I normally work in Long Tall Sally’s Chiltern Street store but I have spent the last two weeks on work experience in Head Office with the marketing department.
During my time here I’ve proof read, written copy for the website and done a fair few things in between. I must say that I most enjoyed looking through the Christmas collection, out of which my favourite item is the Kezia dress. It’s a navy blue mini dress with long sheer sleeves and lots of spangles- I’ve put my name down for one already!
After the first few days I noticed one big difference between working in the office and working in store- instead of complaining about achy feet, I was dying to stretch my legs! At the end of my first week, in a cruel twist of fate, I got to stretch my legs plenty as the lift was out of service. It’s a miracle that I’m writing this now because the stairs up to the fourth floor almost killed me!
The loft-like office is really trendy though, and there are so many more people working behind the scenes than I’d expected.It’s been interesting to learn how people from all different departments come together to achieve things like a finished catalogue. Everyone uses their own expertise to make sure that it looks good and contains all of the right information- it’s a real lesson in team work.
It’s now my last day and although it’s been a short two weeks, I’ve had a great time thanks to the lovely team.
Laura
Posted at 05:13PM Aug 20, 2010 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Carol" Comments (0)
A day in the life of a designer
What to wear?
It's July and temperatures have finally risen. I think most people have only just come out of their winter wardrobe and are still dubious and only tentatively wearing sandals. As I write this tonight it has suddenly started to rain and the temperature has dropped 10 degrees and I have had to put a cardigan on. So, it pays to have a few reminders of what we should all be wearing!
The basic T and the basic vest are as big as ever this year. Kate Moss has really made the vest a must have item for summer for a while now! This year the printed tee has really come to the forefront and is obviously a trend you are all following as our Cuba t'shirt has been flying out the door.
The Trench is still a key item and has graced many a catwalk again this season – thank God, as there are still rain clouds overhead – and Wellingtons and denim shorts are a festival must have.
This summer jeans have moved on a little bit – skinny and slim fit jeans are still a must have and can be easily tucked into your wellies if you don’t have the legs for shorts and don’t want to soak up the puddles on a wet day. If you can buy them longer and turn them up, like Penelope Cruz does or a size or two bigger and wear them lower like Gwen Stefani to get a contemporary boyfriend look which looks great on longer legs and achieves that Capri style, without looking like your trousers are too short.
The flare and the bootleg are still holding their own and look just as contemporary as ever especially when worn in a dark wash, also sported by Kate Moss.
Yet again, the maxi dress is a must have style and this has definitely been the year of the jumpsuit ! (Is that why the queue seems to be longer than ever in the ladies toilet?)
Posted at 04:53PM Jul 14, 2010 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Carol" Comments (0)
A day in the life of a designer
The Tall Life
We have started selling Arianne Cohen’s book “The Tall Book’ on our website. If any of you haven’t yet read it I would highly recommend it. At first I thought “Yeah, so I’m tall but why would I want to read a book about it?! I’ve got a big nose too but I’ve got over it!” but, you know what? Arianne’s book is great – it’s really chatty, witty, and informative and made me realise that I am just not tall enough! I must admit though height has never been an issue for me, and I have always wanted to be over 6 foot I'm just gutted that my bad back and knee caused by wearing high heels now prevents me form wearing high heels all the time.
To me height has always meant power and presence. I was fascinated to realise that the Dutch are the tallest race (not Scandinavians as many people think) and that American's are actually getting shorter. Tall people actually earn more money, but they need to because they eat more. Adolf Hitler was only 5ft 8in and Lenin only 5ft 5in but American’s generally vote for tall presidents, anyway I won’t tell you any more read it for yourself.
I was however gratified that it is perfectly normal for tall girls to feel angry when they see a tall man with a short woman. I thought that was just me!. I have got a boyfriend and he is taller than me so it’s nothing personal. I ‘m afraid I just don’t think its right. I was rankled last week reading Look magazine - “Heroes” actress Hayden Panettiere (Pictured) who is 5ft 1in with her boyfriend Wladimir Klitschko who is 6ft 6in – ooh! That’s so annoying!
Posted at 10:52AM May 14, 2010 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Carol" Comments (0)
A day in the life of a designer
Fashion Blogging
Bryanboy has had a handbag named after him and Tavi had front row seats at the Marc Jacobs show- I would have killed for front row seats at that age and most fashion conscious adults still would.
That’s the power of the Internet. I was heartened to hear however that Jane Aldridge finds keeping her blog up to date a full-time job. That’s the thing, there is so much information available at the end of one's finger tips today that you just need the time to be able to digest it all. She spends so much time doing her blog that she can only finish high school by correspondence course.
I have to say that that is a shame, you only have one chance to be an ordinary kid and mix with other kids that age and do all that stupid stuff you love and can’t possibly do late, there’s plenty of time to grow up and obsess about designer clothes. I’m sure some of the best times are had wearing a pair of converse jeans and a t'shirt out with your mates and not living a virtual life with virtual friends in a little glass box. Throw something on, go out and have fun!
Posted at 10:03AM Mar 17, 2010 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Carol" Comments (0)
A day in the life of a designer
December
Well December started with another development trip this time not so far flung to see the factories in Leicester. The samples have started to roll in from our trips to Hong Kong and Turkey so we are now starting to buy the range for Autumn/Winter 2010. I know it seems early but we have to do it now or you won’t get your catalogues on time!
So far we have bought Trans, Autumn and Winter. Plus, casual wear and knitwear but we still have formal to buy. Its hard work but I have to say that this year we are all pretty pleased with the range and how it looks,
And then my Christmas shopping, it’s nearly all done and all wrapped-What a relief! Now starts the mammoth task of transporting the presents to everyone, unfortunately neither Santa nor Rudolph can help me.
Last week was a great week; I went to the “Chap party” on Saturday in my tweed revolutionary outfit. Tweed skirt with a bustle back –with the chance to say “does my bum look big in this?” and then feel ok when everyone says ‘yes’. I bumped into Claudia there, one of the models from our Winter catalogue; it’s always nice to see a familiar face.
Then I went to see the Montezuma exhibition at the British Museum- Very inspiring, I can feel feathers and turquoise being very influential next year again.
Dinner at the Paramount club on Thursday with a stunning 32nd floor view over London and then this weekend two birthday parties. I am getting lots of wear out of my long sleeve black lycra t shirt, my Eisel strapless shift dress, and my Sophy feather shrug.
I’ll let you know what I wear this week as we have the works Christmas party, my Spanish class Christmas party and a night out at the Albert Hall with the girls from the Canadian buying team.
Have a fabulous Christmas everyone!
Posted at 02:46PM Dec 22, 2009 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Carol" Comments (1)
A day in the life of a designer
November?
Wasn’t November the month that flew by? But, actually come to think of it hasn’t the whole of this year!?
November started with Bonfire night. I love bonfire night and always go to the fireworks at Wimbledon if I can, because they are fantastic there. Then it was my mum’s birthday, followed by our development trip to Hong Kong. A week spent developing styles for next Autumn/Winter 2010-Wow, how we wish/ work our lives away!
Myself, Carly, Deborah and Andrea – the LTS design team spent a week trawling around factories in Hong Kong working on designs with them. (Then we have spent the last month praying that they will come in ok) Each factory has its own strength and it’s our job to work with these strengths and develop a fully comprehensive range. It’s not perfect but every year we hope it gets better and that you like more of it, and figures indicate that we are going in the right direction.
It’s been a real challenge taking on Canada too as now we have even more tall people to please but we are looking forward to it.
I ended November in full Christmas panic, the range was put into work and we just had to wait for the samples to come in but in my personal life I had to begin the huge task of buying Christmas presents- Ahhhhh! With over 80 to buy it’s like a military campaign, it has to be well thought out and tackled in such a manner.
To relieve my Christmas stress I went with some friends to see The Bangkok lady boys in the Mile High show at Leamington Spa. I have to say they were side achingly funny and I was incredibly jealous of their fabulous figures….
Posted at 02:45PM Dec 16, 2009 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Carol" Comments (0)
A day in the life of a designer
Goodwood– it’s not easy buying vintage when you are tall.
This year we had tickets for the Goodwood revival, but what to wear was obviously the challenge. The dress code was 1946 to 1966 however when you are not average height finding vintage is not easy.
I have a collection of vintage which I dug out of the cupboard. I decided the 1950’s bathing costumes weren’t suitable with the current weather forecast and my cellulite. So, I tried on all the dresses, which somehow no longer seemed to fit my slender waist (Hint of sarcasm there) and although they were all waisted styles they seemed to be empire line on me. Also, I could no longer cram my feet into my size six vintage shoes having strangely gone up two sizes when I reached 30.
After some deliberation and consultation of the weather forecast, which was poor, I decided on a sensible tweed suit (Once worn by my mother to ride her bike- obviously she isn’t vertically challenged either!) a pair of sensible brogues to secure comfort whilst traipsing around all day and a nice little felt hat and umbrella- All I needed to do was change my name to Maude!
So on the day we pottered off to Goodwood in our tweeds prepared for bad weather. By lunchtime the temperature must have reached thirty degrees and I was roasting in my tweeds, sheltering under a tree with my friends and using my umbrella as a parasol against the glaring sun.
However it was a fabulous day out with a stunning vintage market and glorious cars. Lots of cake, tea, gin, jazz dancing and glorious planes. Apart from the usual but always fabulous flypast from some spitfires, I had my first viewing of a flypast by a Vickers Vimmy which was so slow I managed to eat a piece of fruit cake whilst it did a circuit of the track.
It’s a day out I would definitely recommend, I thought I did really well as I didn’t open my purse once at the vintage market despite temptation. Although, it could still prove to be an expensive day as my boyfriend is now desperate for a vintage car.
Posted at 11:19AM Nov 09, 2009 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Carol" Comments (0)
A day in the life of a designer
Thank god for wellies! 
After two weeks back home I was desperate for a bit of sun. Why did I go to Argentina in the Winter whilst England had its short-lived heat wave? So off we head to Devon for a long weekend full of fish and chips and cream tea. It got off to a bad start, it rained all the way and there was terrible traffic and some hideous accidents. We narrowly escaped an exploding roof box, a few cars in front which left a shiny pink parka with a white fur trim in the middle of the fast lane. The sad little girl it belonged to watching from the window of her parent’s car. But as we drew into Somerset and drew up to my favorite tea shop the sun came out and I was able to eat apple cake and clotted cream in the garden in bright sunshine. And that’s what we had for the next two days glorious sunshine. But it’s England and it just couldn’t last, by Sunday the rain couldn’t hold back any longer and out came our waterproofs.
English Summers have become a complete fashion conundrum. What does one wear? Thank God, Wellington boots are back in fashion! What would we do without Wellington boots in the 21st century? I wear them for walks in the country, walking to work, at festivals. They're a must and I even saw someone walking through Holborn in them with a really neat tailored black shift dress and I have to say she looked great although I really think she needs a fold up rain hat to finish the look off.
Posted at 02:22PM Oct 19, 2009 by Long Tall Sally Admin in "Carol" Comments (1)
