10th Anniversary of German Christmas Markets in Birmingham, UK

The famous Christmas market returned for its 10th year running this year and, once again, it didn’t disappoint. Open an extra 2 weeks for its milestone anniversary, the market stretches through New Street for over a kilometre with more 190 stalls ranging from crafts and knitwear to authentic German meat and cheese. I have often heard people tell me that it is just like the markets they have in Germany so you can’t get much more authenticity.

For people who will go next year, it is best to avoid the first couple of days due to the immense crowds which can hinder your browsing options, cause bruising from shoving and spilled beer. You tend to have to go with the current of the ‘people tide’ and there is no option of stopping without someone running into the back of you.

The main reason to go to the market is for the food. Stall upon stall sell authentic bratwurst and desserts along with my personal favourites, chili poppers and caramelised peanuts. (N.B – It’s probably not the best place to go if you’re trying to shed a few pre-Christmas pounds!) It can get a little pricey, especially if you are taking your family but as it only occurs once a year you tend not to mind too much.


Louise Wright www.lifes-lemonade.com

The Best Travel Sized Beauty Products for Him & Her

During this time of year, many people choose to spend their holidays with their loved ones. This means that more and more people will be flying across the world and having to deal with airport security.

This can prove to be a major headache. It is not that easy to find miniature versions of your favourite beauty products and the more you look, the more you find them at 125ml and not 100ml as they should be.

This is why I have compiled a collage of the best travel sized beauty products which are all 100ml or under. You can either buy these for yourself for your travels or buy them for someone else as a Christmas gift.

What are your must have travel items...we want to hear from you!!

Grace Molan

Rag & Bone DIY Project

When I saw this editorial campaign, my heart skipped a beat. The concept is simple, you have one model, Rag & Bone clothes, no make up and they use their own camera to take the photos for the next advertising campaign.

The outcome, is stunning. Despite the girls in question being top models who are internationally known for their looks, the images are realistic and inspiring. You are offered a sneaky glimpse into their lives and for once, you have an advert that screams honesty.

These are a few of my favourites:

Images: http://diy.rag-bone.com/

Grace Molan

We Are Moving In A New Direction

One Girl's Wanderlust is taking a new direction with the blog, re-designing it and making it more interesting for readers. We hope you enjoy it and think it is worth the wait. 

London's Calling....One Girl's Wanderlust Goes and Investigates!!

London has long been the fashion capital of the world, with many great designers such as Alexander McQueen, GILES, Charlotte Taylor, Katrina Ferrari and Brett de Jager all revolutionising the way we dress. London Fashion Week has now become the biggest event in the fashion calendar and all the major fashion bloggers either come from London or are living in London.

What is it that makes London so special?
Living and working in London, it is hard not to favour this city above others in the world, however, in no other city do I feel as inspired as I do when I am immersed in London culture. I can feel a vibrant energy pumping through my veins,via the Central line, when I walk down the street, feeding my brain with inspiration. London is a melting pot of different cultures, made so by the vast collection of nationalities that make up it's population. It is no surprise then that London is home to a rich and diverse art scene.


London inspires so many people with its eclectic array of food, art, culture, entertainment, personalities and so much more. Fashion plays a massive part in this. There is a certain 'London Look' that epitomises the capital's creative edge. With the culture clashes, freedom to wear what we like, the availability of throw away fashion and the strong emphasis on art, people can create their own unique look, a look unique to London...something that would be impossible to recreate anywhere else in the world. It is safe to say that fashion has definitely stamped its sharp stiletto heel into the paving stones of the Capital...(Hungerford Bridge...ahem!!)

The Kate Middleton Effect:
London has only just become the fashion capital of the world earlier this year and we have one woman to thank for that....Kate Middleton! With all the media hype and social media buzz surrounding the royal wedding and her beautiful Sarah Burton wedding dress, London knocked New York, Paris and Milan to second, third and fourth positions in the Global Language Monitor survey. Despite this, some industry insiders dismiss the survey, still recognising Paris and Milan as the commercial and creative hubs of the industry. For some people like the milliner Stephen Jones it is a generational thing: "For young people, London is the fashion capital, but if you are an American buyer it would be Paris or Milan."

What is the future of the fashion capital?
Now that London has received and is getting used to all this love and affection it is learning to embrace it and forget its modesty. This is not a bad thing, after all it is widely recognised that Brits are far to modest in comparison to the rest of the world. 


The focus has shifted away from the commercial, harsh sales where all that mattered was turnover and profit and we are learning how to nurture and develop the brands/designers we love. Over the past year (especially during LFW during September) a plethora of emerging young talent has moved onto our radars. Names like Jessica Au, James Kearns, Susie Stone and Stephanie Grace Foy have become household names for anyone interested in fashion. This is due to the increased support and funding given to recently graduated designers. It seems that finally people are realising that the smaller, fresh faced designers of the present will be the profit earners of the future. We only have to look as far as Alexander McQueen to see that.


Saying all this however, you would have to have been living under a stone over the past few months not to hear about Westfield Stratford City opening it's doors to the public. Being Europe's largest urban shopping complex it is no shrinking violet and it doesn't pretend to be. The shopping centre is situated alongside the London Olympic Park and is home to over 300 shops and 70 restaurants. It has also been said that by building the new shopping centre, it will create 10,000 new jobs. 

How will this affect One Girl's Wanderlust?
As a fashion intern in the big bustling city that is London, I need to stay on top of all the fashion current affairs and working in a city that is as fashion forward as London is really helps. More and more I have seen pivotal people in the fashion industry favour London over New York when it comes to hosting their events or opening a new store. You would think that with the media frenzy surrounding London earlier this year and the increased popularity of smaller independent designers that it would be easier to find a job. Personally, I don't think that having London as the fashion capital has increased the possibility of finding a job at all. In fact, I think it is harder than ever to find a job in the fashion capital and even unpaid internships are hard to come by. It all comes down to networking and getting your face out there. 


What is really important to me is the increased level of support and understanding that British fashion has received since London has been elected the fashion capital as it means that the British fashion industry can remain as fresh and diverse as it always has despite the current economic climate.


What are your views on London? Should it be the fashion capital of the world?

Goodbye Summer...

I feel that now the days are getting shorter, and a lot lot colder, it is time to say farewell to summer. Gone are the days of swanning around in bikinis, summer vacations and the times you get sand in your shoes. We are entering a new stage in the year, one which promises the magic of Narnia, warm winter coats, cute knitted hats and scarves and much much more. 


To say goodbye to summer I have compiled a collection of photos that I feel best sums up that summer feeling we all love. 


Enjoy x

All Bow Down To The Queen of Pop!

Madonna celebrates her 53rd Birthday today, honestly, can you believe she is already 53!! She certainly looks at least 10 years younger. To celebrate her birthday today I thought I would share with you some of my favourite Madonna songs so that we can all admire her amazing talent.

Vogue-Madonna! Who cannot love this song?? It is an essential on every ipod.

Who's That Girl-Madonna. Very catchy, girly song.

La Isla Bonita-Madonna. This song transports me to a far off, warm island somewhere off the coast of Spain. Hmmm where could that be I wonder?!

Frozen-Madonna. This is a mesmerizing song. I love it.

Oh I Cannot Wait For Paris

Adventure

Isle of Wight

Just to give you a flavour of where I am staying at the moment, here are some pictures....

Love

Daily Photo Inspiration....

If you had to make a garment out of a piece of art, which one would it be??

The Lost Art Of The Travel Journal

With the digital age growing stronger and stronger, it is less and less common for people to document their travels in a book. Some people choose to document their travels on a blog or (this is the majority of people) just upload their photos onto the computer and leave them there. 


I am a keen scrapbooker and make various collages when I get the chance which now is hardly ever, sadly. I came across these beautiful journals and thought I would share some with you.....

Craving the Winter....

It is summer and each year I moan about the cold weather, waiting for summer to arrive and when it does....I crave the winter. It is unreal! I just think of the long walks in the park, kicking up the golden leaves, the crisp winter air that you can feel deep inside you, the sight of your breath in the air, cute knit wear, winter boots, curling up by the fire to read books etc.....


It is as if my sense of wanderlust extends as far as seasons too. Anyway, it is a hot day and I am sheltering inside so I thought I would share with you some gorgeous winter inspired photos.....

Daily Photo Inspiration....

Here is my daily dose of inspiration for you guys....I love the care free feeling that just epitomises the summer although the smoking in this picture kind of sucks! Anyway, this photo is pure Parisian chic... 

Daily Photo Inspiration....

This is a photo of my best friend in Spain, I speak with her nearly everyday if it is possible and she has taught me so much over the past year. We met whilst I was on holiday in Tenerife, she kindly took us under her wing and guided us around the bars in Santa Cruz. She is such an inspiration to me and it is because of her that I truly feel motivated to keep on learning Spanish. How amazing are her trousers too?!!


Esta es una foto de mi mejor amigo en España, hablo con ella casi todos los días si es posible y me ha enseñado mucho en el último año. Nos conocimosmientras yo estaba de vacaciones en Tenerife, que amablemente nos tomó bajo su protección y nos guió por los bares de Santa Cruz. Ella es una inspiración para mí y es por ella que realmente se sienten motivados a seguir aprendiendo español. ¡Qué sorprendente son sus pantalones tambien?!