The Observer

I've long been fond of observing people. As an only child, I grew up with an appreciation of independence, yet I think that part of the ability to accept independence derives from having an understanding of others. I believe that immersing yourself in a crowd of complete strangers who you are able to observe somewhat comforts your self-liberty. I frequently love situating myself in my own little bubble, whether it be through strolling around the city or sitting in a coffee shop. Yet despite the literal state of being alone, I find it hard to ever feel truly lonely, or lonely with the negative connotations associated with the word. For me, being alone stimulates being an observer - something which I want to share my thoughts on today.

In with the new

The fashion industry is one which depends on turnover, on new ideas, innovation and trends. The return of fashion week to London demonstrated the constant innovation across the new collections of British designers, many of which I was fortunate enough to discover. Below are some of my favourite shows and presentations I attended across the short albeit sweet period of London Fashion Week.

Dreamer

It's such a strange time of the year. Take the weather, for example. Over the past week I've looked outside my window, spotted a bright shining sun, dressed for the beaming occasion, only to be met by freezing cold temperatures and black ice. Note the thin blouse and cami dress I'm styling in this post: it was far from appropriate for the frosty temperature that I faced. We're experiencing a changing landscape at the moment, quite literally through our climate. But is that all? Perhaps not - 2017 is already demonstrating societal change, and February has barely begun.

D I O (R) E V O L U T I O N ?

Haute Couture has long been honoured for its extreme attention to detail and utter craftsmanship which transports its wearer to another time, another environment, and another identity. During the assertive march on Saturday for women's rights in the wake of President Trump's inauguration, the proclaiming T-Shirt from Maria Grazia Chiuri's debut SS17 collection for Dior - 'We Should All Be Feminists' - was worn by many figures including Rihanna and Natalie Portman. Establishing a modern take on the zeitgeist of feminism with strong slogan shirts, it was anticipated that Chiuri would present her first couture collection for Dior in alliance with her revolutionary statement present in Ready-To-Wear: stressing that of female empowerment and equality in a bold, innovative way. To the surprise of all, her messages were not quite so point blank - instead, she offered a homage to couture's origins in her collection rather than obviously proposing a revolution. Yet, amidst a flurry of enchanting, mesmeric gowns with fine detail and delicate craftsmanship, there was an undercurrent of influential messages concerning femininity, empowerment, beauty and the inspiration deriving from dreams.

Chinatown

The desire to travel outside one's comfort zone and explore the world is a lifestyle which appeals to me greatly. I believe that I'm beginning to follow this lifestyle now as a fully fledged Londoner, and it will continue to be a a life that I aspire towards. I'm not one to limit myself to a small environment where everything remains the same and there's a constant sense of stability. There's nothing wrong with this, but it's just not fitting to my personality. Moving from Sixth Form in Liverpool to University in London has made me realise how much I love the idea of challenging myself, and constantly experimenting with new things. If I don't challenge myself, how likely am I to change? If something doesn't work out, I'm not disheartened; I will use it as a learning curve. I'd rather go about life with the intention of aiming high and reaching towards any possible opportunity to achieve my dream goals. If not, I'd simply play life safe, and I don't wish to live this way.