Stuck Up North

Posted in Daily Outfits.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket
ASOS cape, F+F jumper, Topshop skirt, Primark brogues, Zara belt, Miss Selfridge ring

I often feel like I’m missing out because of my location. I live in Leeds (or Up North for those of you not so hot on the geography) and on the whole, really love it. The city is stunning (if you look in the right places), there’s a fantastic media scene and I’m surrounded by friends and family. But blogger events for us Northerners are few and far between, and my heart always sinks when I realise I’ll miss a meet-up or press day because ‘popping down to the city’ costs £70 and takes 2.5 hours.

I visit London a fair bit with work, but no one in my office had the foresight to arrange a meeting that coincides with London Fashion Week (which is just bad planning in my opinion), so I’m not sure my press pass will be put to much use this season. Which is a shame, because I have a rather fabulous jumpsuit that really deserves a seat on the front row.

Have you been to any blogger events?

34 Comments

Alex

Nope! Then again, I don’t think I’m quite the sort of blogger that would really fit in during Fashion Week so I’m not surprised really.

The London-centredness of most things annoys me. I also have North West gripe about the fact that everything is in Manchester – Liverpool is a big, vibrant city too you know!

Reply
Rebecca

I’ve always been intrigued by blogger events but they always seem to be in London, so far away for us Northerners! Lets hope there is more up here soon x

Reply
Sophie

I love that cape!
Nope not been invited to any blogger events yet! I would love to be able to go to some so fingers crossed I get some invites! Haha!
I loved Leeds, my friend is at Uni there and I visted last year. It was my first trip “up north” (Im from Essex) and I looking to go back again soon.
Sophie
x

Reply
Alice

One day dear Jen you will get to London Fashion Week. It’s a shame train fares are so high and unjustifiable for a days travel, yet it does seem most events are in London x

Reply
FromGemWithLove

LOVE the jumper. That’s a shame, train fares are expensive. Costing me quite a fair bit to go to this Sheffield meet up, as I live in Birmingham, but really want to meet everyone. So envious of that cape coat. xxx

Reply
Winnie

I know how you feel but you are MUCH further north than I am and I suppose being from Birmingham means that London is only 1.5 hours away most days. Still, I miss a lot of events because I just can’t afford to visit all the time! Maybe I’ll move there eventually but for the time being, it’s all about picking and choosing events. Still really glad that you were able to go to the Leicester Next event. So many people were saying it was the furthest north they’ve been which is crazy huh?

Love the jumper and er…I need to see this jumpsuit of yours!

Reply
amonkeyfatshionista

I attended my first bloggers event earlier this month – you may have heard of it – Plus London and I LOVED IT! After overcoming my initial “arghh I wont know anyone” fear, I felt like I was walking into a room full of friends. It was more peculiar and amazing at the same time.

Reply
Laura

I really hope there are some northern blogger events soon, I live in Leeds too!

I also agree on the cape, its beautifulx

Reply
Phoebe

Loving the outfit.
Always feel I’m missing out in the North as well.. you’d think they split some in Manchester/Leeds/Birmingham but apparently London is the all that matters!

Reply
Lil

I’ve been to a few bloggers events, because I managed to choose London as a spot for uni before I even started blogging – how convenient! I totally understand that it must be frustrating for you guys up north, especially now I split my time between home in London and my boyfriend in Leeds, I know what a great city it is and it deserves some more attention! Xx

Reply
claire eloise

I love your cape coat!!! Oh where is it from? & I’m originally from London but love it soooo much more in Leeds. It’s such a great city to be young in 😀 xxx

Reply
Hayley

I definitely agree with the missing out on things feeling – Bristol is “only” 1hr 45mins from Paddington, but thats still quite a trip!

Reply
A Thrifty Mrs

It isn’t just fashion, everything is so London centric. I live in Manchester and work in both in Liverpool and Manchester in regional journalism yet every product launch I’m asked to cover happens in London and because I’m largely freelance I just can’t afford to pop down and claim it back later.
Most annoying.

I enjoy living Ooop Norf but it can be somewhat frustrating.

Reply
Em x

I do think we miss out not being in London. I’d love to go to some blogger events but they all seem to be far away! x

Reply
Helen

Urgh I completely agree. I’ve never been to any blog events because they’re always down south and even if I could get to them, t takes too long and getting time off work is hard. There ought to be more Manchester events because that’s almost central northern! I do feel so out of the loop when people are tweeting about all these events 🙁

Reply
LilyLipstick

£70 is ridiculous to get from Leeds to London. I’ve never been to a blogging event…think I’d be really nervous about meeting bloggers “IRL”.
Love the jumpuer you’re wearing here. x

Reply
Diary of a Tinyholder

I like the vintage/shabby chic/bargain hunting scene and that all seems to happen in the west country(most blogs i follow are around there) – it seems we are both scuppered. I’m the one in London trying to get out! 🙂

Reply
Diary of a Tinyholder

LillyLipstick – £70 is a bargain to get from leeds to london – at least it’s a fair distance. I live 30 miles out (45 min train) and if I paid for the daily fare it would be £35. As it happens I pay the £4000 a year train plus parking. It’s daylight robbery!!

Reply
Nicola

Nope, I live in Hull, which gets even less action than Leeds! The train to London doesn’t cost me that much though, I’ve been there and back for £30 before. Maybe if you did want to go down for an event you could look into taking a detour through Hull, it might be cheaper for some reason (no one wants to come to Hull, probably).

Reply
Kb

Wow £70, that’s crazy! I remember always getting the megabus up to visit friends for £2.50, but gor majorly put off when we broke down in Watford Gap for a couple of hours. I can understand this frustration somewhat now I’m at Uni in Nottingham, I chose it as I wanted to live independently but now I find I’m missing out on a lot! I guess because it’s my final year, I can attempt to concentrate on work more and I’m a bit more selective about what I try and go to. Aussie normally has a mixture of locations for it’s events which is good, but I guess as most brands are based in London, then it makes sense to host events there. I just wish we got more notice about things, I could’ve met one of my favourite designers but was only told the day before and had to leave London on an earlier, pre-bought ticket! I’d definitely book train tickets as far in advance as possible for next season so you’re not disappointed!

Reply
SHOEGAL

I am so sick of replying to PR people’s emails saying ‘thanks for the invite for your event tomorrow, but as I’m not in London I won’t be able to attend on such short notice’. My location is stated on my blog so I don’t know why they keep sending out invites with less than 24 hours notice.

And yes, we should definitely organise our own event up north.

Reply
Kelly

That cape is gorgeous! and I can’t believe that jumper is F&F.

I’ve been to a few blogging events, it’s easier for me as it’s only a hours train, still pricey if you work out about 3/4 events or so, depending on how busy you are. It’s great to meet other bloggers (hopefully you one day lady!!) but I think more should be done for your Northern lasses. 🙂

xxx

Reply
Pearl Westwood

As a fellow Northerner I feel your pain, its not just the train but also the cost of a hotel too! Ive been invited to so many cool things but hae had to decline as the cost of getting down there and staying over is so much. 🙁

Reply
dinoprincesschar

I do agree that train fares are mental..I’m a fair bit further south than you (well, midlands), and i have been costing up a trip to take some of my guides unit to london in the summer hols, the train fares are going to be seriously expensive 🙁
i haven’t been to any blogger events, never been invited lol, but i have plans to arrange a blogger meet up in summer..

Reply
Llara

It’s the same for those of us in Scotland. Mind you, I thought you weren’t that fussed for fashion…anyhoo, I see you made it down (yay for Martin Lewis) so enjoy it – maybe you’ll find yourself converted…

Reply
Miss N

Great post! I LOVE and am proud of being from the north (I’m from Merseyside) but I do find it frustrating that things can be a bit London-centric at times. However, I do think that the internet is making it a bit easier and I have noticed that people in the North are doing their own thing more and more regardless of what is happening down south.
I LOVE London, don’t get me wrong. I went to a book launch there recently and had a great time. But I am also really passionate about promoting and getting involved in more localised fashion events.

Reply

Leave a comment