Hello Everyone!
My name is Louise Joy and I'm 23 years old. I live in Luton and I'm a somewhat recent graduate from the University of Sunderland with a degree in Magazine Journalism and Fashion Journalism. I work part time at Next at the moment but I'm using my spare time to take on internships, update this blog regularly and write for different websites. I think it's important to carry on writing all the time - even if its unpaid - because it's important to get as much experience as possible!
I would describe myself as a friendly, bubbly, optimistic, ambitious and polite girl with a bit of an edge. I naturally have blonde hair, I love my music and will always be a rock chick at heart and I'm addicted to energy drinks and sour cream and onion pringles. I am pretty much your average girl, but I'd like to say I'm a bit of an individual!
I say I'm ambitious because I have big, big plans for the future. I want to be the editor of Cosmopolitan or Company one day, or I'd like to own my own magazine. I'd like to travel as well, when I have saved enough money I would like to take a year out and spend it travelling. When I move out of my parents house I want a chic, boutique flat all to myself with books piled high next to the bathtub, funky plaques and pictures everywhere and a walk in wardrobe. I have many other hopes and dreams but I won't bore you with a list!
I love writing, reading, watching TV and movies, listening to music, going to gigs, reviewing films/TV/gigs/bands/books and arts and crafts. I especially love scrap booking, card making and cross stitch. Some of my other favourite things include sleeping, movie nights with a takeaway/tons of food, having nights out, my room being clean, snow, Christmas and much more. My family and friends mean absolutely everything to me.
Well, that's my shoddy excuse of an introduction to me. Please excuse the photo I used, I was drunk, but I still love my extremely over the top cheesy grin.
Me and Fashion
I've never, ever been the typical trend setter or trend follower when it comes to fashion. I have had many fashion disasters over the years! One that stands out in mind was a bright pink leather jacket I was obsessed with when I was younger - don't ask! That's why I love writing about fashion though, because it's a personal subject to me. I don't just follow fashion because it's 'in'. I have stories behind my style and I'm also a typical girl who can admit hands up to making mistakes! My style icon would be my older sister - she's always so effortlessly stylish. She's also very successful and I look up to her a lot - I think on some level that if I dress like her then I'll be more like her! I'm lucky that along with my brother, she and I have a large age gap so I get all her old clothes from when she was my age!
I like to have my own take on fashion sometimes - I always love to have an edge to my outfits and anything featuring skulls I HAVE to own.
Me and Make Up
I was a late bloomer and didn't find myself interested in make up till long, long after my friends already had done. It was really my sister who helped me end up loving it so and ever since I've enjoyed creating new looks or experimenting with new eyeshadow colours. I have a soft spot for make up palettes too - Urban Decay and Benefit being firm favourite brands who's make up palettes I particularly love. I think what I love most about make up though is, like fashion, often the stories behind it. I still remember my sister doing my make up for me for one of my very first ever dates when I was seventeen and how she used Benefit's 'Moonbeam' on my cheeks. She then told me that it would make me look 'utterly kissable' and that my date would definitely want to kiss me! I love the fact that there's sentimental value to some of my favourite products, as well as the way that I can create a whole persona just by what I'm wearing. Often when I'm feeling edgy and heading out to a gig, I'll create a smokey eyed effect with way too much eyeliner than necessary, just to give me that rock chick look. When it comes to going out for meals, I nearly always go back to my trusty favourite 'Smog' shade from Urban Decay, but experiment with other browns and soft tones too on my eyes so no look is ever the same. I wear different blushers depending on my mood and I absolutely cannot live without eyeliner - I feel naked without it!
When it comes to hair - I wish I was much more experimental. My hair is quite thick so often I don't do much to it, but I do always like to have a good haircut or a funky hair colour. When I can be bothered I curl my hair, but generally I would love to learn how to style my hair properly.
Me and Writing
I love to write (and read) and have done from a very young age. I used to always be writing stories and poems when I was younger and I've always attempted to keep a diary. Writing is my escape from reality without a doubt! I love voicing my opinion and advising others through my writing. Other then this blog, I have taken part in various other writing opportunities - one example being when I helped to relaunch London.com. I have also undertaken work experience at both More! Magazine and Thomson which helped spike my interest in going into travel journalism.
