A M B E R ❤

5 Great Reads to Inspire You This 2014

31.12.13

I’ve always believed that Christmas is the only time of year you can really switch off. People all over the world are genuinely not at work, that red Blackberry light isn’t flashing and you’re not rushing to and from meetings. Whilst I’ll be watching myflashtrash.com like a hawk, this is one of the few times in the year that, wherever you are in your career, you’re free of the micro day to day tasks giving you the time to really think macro. Where is your business going in 2014? What are you own personal goals? Write down your plans and let the sky be the limit. With determination and a to-do list nothing is impossible. So in between the turkey and the wrapping paper, why not use the holidays as a time to get off your laptop and into a thought provoking book? Here’s my top eight reads to get you inspired for 2014. 1. The Everything Store – Winner of the 2013 FT & Goldman Sachs Business Book Of The Year Award- this definitive biography by Brad Stone charts the birth and rise of Amazon.com 2. The Greatness Guide – Robin Sharma of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari fame, packs another powerful motivational punch with this clever little hand book. Split into short chapters (lessons) you’ll be revved up with inspiration before you know it. 3. Nassim Nicholas Taleb – an author, trader and mathematics professor examines what randomness means in business and life and the role of dumb luck in most human success. 4. Man’s Search For Meaning – A physcatricst’s account of surviving the Holocaust. Deeply moving and insightful, a powerful book that sheds light on a human’s true strength of character and ability to survive through the most challenging of struggles. One to sense check the reality of your issues and drive you forward. 5. Thinking Fast & Slow – This cult book will challenge you to disrupt the way you think. Giving you practical techniques to make better decisions, full of self-help value and intellectual surprises. A must read. 6. The Happiness Hypothesis – What will really make you happy in 2014? Love, money, success? Psychologist Jonathan Haidt challenges the norms. 7. The Meaning of Things – I’m always challenging my team to be more observational because the unconsidered life, as Socrates put it, is not worth living. AC Grayling’s books are always enlightening and this one, in particular, is an invaluable lesson about what’s truly important in life. 8. The Social Animal – I believe deeply in the will power of the unconscious mind and this best-seller delves into the curious power of the mind and our ability to dictate our own success.

6 Reasons Why I Haven’t Updated My Blog Recently

29.11.13

So in between 1) going to LA, (click to read my diary!) 2) filming a new pilot 3) Running @MYFLASHTRASH 4) moving house ( cardboard boxes. so many cardboard boxes) 5) writing my new column for Harper’s BAZAAR yay 6) Watching these lol youtube rant videos and eating bounce balls – I have managed to woefully neglect this blog for a couple of weeks. Je suis désolée!

[above: Messing around with Poppy Jamie, Bonnie Wright and Jazzy De Lisser at the opening of The Box in L.A. this month.]

There’s a million things I’d love to share- from this great article on FAB , to the rise of poolsidepreneurs, and my speech from Buckingham University ( giving insights into starting your own business and getting into the career you want!).

[speaking at Buckingham University Enterprise Festival]

But I’ll just start from last night! So to Goswell Road, where wonderful architect Zaha Hadid launched her collaboration with Swiss jewellery house Caspita. Delicate, diamond encrusted pendants sat in zen like karma inspired shapes combined with some minimalistic mesh rings. With prices starting at £900 you may have to find someone to swoon under the mistetoe to get your hands on these beauties!

Beauties for him? Check out my BAZAAR column for 5 places to buy the perfect presents for men like this rad mad men poster from minimalistic prints.

Im soooo excited our new packaging has arrived! These dreamy boxes are perfect for storing girly stuff in your bedroom! Onto other dreamy matters, new FLASH TRASH GIRL jewellery has just dropped and im obsessed have you seen it yet? The cutest new necklaces perfect for a winter wardrobe update or xmas gift for your BFF <3

Love these new delicate bracelets.

and finally some new music. Peace. Love & Perseverance. xox

What if brands made their slogans honest?

01.11.13

Transparency and honesty have emerged as trends in brand building in the last year, with company’s like Everlane, who are creating greater traceability throughout the supply chain, gaining considerable traction. Instagram has provided a great platform for brands to convey that transparency through images of sketches, workshops and the offices and studios where the people behind the product work. Video uploads in tandem with this are consistently more apparent on my feed from brands, like DollMemories (a Russian apparel company), that uses the feature to show beautiful clips of their illustrator creating incredible drawings. IMG_3277[1]

As supply chains become more accessible to consumers, Instagram lead businesses are thriving as enterprising individuals capitalize on the network’s unprecedented commerce function. I’ve seen overwhelming growth in individual jewellery brands who are curating product from wholesalers and branding it (If only I had that marketing tool back when I started My Flash Trash from my dorm room at school! Armed only with wordpress and facebook as a marketing platform) The creative process and manufacturing is getting honest, but what if brand’s slogans became honest too? My top picks from new site honestslogans

5 Ways To Spend Your Time This Week

19.10.13

monicavinader

Wearing Fendi & Sandro at Monica Vinader’s #JoyOfGifting event this week

READ:

* How Does a Meme Become A Viral Sensation? via @Mashable ‘ It requires a special mix of relatability, humor and oddness to take on a life of its own.’

* Smartphones are making shopping more fun via @PandoDaily ‘Shopping is getting even more fun and repackaged as entertainment. Mobile phones are being used as entertainment devices,’

* What 11 Successful People do Before Bed via @BusinessInsider ‘Chenault likes to write down the top three things he wants to accomplish the next day. This helps him prioritise first thing the next morning.

EAT:

BERNER’S TAVERN – The London Edition Hotel. The hit fashion week hang out spot is still top of my list of places to eat right now. Get the crispy rock shrimp roll.

DRINK:

The Worship Street Whistling Shop. Full of dark nooks and candle lit corners, this gin emporium is east end decadence in all it’s hip glory. Try the delicious Rose Sangree- with lavender and cinnamon it’s like a wonderful Summer Christmas.

SHOP:

Village Bicycle ( now down on Brick Lane) is one of my fave London stores! A neon, mexican rave of a fashion shop- Willa Keswick’s concept store is the millenial’s mecca. Modern art hangs with Japanese candy and rails of cool street wear and indie brands. Pick up some Kat Maconie Shoes, We Are Handsome swimwear and of course brand new FLASH TRASH GIRL jewelery, cool chokers and unique rings!