All a Little Bit Cultural: BP Portrait Award Next Gen Event

Hey guys,

I know I was a bit belated with my birthday blog and this is a similar scenario but I wanted to post about this event as it was such a fun night and unlike anything I have ever done before.

(I also want to come up with a regular post schedule so I will work out when will be best for that, as I want to diversify my blog into more areas of my life than just fashion and beauty. A post dedicated to thank you all for the 25,000 page views will be on it's way soon too!)

So back to the event. I found out about this event due to the organisers at the BP Portrait Award sending me the link to RSVP on Twitter totally out of the blue. I looked up the event on the National Portrait Gallery website and thought that it seemed like something I have never done before so why not. My parents went to art college and so I had been bought up being taken to galleries and I really love looking at art, even if I am not that great at actually doing it myself. I believe that my art is fashion and the odd bit of colouring in, but I appreciate the statement that artists make when they do what they do, so I knew I would enjoy it.

The event was on a Monday evening and allowed us (a group of probably 30 14-19 year olds) to see the gallery after hours and meet some of the award winners from the competition this year that BP had sponsored (and is still on show to the public until the 21st September). There was a wide range of activities that night, from the chance to sketch the portraits for a competition, to getting a taste of curating by writing new labels for the paintings which were specifically for a teenage audience. Food and music also played a part, and I must give a shout out to the amazing TVR for his Slam Poem which was just incredible.

I feel very lucky to of been able to see the amazing entries up close and meet some of the artists who were inspiring and allowed us to see behind the canvas in a way you wouldn't get to from simply looking at the art.

The art itself was beautiful, from photo-realists to the more abstract portraits of people who were not famous and to those who were simply friends of the artists. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the art itself but if you want to see the rest of the exhibitors online you can click here but of course if you are in London go and check out the exhibition itself!

So I wanted to thank the organisers for inviting me and to all the friends I made while walking the galleries.

Speak to you all very soon I hope,
Luv,
LDN Teenage Fashionista xx♥

Princesses are not quitters!

Hello everyone, 

Wow it's 2014! And I haven't blogged in ages! Sorry! *bad blogger head shake of shame* 

But today I was particularly inspired and as I didn't want to make my first post of the new year short and full of drivel I resolved today would be the day. 

Basically today I went to the castle in the sky, Harrods. Ok it's not a castle per say but any girl can feel like a princess browsing the diamonds and evening gowns and handbags and shoes... you get my drift. 

I looked at all of the Chanel sections (a must for me); the fine jewelery hall is also must if you were a magpie in a past life as I was! I think if you are easily blinded by the spotlights it will be a bit much, if that is the case then you can easily walk the halls of clothes and bags and window shop. A top tip is to enjoy everything! There is so much to ooh over even if you don't buy anything at all, although there is a HUGE toy and sweet section which if you are feeling kiddish goes down very well! 

The sale in Harrods ends next weekend and then the store will calm down a bit, as the perfume hall especially was jammed with people! 

But all-in-all it was very fun. I am really tired now. 

Btw the reason that this post is called princess are not quitters is because me and my friend went out shopping and had limited luck in the beginning but we didn't quit and it reminded me that I have a book from when I was little called "Princesses are not quitters" by Kate Lum. I recommend it for anyone who has a little girl in the family, or just needs some motivation as the book is really pretty and it is all about not giving up on doing what you want to do. 

Happy new year blogosphere, I will be better this year I promise! 

Luv,

LDN Teenage Fashionista xx♥️