Megan Hess

MEGAN HESS

I'm a sucker for beautiful illustrations, anything aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and the Australian fashion illustrator Megan Hess is no exception. Notorious in the fashion industry for her gorgeous, whimsical and highly sophisticated drawings that depict the glamorous and idealistic allure of those who reside amongst the highest pinnacles of fashion, Megan's illustrations are surely a derivative of the most breathtakingly beautiful dream. Every drawing is so fluid, so elegant, so full of character and life. Simplistic yet rich with a subtle complexity. So many intertwining textures, patterns, splashes of colours, and all expertly guided by bold black ink strokes that seem to bring fashion to life before your eyes. Megan's unique and recognisable style lends itself so perfectly to this mammoth feat, and I adore the emphasis on the clothes and details especially. If someone were to ask me to summarise just what fashion means to me, what it looks like, what it should be, all I would need to do is point them in the direction of Megan Hess's work because in my eyes there is no finer encapsulation. 

  Megan originally began her career as a graphic designer, however after working as an art director at numerous high profile businesses worldwide, including Liberty London, for numerous years, she decided to make the courageous decision to follow her ultimate dream and become an artist. Focusing her creative talents on capturing the fashion industry in particular, Megan has since gone onto establish herself as a leading figure in the fashion illustration domain, a notoriously difficult profession to successfully break into, and her wonderful illustrations can literally be found everywhere. If you're a fan of Candace Bushnell's legendary 'Sex & The City' book series, some of the most recent editions of the books have had a stylish makeover courtesy of Megan Hess. Likewise if you keep up with publications such as Vanity Fair, TIME, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Megan's illustrations are often a regular feature, or if you're a keen collector of fashion illustrations books (which I peruse in a state of adoration whenever I visit the library), then you might also be aware of Megan's recently released book Fashion House: Illustrated Interiors From The Icons of Style. And if those credentials weren't enough, her extensive list of clients also includes Chanel, Dior, Tiffany & Co, Yves Saint Laurent, Fendi, Laduree, Cartier, Balenciaga, Kate Moss and Michelle Obama. to name but a few. I can't even begin to comprehend the sheer magnitude of that jaw dropping range of clientèle, however you only need look at Megan's sublime illustrations to understand just where this demand from such elusive names stems from. It's something that most of us could only dream of, however what I find most remarkable and inspiring, is that none of this deserved success would have been possible had Megan not followed her ultimate dream. By working hard, believing in herself and her talents, networking and marketing herself right, and having the courage to take that terrifying leap into the unknown Megan has achieved what many of us believe to be the unachievable. She's carved out a name for herself in the notorious fashion industry, and that, I think, alongside her brilliant illustrations, is pretty incredible.

If you love Megan's work and want to see more, just head to...

http://meganhess.com

-all photos taken from http://meganhess.com/ or linked to original source-

SWIG Hip Flask

*This SWIG Hip Flask was kindly sent to me as a gift to review by SWIG. All opinions expressed are honest and completely my own*

SWIG HIP FLASK

Last week I popped back home for a few days to see family and friends, amongst other things. However in spite of the many things I was expecting upon my arrival back home, having my Mum present me with a parcel with my name on it was definitely not one of those things. Unless I've been naughty and whacked out the old debit card, ordering lots of music and books and other random goods off of Amazon (oh the wild life I lead), parcels addressed specifically to me rarely come my way. But not this time dear readers, no not this time, for I was lucky enough recently to be asked by the relatively new British company SWIG, if I would like to pick one of their gorgeous hip flasks to review on this blog. Naturally I jumped at the chance, most of all because it was a great opportunity to help support a fantastic independent business (more on that later!) and so I chose my flask, and when it finally arrived, I must say I did fall a little bit in love with it. And now, as I casually sip Triple Sec from my SWIG flask whilst writing this post for you lovely people, I can't wait to tell you all about both SWIG and the beautiful flask itself ...

Olaf and Dan, over at the aptly named SWIG, founded the company in 2013 after realising there was a massive gap in the British market for high quality, well made, aesthetic hip flasks. I'm sure that like myself, you'll be aware of the abundance of hip flasks already out there, ones that are adorned with witty slogans, or in the case of one of my friends, a whole lot of glitter. Hip flasks are a rather personal thing after all, with people choosing a hip flask that best reflects their personality and approach to alcohol consumption. However if you stop to think about the hip flask market, it does become blindingly obvious that those classy, reliable, beautiful hip flasks, the ones you imagine great historical figures concealing in their trouser pockets, or the ones that could be passed down from one generation to the next, don't really seem to exist. Which is why what SWIG Flasks are cleverly doing, creating such finely crafted hip flasks to plug that glaring gap in the market, seems all the more admirable. And what's more, SWIG is a company that has been lovingly and gradually grown from those very first seeds of inspiration, right through to the meteoric success the company is deservedly basking in now. The kind of success where global domination, one hip flask at a time seems a highly achievable ambition. Adversities have been overcome, risks have been taken, mistakes made and lessons learnt, with the hard work, honesty, passion and belief that forms the heart of SWIG, fuelling the company onwards and upwards. Of course the fact that their very well made product is essentially the first of its kind, and a forerunner in not only the hip flask market but the alcohol industry too, helps just a little bit as well. It really is a fantastic product produced by fantastic people, and I don't say that lightly either. All you need to do is go onto the SWIG website, and read all the gushing plentiful reviews, alongside more about the company's inspiring story, to see what I (and the BBC, and the UK government, and the Queen herself) mean. Just like the flasks themselves, SWIG is a reliable and unique company that you want to support.

However by now, I suspect that you've noticed how much I've been harping on about these fabulous hip flasks, and you probably want me to cut to the chase and tell you more about them, which of course I duly will. The hip flask I was lucky enough to choose was the Harris Tweed Red Flask, and my reasons for choosing it were mostly due to the beautiful handmade Tweed pouch, in which the hip flask was enclosed. Made from stainless steel to avoid harmful toxins, all SWIG hip flasks (aside from the original Naked flask) come enclosed in a growing variety of equally well crafted leather or tweed pouches, adding both an element of decoration and protection to the flask. Likewise the flasks can be engraved and also bought with additional products such as handwritten, wax sealed notes and glassware too. The flask itself is incredibly light to hold with soft curved edges, it fits perfectly into the palm of your hand or in trouser pockets and handbags, and is large enough to contain up to 5 shots. It maintains alcohol quality perfectly, prevents any leakages, is easy to wash and although the stainless steel does pick up fingerprints (perhaps the company may invest in matte versions too in future?), with the accompanying pouch this rarely occurs and in the chance that it should, fingerprints are very easy to rub off. What's more, SWIG hip flasks are gender neutral in their design, meaning they make the perfect gift for any person and of any age too, and each hip flask also comes with its own 'society number' engraved on its surface, a lovely idea meaning that with purchasing your hip flask, you automatically become part of the worldwide SWIG society. 

As you can probably guess, SWIG hip flasks aren't cheap, with the cheapest currently selling for just over forty pounds, and if you're a bit of a Scrooge like me, then that kind of price tag can understandably seem off-putting. Likewise I'm a student on a budget and a cider loving gal too (usually because of convenience), though I do have a particular penchant for rum, and so the idea of purchasing and using a hip flask is a somewhat foreign concept to me. However now that I have this stunning little beauty to keep my rum in, I think I might just have to start ditching those cans of cider and carry my hip flask around with me instead. After all, there's something kind of sincere and almost special about taking your hip flask with you as you go about the adventures of your life. In the same way you remember drinking cans of cider with your friends back in the day (obviously I haven't quite passed this stage yet), the kind of fond memories that evokes, the significant markers it attaches to your life, you'll remember everything about your hip flask too. However this time, it's a new rite of passage, acquiring your hip flask. A nod to your ever growing sophistication and maturity, your forays in to adulthood, your development as a person. A way to commemorate this particular time in your life, and all those wonderful times still to come, and maybe one day you'll pass that beloved hip flask of yours down to the next generation, in the hopes that it's the perfect accompaniment to their ensuing adventures in life too. Because just like you'd invest in a sublime piece of jewellery, a designer piece of clothing, this year's winter coat, that new piece of technology, choosing to purchase a SWIG flask, either as a treat for yourself or a meaningful gift for another, is just that: an investment. The hip flask itself is a wise investment, a fantastic product, with its high quality craftsmanship intended to last a lifetime, as is investing in SWIG as a company a rather wise decision too. These guys genuinely care about their products and what customers think of them, and want to keep providing that excellent customer service, alongside developing SWIG to make it even better than it already is, and that's something that I personally find rather endearing.

So whether you're a spirit lover or not, heck maybe you just want a classy container for your diet coke instead. Whether you like hip flasks or not, or maybe you've never really thought about purchasing one before. Whether you or someone you know is looking for that perfect timeless gift to buy a loved one, or you find yourself looking for that perfect gift sometime in the future. Whatever your predicament, I would highly, highly recommend heading over to SWIG Flasks and taking a look at their beautiful range of products, because if they can make a cider enthusiast like myself seriously consider switching to rum, just so I can flaunt my gorgeous hip flask, then they must be pretty darn good.

swigflasks.com

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Autumn Leaves Falling Down

AUTUMN LEAVES FALLING DOWN

Autumn is my absolute favourite season. My favourite time of year. The best time of year. And it always has been for as long as I can remember. Of course I can appreciate the merits of every other season, but there's just something so magical about Autumn in particular. Those final summer days have drawn to a close. A fresh start begins with the turn of September. Christmas gets increasingly nearer, like a glittering promise of joy and happiness on the horizon. Something to look forward to. Something to smile about. People seem to be happier, kinder, more humane. There's a special feeling in the air that runs in parallel to the cosy, warming, autumnal mood that envelopes everyone within its grasp. The clocks go back, the night falls quicker, along with the stars and the moon in the sky. The leaves steadily transition from bright luminous green to gold, lime, terracotta, burgundy, caramel before cascading to the ground and colouring it with warmth. Everybody seeks out their cosy winter coats, patterned scarves, thick gloves, clunky boots. Noses, cheeks, ears are tinted with blush. 

Long country walks or around the autumnal tinged city, Sunday roasts and meals with those you love. Instrumental lead music that warms the soul, evening television, endless cups of hot tea with a biscuit or two thrown in for good measure. Baking pies and puddings and nutritious food, dressing up for Halloween, movie nights and takeaways instead of heading out and braving the cold. Is it any surprise that I love autumn so much? It's such a beautiful, joyful, peaceful and loving season. Over the years my autumns were characterised by the same kind of things, and though I always enjoyed autumn when it came around each year, I didn't realise how much I took it for granted. As you may know, I moved to Manchester last September for university, and since then I've found that the arrival of autumn has rather different connotations to what it used to have all those times before. The way I experience autumn in Manchester, in the very heart of the city, is very different to how I used to experience it back home in Derby, and honestly, I do miss it. I miss it a lot. 

I miss roast dinners and warm puddings with the family on Sunday evening. I miss getting the bus to college in the morning, and chatting together whilst we sat there freezing in our coats and gloves. I miss going to town on a Saturday and having a warm hot chocolate in the cafe, before coming home to watch Saturday night TV. I miss watching Downton Abbey whilst sat on the sofa, wearing my pyjamas with my hair in plaits, in the hopes that it would be wavy for school the next day. I miss going to the park on the outskirts of town, where all the leaves pile up on the floor and you can run through them, leaving a cascade of falling leaves behind you. I miss trick or treating at Halloween around the local neighbourhood. I miss making pumpkin pie together with my dad and sister. I miss being able to hop in the car on a Sunday and escape to the countryside for a long and glorious afternoon walk. The kind of walks where you leave everything else behind, leave your worries by the front door, and instead just spend a few hours escaping it all and regaining peace and clarity. I miss the peace of the countryside, and driving through it with the radio on in the background. I miss seeing the leaves change colour, and having the world around me coloured in all these warm and rich tones. I love Manchester and I love being in the city, don't get me wrong, but it's always this time of year especially that I wish I could escape it all, and just be out there in the spectacular countryside, the freedom of the great outdoors, breathing in the fresh, cool air, leaving all my cares behind, taking in the beauty of the world around me. 

So when I got the chance to come home this last weekend or so, I jumped at the chance, got those train tickets booked well in advance, with dreams of being in the peace of suburbia and the great outdoors propelling me onwards till the day to come home arrived. And boy has it been a marvellous few days. Roast dinner with the family, watching the brilliant Spectre, catching up with friends back home, watching films, making pumpkin pie, doing absolutely no work whatsoever, seeing my Nan and Grandad, going for a lovely afternoon walk, having a delicious carvery, lots of cheesecake... oh, and did I mention that I also finally passed my driving test too? It's been a wonderful, delightful, magical whirlwind the last few days, as October drew to a close and November begins, however I appreciate it all so, so much. I'm very happy. And so with that, as I conclude this long post about my favourite season, I would love to share with you some photographs that I took yesterday afternoon when I went for a walk at a park I've been going to every year since I was little. It was a stunning afternoon, the scenery was so beautiful, and I came away feeling ridiculously content. It was such a simple thing, taking a walk in the park, but it meant the world to me, and I hope you enjoy these photographs as much as I do, and have a fabulous November!

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