WELCOME T
OUR VERY FIRST ISSUE!
WHAT’S INSIDE 4
A Guide To:
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The Skincare Edit:
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A Guide To:
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How To:
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Self-Confidence:
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This Weeks Top Tips:
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The Art of Decluttering:
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This Weeks Top Tips:
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A Guide To:
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An Interview With:
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“That Time of The Month?”
Finding Your Style
Nutrition and Healthier Choices
How to accept yourself and love your flaws
How to organise your life, starting through a bedroom tidy-up
Blogging
Stem’s Top Picks
Make Someones Day
Helpful tricks to make your week a little bit easier
Helpful tricks to make your week a little bit easier
Get to know our Illustrator Phebe Lou Morson
Why you shouldn’t feel embarrassed
ON THE COVER + BELOW: Illustration © Phebe Lou Morson (@phebelouillustration)
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TO S T E M HELLO... and welcome to our very first issue of STEM. We are so excited to finally share our work with you, and we hope you are just as excited to read it! All of our How To’s, Top Tips and A Guide To’s are designed and written by individuals who have experienced similar issues to the ones we cover, meaning we can offer you first-hand advice on topics you might find scary, intimidating, or maybe just a little bit embarrassing. Our aim is for every teen girl to use Stem as a platform to learn, grow (hence the name) and feel confident in every situation life throws at her. So use this self-help guide to share ideas amongst your pals, to inspire you to try something new, or just to provide comfort and support when you feel there’s no-one to talk to. A new issue of STEM will be on the shelves for yourself every two months, packed full of current hot topics, plus your personal concerns that you’ve written in to us about. So if there’s anything you feel we have missed, or you would really like us to discuss, please get in touch! All of our contact details can be found on the back page, and all submissions are acknowledged and grealty appreciated, so thank you! STEM x
DON’T MISS! NEXT ISSUE ON SALE FROM 13 MAY
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Illustration Š Phebe Lou Morson
A guide to:
FINDING YOUR STYLE Whether you are looking to add something new into your wardrobe, or completely chuck the whole thing out and start afresh, we’ve provided you with a jam-packed How To Guide full of steps to help you figure out what you love, and what you’re not so sure of. Remember, whilst following the latest trends and dressing to fit in can seem like the easy way out, being true to who you are will always be the best version of you. Finding and creating your own personal style can be tricky nowadays, especially when we are constantly exposed to our favourite celebrities and bloggers wearing super cool (yet super expensive) items on our Instagram page. But instead of feeling disappointed about the fact your purse can’t accommodate the new Balenciaga Speed’s, take some inspiration and start getting creative. Everyone has their own ‘signature style’, whether they even realise this or not, however developing an image which you feel comfortable in can take years, so remember to be patient. After all, the experimenting stages and fashion faux pas along the way are all part of the fun!
1. Review Your Wardrobe If you’re anything like us here at STEM, you’ll be familiar with the escapade of opening up your wardrobe only to find the entire contents bursting out around you, yet to be followed by the quote “I Have Nothing to Wear.” If you can relate, then the most important part of developing and finding your own style starts here. Firstly, set yourself a ‘6 month rule’. If it hasn’t been worn within the past 6 months, then it goes. Anything that is in good condition, consider putting up for sale on apps such as EBay or Depop (more clothes sold = more £££ for new ones) or send off to your local charity shops. Places such as Oxfam are always looking for items to sell, so you can get rid of your old clutter whilst doing something good!
2. find Some Inspiration Although we previously mentioned that a look through your Instagram feed can lead to major clothes envy, these platforms can be a great way to get inspired and visualise clothes through new perspectives and styles. However, if you’re currently only following individuals who seem to have a never-ending bank account, consider looking for new profiles which are more similar to yourself. The Blogging Sphere has grown so popular recently, it’s nearly certain nowadays that there is someone out there who will appeal
to you. Bloggers such as Bethan Roberts (@bethanjroberts), Lydia Rose (@fashioninflux) and Alicia Roddy (@lissyroddyy) are all known for their unique styles which consist of affordable high street labels, alongside many more influencers out there to choose from!
3. Invest Investing in key pieces will make a huge impact on your wardrobe, and may possibly make your outfit decision choices a lot easier. Staple items such as denim, white tee’s and minimal trainers are all great examples of pieces that you can style in a variety of different ways, alongside them pairing with almost everything. However, if denim isn’t your thing, pinpoint something in your style which seems to pop up often. If you love a pair of cropped trousers and aren’t ready to give them up, then invest in a pair which you can style in multiple ways and that make you feel good. After all, fashion is all about what you feel best in, so find something that you love and that you know you will rewear.
4. Make It A Reflection of Yourself Current trends are great if trend-following is your thing, but are quick to lose popularity and make their way to the back of your wardrobe. Also, trends can soon become the ‘easy option’ for styling. If it’s in fashion, then you should be wearing it, right? Nope. Fashion is an amazing opportunity for you to express yourself, so use it to your advantage. If you’re a colourful person at heart, but all the current trends are raving over monochrome, never feel pressured to fit in. Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in and let your inner confidence radiate, because that is key to helping you find your style. For more articles like this, visit our website! Written and Edited by Bethanie Ryder
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AN INTERVIEW WITH...
PHEBE LOU
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uggling a University degree and a part-time job, all whilst trying to get your name out into the freelance world would seem almost impossible for anyone. But for Phebe, it’s just another day. At 21 years old, Arts University Bournemouth student Phebe Lou Morson has already made her mark in the world of illustrations, with commissions ranging from the Metro UK to ourselves here at Stem lining up for one of her modishly fun and fresh creations. Originally from Manchester, Phebe discovered her love (and talent) for illustration just 3 years ago, after moving over 200 miles down south to seaside town “I sit here mostly in Bournemouth. But heading down the creative route wasn’t always my pyjamas at my originally on the cards for this quirky northerner. “I actually applied for desk in my tiny little politics degrees in sixth form, and uni room, looking at the very last minute changed to extremely both fine art (very very glad I didn’t go down that route!) and illustration un-glamorous” courses. Funnily enough whilst looking for a Uni to do something ‘arty’, I googled ‘Universities by the sea’ and low and behold, The Arts
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University Bournemouth was number one on the list. It had always been one of my dreams to live by the sea, and AUB has one of the best illustration courses in the country so it all worked out really well. I chose illustration over fine art courses as I prefer to work to a solid brief, where I can build good relationships with clients and make people happy with my work.” Phebe’s creations cover everything and anything, from a bathtub full of avocados to the various styles and names of pubic hair, however it’s clear that a theme of strong and empowered females runs throughout her work. Just a quick scroll through her Instagram makes it apparent that this artist is a free-spirited, eccentric individual, but Phebe insists that her inspiration for her girls is found elsewhere. “I’m a pretty loud and bold person myself haha, but I’m also like the complete opposite girl from those I feature in my work at the same time. I sit here mostly in my pyjamas at my desk in my tiny little Uni room, looking extremely un-glamorous, whereas the ladies I draw tend to be extremely fabulous and glam. My inspirations are
© Phebe Lou Morson
almost all the women I surround myself with. I live with 3 other amazing female artists who inspire me and my work everyday. My sister too, she’s completely badass, but most importantly my mum, she’s amazing.” And it seems that we’re not the only ones who Phebe’s eye has caught. When she’s not working as a waitress in her local café or finishing her degree, you can catch Phebe illustrating for tabloid publication Metro UK, which is available for free on public-transport services throughout the country. Covering a range of topics and news-headlines (which can be found in the ‘highlights’ section of her Instagram), Phebe’s creativity and ability has no limits. Phebe’s resilience to set-backs and determination to flourish in the job that she loves is what makes her special. The freelance industry can sometimes be a frustrating and disheartening Phebe’s spare time will be dedicated to commitment, but she doesn’t let that stop finding inspiration for new designs and her. Through displaying her work at “for every shitty getting her foot firmly in the door of the local pop-up exhibitions and handing creative industry. Her advice for young moment there’s a out her self-designed business girls wanting to achieve their creative cards, Phebe shows no signs of giving million great ones” dreams? “Work really really hard, this up, with her tenacious attitude proving not isn’t an easy job and it involves a hell of one to be reckoned with. So what can we a lot of down moments and being told expect to see next from the quick-witted, you’re not good enough, but for every gifted Mancunian? With her final year shitty moment there’s a million great of University coming to a close, ones. It’s a really rewarding job and at the end of the day you can make money out of your biggest passion which not everyone can do. It also gives you a unique platform to have a voice, which especially in this generation, is really important for young women.” Written and Edited by Bethanie Ryder
Phebe’s work is featured throughout our magazine and our website. For more illustrations, check Out Phebe’s Instagram at:
@phebelouillustration Or get in touch via email:
phebelounew@hotmail.com
All Pictures and illustrations © Phebe Lou Morson
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