Tag: Student

This App Unexpectedly Improved My Music Taste

This App Unexpectedly Improved My Music Taste

by Maeve ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Great things can come from unexpected places and where else for hidden inspiration than the viral app ‘Tik Tok’? This video social media app invites you to use sounds and visual filters to create short videos and share them online. Tik Tok has grown substantially in 2020, fortified by new users during COVID lock downs. It now has over 800 million users worldwide.

I had been aware of Tik Tok since last year but did not choose to download it until this Summer, for two reasons:

  1. I work with social media and should be aware of the trends and functions appearing across social media platforms.
  2. My friends who already were present on the app spoke fanatically about it.

I joined Tik Tok expecting to find gen z humour and fashion inspiration. Instead, I was presented with many musicians that can only be described accurately with this Lady Gaga meme:

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As proof, here’s some of the amazing artists I’ve been introduced (and reintroduced to) by Tik Tok.

The Garden

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California based duo ‘The Garden’ popped up to me in a Tik Tok with their track ‘California Here We Go’ used and immediately wanted to hear the full song. I’ve since become enamored with them, listening to their rock in the mornings for daily hype. If you were the main character in a movie, ‘The Garden’ would feature in your soundtrack.

Listen to: California Here We Go, Egg, Call This # Now.

Haley Heyderickx

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Singer-songwriter Haley Heyderickx’s musical statement is melodic, hypnotic and soothing. I’m so glad her song ‘The Bug Collector’ was recommended to me in a Tik Tok as I’ve yet to hear a track of hers that I dislike, or want to skip. You’ll soon become addicted to her vibrant acoustics and haunting lyrics.

Listen to: Drinking Song, The Bug collector and Slow Talkin’. Her album ‘I Need to Start a Garden’ is a must listen.

Abba

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Yes I am cultured and yes I have listened to ABBA on countless occassions. Both in it’s originally and ‘Mamma Mia’ iterations, ABBA music stands the test of time; being enjoyed across generations. I thought that I had already heard all of the Swedish group’s music, but again through Tik Tok, I was introduced to ‘If it wasn’t for the nights’. The repetitive disco beat and catchy lyrics are joyful to hear, as well as ear worm causing. There’s an ABBA song for every occasion.

Listen to: If it wasn’t for the nights. Then listen to anything else from their discography for an instant serotonin boost.

Girl in Red

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I became acquainted with artist Girl in Red in an unorthodox way, which I will explain. On Tik Tok, there are two ways of browsing videos. Either you can watch videos from who you are ‘Following’ on the app; or a recommended ‘For You Page’ (FYP) of selected content. It was on my FYP that I was reccommended bedroom tours, by students like me. In many of these videos, a poster appeared asking ‘Do you listen to Girl in Red?’ It was from there I searched and discovered that amazing musical artist.

Girl in Red, (also known as Marie Ulven) is an indie pop artist best known for her song ‘We fell in love in October’. Her unique songwriting and funky guitar create songs made for dancing to.

Listen to: Girls, we fell in love in October and Bad idea!. (Girls is my favourite ‘look out the window and think existentially think’ song).

REX ORANGE COUNTY

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Indie artist Rex Orange County has produced some of my most loved songs for years. Due to this fact I assumed that I had listened to all of his discography. However, through the magic of Tik Tok’s algorithm I found ‘Pluto Projector’ from his newest album ‘Pony’. Rex Orange County’s is such a gifted musician that you can listen to his songs multiple times, and hear something new each time. Personally, I cannot access the words to describe how much I adore the instrumental ending to ‘Pluto Projector’. You simply have to hear it for yourself.

Listen to: Pluto Projector, Corduroy Dreams, Grass Stains, Best friend.

Whilst I only joined recently, I can’t understate the positive effect of Tik Tok on my playlists. If you haven’t joined yet, do it today. The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll meet endless musical entertainment.

Thanks again for reading.

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Transform Your Clothes Into Party Ready Outfits

Transform Your Clothes Into Party Ready Outfits

by Maeve ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Frost outside, dark evenings and the struggle to get out of your cozy bed in the morning. It’s the middle of December 2019, so you know what this means: New Years parties, family gatherings – and not knowing what to wear for either of them.

Year on year, I tend to not purchase too many new pieces in Winter, so when Christmas arrives and I’m meant to dress up, I struggle to put together cohesive looks. The festive season is also very expensive, between buying gifts, going to Christmas markets, and nights out. To avoid looking fashionably confused but not becoming bankrupt, here’s a few fashion suggestions to brighten up those basic pieces most of us own.

Dress up your jeans with a bustier top

Everyone has at least one pair of jeans – and although denim may not be known for the festive season, that doesn’t mean that you can’t dress it up with a chic bustier top.

Bustier tops are bang on trend this season and add a romantic touch to a simple of jeans. To avoid freezing, layer over a blazer and party the night away. This bustier top is from Boohoo, and is also available in hot pink, neon yellow and white (£12).

Finish the look with square high heels and some statement earrings for effortless class.

Vamp up a midi dress with knee high boots.

This can apply to any dresses or skirts that are long in length. Adding knee high/thigh high boots to a midi dress brings drama, as well as warmth, to an outfit. Does your dress have splits? Wearing thigh high boots underneath will be sure to grab attention and is more edgy than a pair of heels.

These stunning croc leather effect knee high boots are from Missguided, and come in multiple colours (£55).

Complete the outfit with simple jewelry for a paired back, stylish ensemble.

Match a basic top with an eye-catching skirt

If you own a basic t-shirt, wearing it with a patterned skirt can transform it into comfy yet dressy look. An edgy band t-shirt matches well with a feminine skirt and creates visual contrast, for a more interesting outfit.

This skirt I am recommending is one that I own and love. This black floral mini skirt is from Urban Outfitters, and is also available in red. (£36)

To finish the look, add sheer black tights, heed boots and a leather jacket.

Make a little black dress pop, with standout accessories.

It’s time to pull out the black dress that’s been sitting in the back of your wardrobe! To fully embody a 90’s party girl, glam up a little black dress (or any mini dress) with rhinestone tights and thin heels. These tights are from Ebay but are available across the internet. (£4.19)

Simply add dangling rhinestone earrings to complete your debut as a human disco ball. Alternatively, for an extra expensive look, pair the tights with a satin dress, and skinny heels and hair accessories.

Hair and makeup

Almost any outfit can be become your party attire, with the right hair and makeup. A quick search on Youtube or a glance at Instagram will unveil a buffet of inspiration for party looks.

Recently, I have been found some especially dazzling eye looks from Regina @coolgirlswearmugler as well as makeup inspiration from Alexa Demie. A simple rule is to add lots of glitter and just enjoy yourself.

Look at Lottie! Introduction

Look at Lottie! Introduction

by Maeve ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

So, am I only posting the introduction to my blog now – yes. Am I still going to tell you all about myself and why I started blogging – also yes.

If this is your first time seeing Look at Lottie, hello, my name is (big surprise) Lottie and currently I am nineteen years old, although in a few weeks, I’ll soon be turning twenty (Hooray for Virgo season!).

Anyway, I happen to live in a city called Belfast, which is in Northern Ireland. Although it’s a tiny country with a small population we’re home to friendly people, scenery so picturesque that you can’t avoid putting it on Instagram and for having rubbish weather.

Belfast is also where I study. I go to Ulster University, where I am working towards a degree in Communication, Advertising and Marketing (A mouthful, I know) and this month, I’m starting my second year of the course. In all honesty, I’m very much looking forward to going back to uni, I miss seeing all of my friends at lectures and I enjoy what I study quite a lot, even if it sounds nerdy to admit.

So why start a blog? I can’t exactly give a straightforward answer on this. One reason is that I get a lot of satisfaction out of being a creator and I like the idea of expressing myself online, regardless of whether I receive tons of followers, or not. From what I’ve seen online, blogging is a stellar way to interact and connect with people who share similar interests. Also, it’s pleasing to research and write about whatever topics I may choose to and put it out into the world for people to read.

Hopefully, if you have read my last few posts and was confused about the character who was behind them, this post will clear things up for you. If you’re new to the Look at Lottie blog, welcome! I will be posting more soon (I promise, I’m getting better at it) so until then, thanks for reading.