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HOW TO GET OVER A SITUATIONSHIP

First, allowedyou’re to call it a breakup

There’s a huge misconception that labels and titles legitimise relationships, so when situationships end, it’s tempting to try to reassure yourself by saying things like, “we weren’t together anyway.” But labels don’t make relationships real. The people in them do. Regardless of how it ended, you invested time, energy, intimacy, emotion, and possibly even love into someone. You are allowed to refer to them as an “ex”, and don’t let anybody disregard your feelings and tell you to just “get over it.”

Let go of their potential

It’s that magical time of year when the leaves have fallen from the trees, Christmas is just around the corner, and those who are single scramble to find a companion for the colder months, it’s the perfect storm for a situationship to form. But when these situations inevitably come crashing down, it can feel like your entire world has fallen apart and can often hurt even more than a “real breakup”.

Situationships are messy, confusing, complicated, and will most definitely end in heartbreak, (speaking from experience). Whist a traditional relationship involves labels, permanent commitment, and a mutual agreement, a situationship is that awkward in-between phase, where you are dating someone but there’s blurred lines regarding commitment and exclusivity. You act like you are in a relationship, you text every day, you spend time together and go on dates, but you’re not official.

There’s no surprise that feelings can be caught quickly when a situationship forms, and it’s difficult to not get ahead of yourself and have high expectations from the beginning, especially if they are making plans for the future and telling you everything you want to hear. So, when that person turns round and tells you they’re not ready for anything serious, and you’re not sure how to process it, here are a few tips of how to move on:

When dating someone for a short period of time, it’s easy to fall head over heels and start picturing your future with this person. Often, we can get carried away and let our imagination run wild, making it even harder when things eventually come to an end. It’s likely that you have romanticised this person and are clinging on to the idea of you two together and the potential the relationship had, rather than looking at the reality. Take the rose-tinted glasses off and see them for who they truly are, not as who you wish they could be. Remember that loving the idea of someone is not the same thing as being in love with them. Acceptance is about embracing the truth, not the story.

Spend time with friends and family

This might seem like a given, but it’s easy to get caught up in your emotions and be so focused on who you have lost, rather than focusing on who you still have by your side. Surround yourself with friends and family and be open and honest to them about how you’re feeling. If you find yourself saying things like, “it doesn’t matter” or, “we weren’t even together,” Remember that you’re entitled to every emotion that you’re feeling. Maybe being honest with your loved ones isn’t an option because there is an element of “I told you so”, but at the end of the day they care about you, and they will be the people who get you through.

Know that these feelings might last a while

It’s tempting to push your emotions aside quickly and put on a brave face and pretend you don’t care. The harsh reality is; you do. Let yourself be upset, cry, scream, cry some more. Drown your sorrows and blast Olivia Rodrigo. Remember there is no timeline to how long it takes you to get over it, but eventually there will be a time when you don’t feel that pit in your stomach or lump in your throat when you hear their name.

Cut all methods of contact

This is probably the hardest thing to do, but that’s because you are accepting that it really is over. Delete their number, block them on Instagram and remove them from your digital life as well as your real one. You will most likely find yourself waiting for that text, for them to have changed their mind and beg you for a second chance, or maybe you want to be the one who sends that text. Realise that sometimes the best thing you can say to someone who doesn’t want you is nothing at all. There is a reason you two didn’t work, whether you want to accept that or not. When they push you away, don’t beg them to stay. Fighting to be loved is the biggest waste of time, effort, and emotional space.

Get back out in the dating world

This can seem daunting at first, but they say the best way to get over someone is to get under someone right? In all seriousness though, dating should be fun and exciting, and just because you and this person didn’t work out, doesn’t mean the next person you meet will have the same outcome. It’s important however that you don’t rush into this step, to ensure you have complete acceptance over the last chapter coming to an end. Download dating apps, get yourself out there and don’t be afraid of getting hurt.

HARRY STYLES X GUCCI HA HA HA COLLABORATION

HA HA HA

The new HA HA HA campaign is an extension of the years-long friendship between British singer-songwriter and actor, Harry Styles and Gucci’s former Creative Director, Alessandro Michele.

Gucci’s press release stated that the collaboration is “an effort to tip us closer towards masculine transformation.” Unveiled during the menswear show in Milan, Gucci HA HA HA is described as “a collection born from a creative relationship that self-generates from amusement and ends with the tangibility of a product.” The Italian fashion house also tweeted: “Clothes are put on, paired with surprising accessories, cast aside, and piled up in a game of dress-up that sees the men’s world as an instrument of the avant-garde.”

Named the HA HA HA collection, the name of the campaign combines Harry and Alessandro’s first initials. Styles said in a statement. “I’ve known Alessandro for years now, and he’s always been one of my favourite people. I’m always inspired watching him work, so doing this collaboration with my friend was very special to me.”

The campaign is the result of the two “playing like kids”, it’s their “dream wardrobe designed through WhatsApp and over glasses of wine,” Michele said during the presentation of the collection back in June. Gucci described the campaign as “an eccentric use of romantic accents, whimsical prints, vintage details, and the expressive emotionality of the individual.”

The capsule boasts graphic tees with cartoon bears and patchwork leather jackets, with a mix of aesthetics from 1970s pop and bohemian. The result personifies “the creative paths and peculiarities of the two artists.” By incorporating traditional English tailoring with dashes of romance and eccentricity. This collection is unmistakably Gucci – and unmistakably Harry.

Harry has worked closely with Gucci during arguably the most pinnacle moments of his career, like in 2020 when he became the first man to appear solo on the cover of Vogue, wearing a pale blue lace Gucci ballgown. One year prior he attended the Met Gala with Michele, wearing an all-black custom Gucci design.

However, there’s no surprise that this collection comes at a high cost, with the most affordable item being a pair of striped cotton socks for £155. If you’re really looking to splash the cash, the leopard print suitcase will set you back £5,100. You can buy most of the HA HA HA collection right now at Gucci.com, although certain pieces are only available to buy in-store.

TOP 5 STUDENT FRIENDLY PLACES FOR FOOD IN YORK

BY: CHLOE LANSDALL

For full article please see

One of the best things about York is the huge variety of places to go for food and drink. The city is the perfect spot for socialising, and if you’re worried about eating out breaking the bank, here’s our top 5 places we recommend to try that are affordable for those on a student budget. Whether it’s grabbing a drink from a coffee shop through the week, or booking an evening meal on the weekend to celebrate, there’s somewhere to suit everyone.

Drift-In is a quaint and cosy café located in the heart of York, and is the perfect meeting place for friends and family.

Plush café is an independent family-run business with three themed dining rooms - the garden room with flower vines and wooden swing seats, the art deco-inspired neon room, and the luxurious, floor cushion-filled bohemian room.

DRIFT-IN PLUSH CAFÉ SPARK

If you don’t know about SPARK then get to know! SPARK is an outdoor community space, home to some of York’s most exciting start-up businesses.

For a more sophisitcated and chic option, The Cut and Craft’s flagship restaurant is located at 8 St Sampson's Square, and is the perfect destination to celebrate, catch up and relax with friends and family.

THE CUT & CRAFT NOLA

NOLA has a Gatsby style interior consisting of mirrors, marble, large leather upholstered chairs and dark wood panelling. If you’re after date night on a budget then this is the perfect spot! The venue hosts live Jazz music every Tuesdays, Friday and Sunday, adding to the atmosphere and roaring 20s essence.

REFLECTION

For the first week of content, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and write about food rather than fashion. I love to eat out and try new places, so decided to write about my favourite five places to eat in York. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this piece, and I felt I could add my own opinion and perspective, whilst still being informative and chatty. I also enjoyed using WordPress, as I find it easy to use and the layout worked for my piece in regards to the length and the images.

TESTING TIKTOK VIRAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS

BY: CHLOE LANSDALL

TikTok is the most downloaded app in the world, with majority of users being part of Gen-Z. The introduction of “TikTok Shop” has allowed users to purchase products directly through the app, making marketing even easier for many businesses on the platform. The beauty industry in particular has benefited from this feature, with certain products going viral from influencers posting makeup tutorials and directly linking the products they used in the video. I have purchased some the most popular products to test them myself, as well as asking others who have used them to see if they are worth the hype…

This sponge has replaced the iconic beauty blender in the makeup world. The website claims the sponges “will transform your makeup application”, and it’s not wrong. It blends foundation out beautifully, giving a full coverage base without soaking up any of the product.

At first I tried it the powder puffs with a pressed powder, and honestly was quite disappointed, as it wasn’t as revolutionary as I thought. However, after watching makeup tutorials on TikTok, it was recommended to use them with a loose powder, and it made a huge difference. The shape is perfect for fitting underneath the eye and getting into the small creases of your face.

Blursh is a liquid blush but with a powder finish, allowing it to be layered underneath or over the top of your base makeup. There is a wide variety of shades available, both in full size and miniature variations. Meg, who owns over 40 shades of the product, said “it is highly versatile, and can be used for all areas of the face, from eyes, lips and cheeks.”

I am not being dramatic when I say this product has changed my life. The Pink Honey brow glue allows you to get the brow lamination look without paying the price. For only £8.99, this pot of magic has completely transformed my brow routine. They stay in place all day, look natural and fluffy, and it is all down to this one product. If you decide to purchase any products from this article, make sure it’s this one.

REFLECTION

This was one of my favourite pieces to write, as I had already bought the beauty items and raved to my friends about them, so came up with the idea of turning it into an article. I took all the images myself, which avoided any copyright problems. I felt I could express my opinion through this piece, but in a light-hearted and chatty way. I also feel like the topic is on-trend and relevant to the readership.

EVERYTHING WRONG WITH THE PLT BLACK FRIDAY SALE

If there’s one thing you can expect from Black Friday, it’s that Pretty Little Thing will turn it Pink. Black Friday is always highly anticipated, and has only recently become popular in the UK over the last five years, with nearly all brands offering great savings and discounts to customers right in time for Christmas. However, fastfashion UK brand Pretty Little Thing took this to a whole new level with its 99% off everything deal, charging as little as 3p on some clothing items. Although many people took advantage of the generous price drop, others took to social media to raise their outrage, and question how the company can possibly be profiting when they’re selling things at such a low price. @georgiatownsend_ took to Twitter and said:

The hashtag #PLTPinkFriday was trending all weekend, with thousands of customers letting people know about the huge savings on the site. The Pink Friday campaign is always extremley successful, with items being discounted by up to 99%, there’s no surprise that everything sold out in minutes. The scale of throwaway consumption is resulting in a huge amount of waste being continuously produced, and fast-fashion is one of the biggest contributors to this. In order to afford to sell clothing items for as little 8p, it has to be questioned the wages workers are being paid and the poor conditions they are working in. The garments are usually manufactured in Asian countries, where the majority of factories run on oil and gas.

In today’s society, fast fashion has become the norm to meet consumers’ constant demand for newness. This demand longs for fashionable clothes that cost pennies, literally, in this case. Fast-fashion provides people with cheap, lowquality clothes for a couple of wears, then to be thrown out, so they order more, fuelling the industry further. This way of shopping is not only damaging in a number of ways, but it’s also completely unsustainable. The quality of a product is usually reflected in the price, so with clothing costing as little as pennies, it’s likely these clothes will not last and will ultimately lead to consumers purchasing more products and spending more money in the long run. Giving up fast fashion completely is a privilege not everyone can afford to do, especially considering the cost of living crisis in the UK. With that being said, giving up over-consumption is not, and if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

The fashion industry relies on customers spending more and more on unsustainable, cheap clothing, which pollutes the planet, risk garment workers’ lives, and are eventually just thrown away and sent to landfill, so it’s no surprise that the fashion industry is the third-most polluting in the world. However, when the price is so cheap, many customers don’t care if they only wear an item once, as its extremely affordable, and that’s how the dangerous cycle of throwaway fashion begins. PLT is a popular fashion brand particularly with Gen-Z, and its products are always on-trend and cheap, a perfect combination for its target consumer. However, just because the customer isn’t paying a high price, doesn’t mean the environment isn’t.

“If you catch yourself buying an entire outfit for 99p, just think to yourself, that whilst you might not be paying full whack, someone out there will be paying the price for you.”

REFLECTING ON MY TIME AS AN EDITOR

In week 5 it was my role as the editor for online articles. I really enjoyed proof-reading everyone’s pieces and checking for spelling and grammar, and also felt it was important to communicate with everyone to let them know any changes that needed to be made, and also any positive feedback I had. This experience made me realise I would like to do a similar role for a fashion magazine once graduating.