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🌙 NEW YEAR'S EVE FIVE WAYS

With the night now transforming into New Year's Eve, I thought what better way to end this year than with a post of ideal NYE looks, no matter your chosen form of celebration, as modeled by my fabulous sister, Margot.

One: A simple but comfortable look of pyjamas and a baggy jumper. A reliable look which pairs nicely with a large mug of hot chocolate and lots of crappy New Year films. Like that one appropriately titled "New Year's Eve". Maybe even switch out the hot chocolate for a large glass of wine. Or a bottle.

Two: The classic combination of jeans and a good jumper, specifically made for family outings where you're likely to stand in the cold for an hour watching the same underwhelming fireworks as last year. But at least you're stylish under that giant winter coat. So what if no one can see.

Three: The perfect look for a low-key house party that your parents probably don't know about; trousers and a nice top. Pairs well with the drink of all (underage) house party drinks, Strongbow Dark Fruits. Festive, comfortable and fun in every instagram photo you'll wish you hadn't been tagged in the next day.

Four: A dress for all occasions. The mini dress. To be worn at both your aunt's kind-of-crap dinner party, and through every club in town once the clock strikes 11. It can even distract from the obvious face of disgust as you down that prosecco you really hate, but swear you love.

Five: And finally the absolute epitome of glamour, the elegant black gown. Pairs well with an oversized wine glass and obviously lots of wine to fill it. It can also magically take you from a pair of strappy stilettos at the beginning of your night, to your trusty converse on the walk home from your friends' grown-up party. Don't forget the red lip to disguise the lack of effort put into the rest of your makeup. They'll never know how easy it was to look so good.

Have a happy (and fashionable) New Year.

posted by G . Saturday, 30 December 2017 . Fashion

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posted by G . Saturday, 2 December 2017 . Diary

🌈 WHAT ARE YOU ON?

I've been going back and forth about my university degree decision. Is it what I want to do? Is there something better I could be spending four years and £36,000 on? Pre-Paris trip, I was absolutely on the fence with no idea of what I wanted to be doing. I love French... but I also love photography. Both take up different areas of interest in my brain and both make me equally happy in different ways. I like that with French I'm always putting more knowledge into my brain about how to talk someone's ear off in a different language. But I like that with photography I can always challenge myself and go in so many different directions of creativity and imagination. I also like how hands on it can be. The building of mood boards and research that is then translated by shutter noises into final photos which strike pride into an artist. Pride and learning comes with both. And that's where I'm stuck. Or where I was stuck.

Post-Paris trip I decided that after walking around my favourite place for three days it was the only place I wanted to be. The only place I could see myself. Therefore my only option must be to go to Paris in September to study French. But is it that I want to study France and it's language, or just that I want to be in Paris as soon as possible? I still don't know.

I've spent the day editing photos and manipulating colour. Inspired by the wintery blues, I just wanted everything to be bright and overwhelming. It reminded me of a particular aesthetic, called 'Acid', that I used to see on tumblr when I was in year eight and knew how to code. Probably wanting to revive my coding abilities, I put together a selection of photos, including some of my own and the words "What are you on?" came to mind. I was asked this by one of my beaut friends this week over messenger, because I was sending fun, lively messages as opposed to my usual messages, which apparently must be cynical and sarcasm-fueled. Despite it being a tongue-n-cheek saying, it made me think about what I was on, in the sense of projects and being switched on to things that I'm doing and developing.

I realised I've been on nothing. Just working and shopping and wishing I was being creative. Wishing I knew which degree was right for me. And I know if my parents read this they will be rolling their eyes because they know which one I should pick. But I still don't, and I don't really have much time to be this indecisive. But if you know me, you know that's exactly what I am. And right now I'm not creating, fuelling, producing enough to be proud of myself. But I want to be. And hopefully I will be, if I could just make a decision.

What are you on?

Photos by Georgia Stead and Pinterest

posted by G . Tuesday, 14 November 2017 . Photography / Travel

🌹 ALONE IN PARIS

London is so grey right now, as though mimicking my feelings towards being ill and back to the working routine after a weekend in Paris. That's not to say that Paris wasn't grey because it was, and it included rain, but even when the weather is miserable there it's hard to let it reflect onto your feelings. Maybe it's just me but I find it virtually impossible to be miserable in Paris, even when I'm waiting for the Eurostar back home. I think a person can easily be sad in Paris, in a dramatic black-and-white-film kind of way, but even when it's raining and there is a minimal amount of light in the sky, something reminds you that you're next to the Seine and you can probably see the Eiffel Tower somewhere.

Despite being slightly bias because I am obviously a fan of Paris, if that's what you would call it, my weekend was also cheered up by the fact I was asked for directions three times, and in French. So either I look French, if that is a look, or I'm pulling off looking like I know what I'm doing and where I'm going. Which is all completely pretend. I'm as clueless as the next eighteen year old on their gap year.

I did discover a couple of things, which just heightened my love for the place, whilst I was there sauntering around the autumnal scenery for three days. Firstly, you can carry a book around, and read literally anywhere and no one thinks twice about it. Normally I would have a giant bag to hide any hint of the leisurely activities I intend to do in a day, such as writing, reading or taking photos. Or maybe that is more a personal confidence issue that I just so happen to lose when abroad. Secondly, it is perfectly acceptable to eat plain baguette bread outside of your house. This seems like something you should be able to do anywhere, but from my experience, eating the end of a baguette on your way home from work draws in a couple of confused, clearly-never-been-to-France stares. But not in Paris.

Returning from this trip, I was not only immensely excited to go back sometime soon, but I also got my roll of film developed on that same day. Due to being there by myself, none of the photos really contained personal moments of interaction but they still maintain a sentimentality to them. Mostly because the autumn light that runs through the pictures was so beautiful, and in a way reminded me that it is possible to enjoy being alone, wandering through exhibitions, without feeling lonely and grey.

Photos by Georgia Stead

posted by G . Tuesday, 7 November 2017 . Photography / Travel

🍑 SUMMER BACKLOG

I recently got some film from this summer developed. Instead of taking lots of pictures on my phone and using up tons of storage I thought I'd break out an actual camera in the hopes to appreciate the colours of the Italian hills a bit more once I got the prints back. And after 3 months and an insane amount of money, they were worth me annoying everyone I was on holiday with, with the noisy shutter sounds and an obviously pointed lens. Of course I'm not about to bombard this page with 144 photos of my family and a swimming pool, so a select few of my favourites are below. If you can be bothered to browse.

Photos by Georgia Stead

posted by G . Thursday, 21 September 2017 . Diary

🌈 MONTH ONE

My first full-time-job pay slip. A favourite coffee shop. Understanding how to navigate central London. A bus journey that stops just at my house. Discovering the usefulness of podcasts on public transport in rush hour traffic. My first gap year month has gone by, not always so quickly, and these are the bullet points of independence and living alone(-ish) that I have accomplished so far. And of course not forgetting that I've had to become a cat person, despite also discovering that I am allergic to such animals.

I still have lonely days and evenings where I want to cry because I can't make a joke with my brother or sister, that I know only they would understand. I can't speak French with a terrible accent to deliberately wind up my dad and I don't get to stand in the kitchen with my mum, updating her on the life and times of my friends and our Millennial issues.

But in spite of all that, I'd say I'm adjusting, like everyone leaving home for the first time is right now. That small list of new things feels like an indicator of my new-found loneliness. And I don't mean a melancholic loneliness, just the process of learning how to be alone and feeling like a new city is slowly but surely becoming your home, even if it is only for three months.

It's those small details during each day that form a routine and make me realise that actually I quite like it here, like my walk to work in the morning, which although freezing, is usually sunny and crisp and makes me want to wear a load of autumn clothes and buy a cup of coffee before reaching the office. So even though I'm scared of it all, there are some silver linings in learning to be an adult.

Photos: @georvxa

posted by G . Sunday, 3 September 2017 . Diary

🍒 NEW

The first time I went to Paris I went by myself. I left my mum at the Eurostar and cried all the way through security and passport control. I didn't want to look back because then she would see me crying, and I would most likely see her crying. At the time the queue of people around me were either very confused, or pitying me for this young display of emotion.

Today I have officially moved out for my gap year, and despite still living with housemates it's the first long period of time without my family. This time I was left by my mum at the door and we both cried ridiculous amounts. Although reading this it probably sounds stupid that we cried so much, considering I'll be back home in three months, but after spending the summer counting down the days to my independence I realise now that I am closer to my family than I ever thought.

The adventure of being sixteen and off to Paris, and being eighteen on a gap year draws the parallels of excitement at first, and then realisation as it happens, that this is what it is like to be an adult. You miss your normal bed, your normal mug collection and your dinners watching tv with your siblings. But I just have to make the most of being somewhere I've dreamed of this past six months. Make it the most beneficial networking experience of my life.

If you know me you know I just about cry at anything, so writing this is proving difficult as I am slightly blinded by tears but hopefully I'll stop crying soon.

posted by G . Thursday, 27 July 2017 . Photography / Video

🌻 JULY 27

With nothing else to do this summer, and feeling left behind by my jet-setting friends, I made a small video/film/movie, whatever you want to call it, using an obviously old video camera I dug from a dusty swamp of forgotten belongings. Thought I'd document a few exploring moments with Margot, sister dearest.

G.

GEORGIA STEAD

Bonjour Gia

🌙 NEW YEAR'S EVE FIVE WAYS

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🌈 WHAT ARE YOU ON?

🌹 ALONE IN PARIS

🍑 SUMMER BACKLOG

🌈 MONTH ONE

🍒 NEW

🌻 JULY 27

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