Blogiversary

Happy blogiversary to me. Here's to another year of endless press e-mails, countless photos, and the occasional party. And how am I spending this very special day? In the most fitting way I know how - editing photos in Adobe Lightroom until my eyes turn square.

As if I've been blogging for four years! In that space of time, Maddy has maintained the very same fringe she had in my first blog post, however my confidence and photography have improved in leaps and bounds. These past twelve months were especially fun, having been shortlisted for the Company Style Blogger Awards, attended Paris Fashion Week for the first time, found my perfect barbers (yes, my hair is that important), and finally realised I needn't stress so much over page views or how often I blog.

So what to expect from my fifth year of blogging adventures? As far as fashion month goes, I want to embrace the international circuit - I will be visiting Paris twice more, and hopefully New York in September. I also want to feature a lot more of me on this here blog, since you lovely people appear to find my sense of style weirdly interesting. (Any excuse to buy more snazzy jumpers is fine by me.) But my most ambitious goal this year is to produce a YouTube series. I shan't give away too many details at this time, but I'm now obliged to turn this little dream into a virtual reality.

As always, thank you for your continual support.

The pickle of packing

When it comes to packing, I wouldn't describe myself as particularly efficient. There are always pairs of shoes or items of clothing I never wear on holiday, yet I am adamant on stuffing them into my suitcase on the off chance I might need them. Even at university, I would fill an entire rucksack with all my socks, because I wasn't sure which ones I'd want to wear during a two week break at home. Madness.

But the luxury of limitless luggage isn't available on EasyJet flights. Tomorrow morning, when I travel to Amsterdam for a three-night city break, I am permitted only one item of hand luggage. Hence this weekend's challenge has been to fit four outfits (plus shoes), my satchel and necessary gadgets into a small carry-on case.

Did I achieve it? Well, I couldn't pack as many fancy things as I'd have liked (one must look their best when travelling abroad, you know!), but at least I won't be walking around Amsterdam completely naked. Now tell me, how might I go about constructing an outfit from a hundred socks?

It's that time of year again...

Never mind Valentine's Day. This Friday, my heart belongs to fashion, as London Fashion Week returns for another bountiful season of runway shows and outrageous street style. It is unquestionably one of my favourite moments of the year.

For my sixth season, I am thrilled to have been offered a freelance commission for the Kazakhstan edition of 'Buro 24/7', which will be featuring my street style snaps over the coming days. Visit my Twitter and Facebook pages for links to my work, plus updates on the newest and most exciting womenswear collections.

Preparing for LC:M

The fourth season of London Collections: Men kicks off this evening, followed by three days of menswear shows across the capital. The UK menswear industry is worth £10bn to our economy, and with London considered the birthplace of modern menswear, it is only fitting the city showcases Britain's continual talent for producing exquisite fashions.

Due to my forgetfulness, I have acquired only a handful of show invitations, though there are still chances to see the collections and meet with designers at the exhibition spaces in Victoria House and The Hospital Club. Of course, most of my time will be spent shooting street style, this season for XXY Magazine. I just hope the weather is fairer than last week, because I do not know much of a beating my camera can take.

At the very least, I shall have a charming duck head umbrella from American Apparel to keep me dry. Other important accessories include my favourite Daniel Wellington watch, Osiris glasses, and a classic red Zatchels satchel. But of course, the biggest decision this weekend has been which ties I will be wearing to LC:M. I have veered away from my usual bow-ties, opting instead for plain-coloured knitted ties, worn over staple white shirts for a pop of colour around the collar.

Merry Xmas!

Merry Xmas, folks! Now get off the internet and have a wonderful time with your friends and family. The holiday season is for merriment and having fun with your loved ones, and that is exactly what I am doing - with a generous helping of Doctor Who and festive food in between. Have a good one.

 

Graduation

Yes, I am finally a graduate. And I find it exceptionally appropriate to be celebrating my graduation on the same weekend as my blog's third birthday, officially marking this new chapter in my working life. I am a completely different person to the eighteen year old boy who began this blog, having gained - with encouragement - a confidence and love for life I did not previously possess.

Graduation was a long-awaited affair, since I finished my university course back in July. The ceremony itself was lengthy, with hundreds upon hundreds of Media School students collecting their Diplomas, Masters, and Bachelor of Arts degrees. Receiving my second class honours took all of about ten seconds, but I was excited to reach this finale in my education and focus on making my way in the world.

Though what I felt following my graduation was not the jubilation I had expected. Rather I felt lost, wondering where I ought to be heading. I guess that is what comes of realising I am now officially a grown-up. This weekend has given me plenty of time to ponder, and I have decided on a few resolutions, including tackling my insecurities, opening up to the people I trust, and aiming higher in my job search.

Without university pinning me down, I would like to hope my fourth year of blogging will be even better than the previous. Although it will take a lot to beat a weekend in Miami, a secret Professor Green gig, shooting street style for Mr Porter and the Daily Express, and partying atop the Gherkin, among other fantastic opportunities. (Perks of being a fashion blogger, eh?) Thank you all for your continual support. Here is to a new start.

Daily Express internship

Today I learnt that a fashion cupboard isn't necessarily a cupboard...

I have just begun my first week of my one-month internship on the Daily Express fashion desk, which, you may be surprised to hear, is my first fashion-related placement. As such, I don't have particular expectations, aside from my hope that I will gain valued insight into the workings of a fashion department, and subsequently determine whether fashion journalism is the way forward.

Don't worry, I won't be shutting down my blog any time soon. But having completed my journalism degree (I finally graduate this Friday!), I am searching for the right job for me. Fashion journalism seems appropriate, but perhaps I ought to be doing something else other than fashion outside of my blogging activities. I won't know until I try a little piece of everything, I suppose.

You can follow my internship experiences throughout this month via Twitter. Of course, I can't reveal all that goes on inside Daily Express headquarters (pictured above), but I shall share with you what I can. If you have previously worked as a fashion desk intern, I'd love to hear about your experiences too.

Freelancing at Fashion Week

The most hectic week in my calendar is upon me, and I feel barely prepared. Of course, the reality is far from it. My itinerary is organised, my camera is charged, and my outfit for tomorrow is ironed and hanging on my clothes rail. That said, I cannot help feeling slightly anxious. This is my fifth season in attendance, but my first independent freelance job for a major publication.

While at London Collections: Men, I was very fortunate to assist Jonathan Daniel Pryce in shooting street style for Mr Porter and Men's Health among others. But on this occasion, I am working alone. I am excited to share with you that I will be shooting street style for the Daily Express at London Fashion Week S/S 14.

The Daily Express fashion desk will be featuring a selection of my photos each day during LFW, links to which I will post on my Twitter and Facebook platforms. In the mean time, I will still be publishing photos on my blog, so there is no excuse for you to stop visiting. As always, expect crazy street style and fabulous designer shows.

Until next time, Bournemouth

I feel like David Tennant at the end of Doctor Who, just before he regenerates into Matt Smith. "I don't want to go," he cries, before he explodes into bedazzling light. Of course, my departure from Bournemouth isn't that dramatic (unfortunately), but I am just as sad to be leaving. It has been a joyful place to call 'home' for the past three years, more so for the wonderful people with whom I have made friends.

Coming soon... LC:M with Jonathan Daniel Pryce

With another season of menswear shows come and gone, you may be wondering why I have not published much in the way of men's street style lately. I was not absent from London Collections: Men, but rather than shooting for myself, I had my first freelance job assisting fellow photographer Jonathan Daniel Pryce, therefore I will be unable to feature any more of my LC:M street style photos for another couple of weeks.

Assisting Jonathan at LC:M had a much faster pace to my usual fashion week escapades, but it gave me valuable insight into the role of a professional street style photographer. Jonathan and I were specifically shooting for Mr Porter, which also included their SS14 presentation and end-of-London-Collections party. I have plenty of photos waiting in the wings, and I look forward to sharing them with you in due course.

Endings & Beginings

This is it, the final day of my journalism degree. Although the first day of my first year at Bournemouth University feels so long ago, the past three years have been a whirlwind. Each year, I have progressed in skill, knowledge, confidence, passion and ambition, and I hope this trend continues into the working world.

Unlimited by JK, while neither an assignment or obligation of my degree, has obviously played a huge role in my studies. It has acted as a compass in my career, it has influenced my coursework, and it has helped me attain so many goals I had never thought possible in September 2010. I must offer particular thanks to Liisa Rohumaa, who introduced me to the world of fashion blogs before I had even secured a place at Bournemouth University, and who has rooted for me since the beginning of the blog. It was only fitting that she assumed the position of my dissertation supervisor this year, and without her guidance, I would have been completely lost.

In commemoration of this final day, tonight is the long-anticipated BAMMJ Ball, which I have been arranging for my coursemates and lecturers during the past couple of months. Despite a few stressful moments, it has been a joy to organise, and I hope the evening goes smoothly for everybody, even if it is a bittersweet reminder that this chapter in our lives has come to an end. I shall miss my friends terribly.

But I do not want to be a pessimist. There awaits a new chapter in my life, one which I am admittedly unsure of, yet one which I am extremely excited for. The job hunt is ongoing, but I know where I want to be heading. In the very near future, I am looking for freelance work as a street style photographer during the Fashion Week season, and in the distant future, I aspire to be a multimedia content producer for a fashion and lifestyle magazine. I recently learnt a BAMMJ graduate from 2008 was appointed Acting Online News Editor for British Vogue, therefore there is hope for this graduate-to-be.

Journalist, photographer and blogger - I hope you will stay with me as I journey onwards. Though the rest of my life is no more than a bubble of potential and possibilities, I look forward to whatever may be around the corner. Thank you for standing by.

Summer blogging

If you hadn't guessed, I am now in the final weeks of my degree. I have a dissertation to submit shortly, followed by a fortnight of converged news days, and because of this, I am unable to dedicate much time to producing fresh blog content. (Sorry!) But summer and sweet freedom are just around the corner, so you should expect plenty of exciting things from Unlimited by JK very soon.

 

Having recently acquired a small selection of new products, I am looking to shoot several new outfit posts, which shall hopefully include a Doctor Who inspired outfit, and styling my very first designer garment, courtesy of À La Disposition.

Still to come also are the Boscombe Vintage Market, Bournemouth blogger meet, Bristol blogger meet, Graduate Fashion Week, Bournemouth University Summer Ball, Brighton Fashion Week and London Collections: Men. Will you be attending any of these upcoming events? Please let me know!

In the meantime, I guess it is a game of patience. But when I am so close to completion, can you blame me for wanting to sprint to the finish line? I suppose I had better crack on with that dreaded dissertation.

Upgrade: Canon 6D

The Sony α 290L has served me well for two years. It was an affordable DSLR camera for dabbling in photography, but my aspiration for professionalism has since outgrown its limited capabilities, and therefore it was time for an upgrade.

The Canon 6D is my biggest investment yet, and you will be glad to hear I did not buy it just for blogging; I am establishing a career as a photo- and video journalist. The camera boasts full HD video, high ISO (for low-light conditions), and a 20.2 Megapixel full-frame sensor. I have additionally bought a 50mm f1.8 lens for my street style photography, plus a 24-105mm f4 lens for video and general photography.

Although the skill of the photographer is always more important than the quality of their equipment, this new DSLR will open up more doors for me, and I am very excited to see what I can produce. As of June, I will be available for freelance work.

Pebble Zine, Issue 4

I am very pleased with how far Pebble Zine has progressed since its September début. The magazine is being noticed by more and more independent brands and businesses, who are eager to be featured. From my own perspective, it was delightful to hear that the independent designers at Wolf & Badger were familiar with the publication. And people who I met at London Fashion Week are keen to be involved.

This fourth issue of Pebble Zine is our 'unseen' edition, in which we focus on the ideas of exploration, alternate perspectives, and re-discovery. Highlights include Sam Thomson's feature on urban exploration (p.31), Lulu Liu spring/summer shoot by Estefania Aviles (p.58), Swim Deep interview by Rosie Lord (p.118), and vegetarian recipes from lifestyle editor Georgia Scarr (p.154).

I hope you enjoy reading through the new issue. Once again, if you have any positive or critical feedback, or you would like to contribute to the magazine, please get in touch. Equally, if you represent an independent brand or business and would like to advertise in our summer issue, you can e-mail me at unlimitedbyjk@yahoo.co.uk.We offer affordable rates for full page advertising.

Creature comforts

#FashFail - WTF was I wearing?

Once upon a time, fashion was not my forté. Having developed an initial interest when I was fifteen years old, my time in sixth form was a colourful affair, with luminescent ties and a rainbow collection of cardigans. Those years were an extremely naive phase in my life. And when I (reluctantly) look back, I have to agree with my classmates' comments. Wearing two cardigans at the same time is not a good look, especially when one is bright green and the other is magenta pink.

The ghosts of personal style past...

We have all suffered fashion disasters at some point in our lives. Don't deny it! But there is no need to suffer the embarrassment alone. Burton Menswear wants the British public to share the shame and reveal their innermost fashion sins - with a chance of winning £300 in Burton vouchers to replenish your wardrobe.

You can enter the #FashFail competition simply by uploading a photo of your fashion faux pas. The contest closes at 23:59 on Saturday 30th March, and the winner will be notified by Monday 8th April.

The Summer Ball is coming...

Tickets go on sale today for Bournemouth University's Summer Ball - a one-day music festival, in which 7,000 students get drunk in the sunshine and frolic about in some of the best homemade costumes you will ever see. Because this is my final year of university, you'd think I would put down the camera on this occasion and join in with the festivities. As if. I'm a workaholic, remember?

What I find the funniest about the whole Summer Ball experience are the stares from the residents of Bournemouth town, who can't quite fathom why there are young men and women dressed up for Halloween in June. There ought to be signs in the weeks preceding, warning the general populace of the impending oddities.

(If you are a student at Bournemouth University or the neighbouring Arts University Bournemouth, you can grab your early-bird ticket - plus up to three guest tickets - from the Poole House atrium, or online at www.subu.org.uk/events.)

Major project countdown

Not that it has been visible, but I have been struggling to find time for blogging lately. The reason being that my final-year major multimedia project is coming to a close, and midday tomorrow is the assignment deadline. Myself and my coursemates will be working furiously throughout the night to complete and perfect our projects, all of which you can view at buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk.

While my menswear project is fundamentally a university assignment, it has been a great learning experience. I have met with and heard from incredibly knowledgeable people, including magazine editors, fashion historians and tailors. In due course, I will re-upload my assignment material to this blog with extra content.

In the mean time, wish me luck. It is going to be a long night.

Pebble Zine, Issue 3

Xmas holidays at home, work placements and Miami have meant I have had very little time in Bournemouth to work on the new edition of Pebble Zine. But the team have done me proud with an even stronger issue than the previous.

Alongside the magazine's traditional album reviews, fashion trends and food porn, this new issue features - among many other wondrous things - an interview with 'Ruby and the Ribcage', photographs from San Francisco, and a sportswear-inspired fashion shoot by the young and talented Saskia Lawson.

We also feature our coverage from the recent London Collections: Men, including an interview with À La Disposition's Daniel Kinne, with whom we discussed the fashion label's movement between striking womenswear and its equally creative, début menswear collection. Likewise, fashion editor Tazz Gault reports on our favourite designers from the three-day showcase: Jenny Schwarz, Orschel-Read, and Hentsch Man.

I could not be happier with our third issue. In particular, I am extremely pleased with the many unique illustrations that grace its pages throughout. Have a read, find as many as you can, and let us know which ones you like.

Farewell, Miami

This past weekend has come and gone so quickly. From embarking on my first solo flight, to experiencing the hysteria of a Justin Bieber concert, my get-away to Miami was surreal to say the least. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every minute.

Perhaps the oddest observation was that only a week previously, I was stomping through a very cold and snowy England. To have gone from that to sunshine and 26°C has made this January very unique. Miami genuinely has the perfect winter weather, and that alone is enough to encourage my return.

There is so much I could talk about while the memories are fresh, but I won't ramble, else I may never finish writing this blog post. Tomorrow, I will publish my insight into the terrifying yet curious phenomenon that is Bieber Fever, along with a few photos from the concert. As a non-Belieber, I hope I can offer an exclusive perspective.

In the meantime, I desperately need a good night's sleep. Despite having slept through the entire return flight to London Heathrow, jet lag caught up with me big time today. I don't think I have ever wanted my bed more.