Strangely, the prospect of leaving Plastique was daunting. Perhaps because it signified the end of summer, gaining GCSE’s as well as preparing for college. It was indeed very odd. For more than two months all I had to focus on was seeing my friends, writing for Fashion Capital and interning! It didn’t help that I finished interning the day before getting my GCSE results; I hardly had time to breathe… A level’s were already darkening my doorstep.

Bianca and Sarah (the fashion interns) had left two weeks previous to my departure, as well as Jo Butler (the advertising interns were Jo, Ben Kusi and I…What a team!) So imagine the overflow of guilt that came to me having to leave Ben and the advertising department. It was great though, working with Idalina Leandro (the advertising director of Plastique), just like Brylie Fowler she knows what she wants and has a pretty good idea of how to get it. I came across quite a few strong and ambitious people at Plastique and it was great to see them in action. Finding out what paths they took to get to where they are made me think more about the other things that I can achieve, and that there isn’t a certain path you must take to have a career within the magazine industry.

Ben and Brylie

The most interesting thing about interning had to be making returns. I’m not too sure why, but it’s always knowledgeable to know which PR companies look after what designer and where certain House’s press rooms are and who is the ‘main man’ to speak to. There’s also something quite rewarding about walking around London with a Matthew Williamson bag in your hand, or a shoe box containing Christian Louboutin’s… Maybe it’s just the teenager that I am getting excited at the prospect of being in a confined space with luxuries that your average 16 year old is unlikely to have.

Two weeks after finishing my internship I started college, studying A Levels in French, English Language and Literature and RS, as well as an International Baccalaureate standard in Philosophy. A fortnight after starting college, and already being bobbed down with homework, the Plastique Fashion Week Party took place, and after all that hard work for over two months I wasn’t about to miss out! I took two good friends of mine along, Samara (a student at London’s Fashion Retail Academy) and Gini (a fashion conscious companion of mine). It was a great night, and among the faces we spotted Gavin Douglas, Daisy Lowe and Gerry from Big Brother. It was lovely seeing everyone again! It was worth the hangover I received in my French lesson…

Plastique Issue 2 is now available to buy at Borders, WH Smiths Travel and independent retailers

By Petrina De Gouttes

Images by Rachel Brown