London Calling @ the top of the dial, after all this, Won't you give me a Smile?

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river

The infamous song by the Clash has never seemed more poignant nor apt, although I don't actually live by the river. I have felt dejected, disheartened, ashamed and embarrassed of the barbaric antics that have taken over London this August. I love London, I feel defensive of it, I get protective of it and most of the time my heart swells with pride to be a Londoner, especially in summer. But this year a small part of me was crushed when I saw the way so many youths and adults were behaving towards their neighbours and local independent businesses. What kind of small-minded cretins would want to trash and set fire their own neighbourhoods? Needless to say I'm still in shock but hopeful that we have seen the worst of the damage. Rant over and chin up - here are some wonderful photographs of the events on Mare Street as captured by Leon Mark and Ruben Moreira:

Will I see you on Thursday?

Here is one event, about which I'd really like to say "Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt!"

Intern Life

As someone who, like (it appears) the rest of the world is trying to break into fashion journalism it feels only right to share my experiences of the competitive industry. The internships I have done for various glossy publications have opened my eyes to the fact that 'The Devil Wears Prada' is less Hollywood satire and more insightful realism. This evening I met with a friend I made when interning at a popular men's fashion magazine. We bonded whilst working in the Soho office and had banter with the male stylists and models on shoots. Said girl, has just been travelling for 6 months, she is now back in London and interning at Vogue, so we went for a catch up. Over pizza we shared tales of fashion desk work with humor and hindsight. I laughed when she told me the saga of the missing solid gold eyelash curlers at one disorganised weekly, which incidentally, she found under the shopping editor's desk.

Also in fashion news is that Vogue has been gazumped by another magazine who have pinched Natalia Vodianova for the front cover of their December issue. Wherever there are models and designers there is always drama and disappointment. As a fashion intern I have never had a dull moment; highlights have included writing my first article and press days at Bond Street jewellers, spent sipping champagne while pouring over diamonds all afternoon. Low points include pooper scooping one editor's pet maltese having taken it around the block. Oh well, I suppose when I've made it I'll look back and laugh!