographs: Josephine Cheng
Editing: Myself

Looking particularly Lorde-ish (apparently) in these shots that Josephine took of me back at the end of November in Leeds' Hyde Park. Longstanding followers of my blog might remember this dress from way back in September '13 - if you do, I salute you! Here the dress takes on a rather more winter-friendly form with the addition of the ubiquitous polo neck that appears to be the ordre du jour. 

Lone Belle

Model: Myself
Photographer: Tom Martin
Styling: Georgia Thursting
Hair: Heather Morris of Northern Roots Hair Design

A couple of snaps from my first proper bit of modelling back in November. It was a strange experience for me: to be in front of the camera without the full creative control that I am accustomed to having. But at the same time, it was an experience that was a whole lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed watching another photographer at work; not to mention having my hair all gussied up for me and being styled by the wonderfully talented Georgia! My favourite photographs were those in Tom's amazing 70s kitchen, with the morning light streaming in through the blinds. If you want a nosey at the rest of the shoot, you can find it here.

Backroom

Backroom sweater* (here) / M&S shirt (similar here) / Nike shorts (similar here) / Caterpillar boots (here)

Photographs: Josephine Cheng for Backroom
Editing: Myself

It was way back in September that I last did an outfit post - oh university, what a busy busy being you have made me! - so I am super excited to be back on the outfit blogging bandwagon with this post *in collaboration with Backroom. 

The boyish shorts + oversized sweater combination is my standard outside-of-university-hours attire, smartened up here with the addition of my old school shirt. The boots I bought for practicality reasons after the daily walk to uni had me fork out a small fortune to get the soles of these boots repaired. And also they looked so damn fine on Megan when I photographed her at LFW that I couldn't help but follow suit.

And with that, I return back to the grind of revising for my last exam of the term whilst my dear flatmates are all cosied up watching Christmas movies. More photographs after the jump! 

George @ J'Adore

Model: George @ J'Adore

So my first term at university is drawing to a close, and there's a palpable buzz of excitement in the air about the return home to family, friends, food and lots and lots of Christmas cheer. Oh, and sleep. How I long to cosy up in my own bed and catch up on more than my fair share of forty winks! Anyway, this Friday I was out testing with fellow Leeds student George and had a reet good time wandering around Hyde Park getting some snaps. Even the rain held out for us!