Outfits & Memories

A Look Back at My Second Year looks

The year I started to get it. That is how I remember my second year. The year I started to understand my style, my uni work, my life aspirations…It was the beginning of years of clarity. What I love is how that was reflected through my style. First year was about a bit of experimentation, some outfits were better than others. In second year, I feel like I began dressing like the woman I wanted to be and as a result, I became her. Here are some of my most memorable outfits from my second year at London College of Fashion studying fashion journalism and content creation:

1) First outfit in new building

This was my first picture by the LCF staircase and first time being in the new building. It was taken a couple weeks before the building actually opened to the public and students because I had volunteered to be a student ambassador doing signposting.

The outfit is super casual and cute, I’m wearing my favourite trainers, UAL lanyard and tote bag which I carry with me everywhere. You can see the excitement on my face, I was happy to be there.

2) Student ambassador

This is me on the actual opening day of the LCF East Bank building. We were given these hi vis vests with the UAL logo as well as t shirts with the UAL logo. I still have these to this day and will keep them as memorabilia of the first day of a great year at uni.

I had also dyed my hair ginger the night before impulsively. New year, new me!

3) First study day of second year

I remember taking this picture after a long study day at LCF. I had spent the day studying by the corner floor to ceiling windows and watched the sun go down as my to do lists decreased. I remember feeling so accomplished that day and telling myself “start as you mean to go on”. That meant working smart and consistently on my uni assignments from day 1.n

My hair was actually tied up into a afro puff during the day, but after all that work, I literally had to let my hair down.

3) Gucci Cosmos

This wasn’t worn at uni, but I visited the Gucci Cosmos as research for one of my assignments. I don’t own any Gucci garments but I still wanted to dress on theme. The trousers of my power suit made an appearance, paired with my sisters red purse to replace the Gucci colours. I was happy with how this look turned out.

Fun Fact: After attending the exhibition, I walked around the corner with my sister an saw this beautiful building with clothes on racks in the window. It looked so chic and I remember telling my sister how cool it would be to work there…That building was Karla Otto and I interned there a couple months later!

4) Hore riding

I wore variations of this outfit a lot in my free time at uni because I would try to do horse riding as often as possible. Equestrian fashion is honestly elite (tennis is also up there). I’m yet to get my own pair of knee length riding boots but I am happy for the moment with my padded vest and knee high socks - they get the job done!

5) Going on ITV News at 6pm

I was asked to represent the LCF on ITV news to promote the opening of the new LCF building in East Bank. It was a great opportunity to not just get my 5 seconds of fame, but to also see a real life journalist in action interviewing. Even though I was the one being interviewed, I was analysing everything the journalist was doing and taking notes which you can read on my blog here.

Usually when I want to be formal yet still make a statement, I leave it to the accessories. I wore a blazer with wide leg jeans for the smart casual feel and a set of gold necklace, earrings and bracelet. This hat was actually bought after on the same day because I thought it suited the outfit so much and I should treat myself after being on ITV News.

6) LCF East Bank opening party

It seems like a lot of my outfits have to do with the opening of LCF! This is the last one and it was the official opening party. It was actually the same day that I was interviewed for ITV but in the evening so I had some time to go home for a quick change. I was asked to do a speech in front of the entire LCF staff, their partners and new neighbours at East Bank including the BBC and Sadlers Wells. I wasn’t too nervous on the lead up, but on the night the nerves started to kick in so I was glad I had an outfit that I felt super confident in.

I wore a Manniere de Voir set that had an asymmetric waistcoat and trousers. I love a good dress, but in moments like this, I always find myself gravitating towards a waistcoat suit. You can find more pics from the night on this day on my Instagram

7) The Winter uniform

Autumn and late spring are the seasons I get most creative with my outfits. But in summer, I wear whatever keeps me cool and winter, whatever keeps me warm. Every winter I find myself sticking to a variation of the same type of outfit and this was the year of creams and boots. This was actually the same as the year before because it just works. I have a few cream jumpers like this that I would swap around with different bottoms in rotation throughout the season. I look cute and stay warm which is a win win.

8) Evening Standard: Office core

I want to start with a minute of silence of this top which I no longer have but loved dearly. My mum made this top with a smock detail on the waistband and sleeves which was so flattering. This outfit was worn while on my internship with the Evening Standard. In all honesty, I was really confused by the dress code so I went formal and office core. While I do like this outfit, it is a little to Millennial, while I’m still a new born Gen Z!

Fun Fact: These loafers were almost brand new, yet when I wore them this day, they broke at the bottom and I had to run to M&S during my lunch break and buy trainers to wear. Honestly didn’t expect that to happen from the brand I got it from and the price it was - very disappointing!

9) My first Press Day

This was my firs press day and I was so excited. I wore my barbie pink blazer with some flared office trousers and Mary Janes. I was going to the press opening of the cute exhibition on behalf of the Evening Standard to create content for them during my internship. I did want to dress on theme for the exhibition but I was going back to the office the same day and that would’ve been a bit awkward. So again, colour came to save the day with the baby pink which I think is cute enough.

10) The official WFH uniform

On my next internship at Karla Otto, it was hybrid working meaning some days I got to work from home. I found that working from my actual house wasn’t always effective so I would usually go to a cafe or co working spaces to do my tasks for the day.

This outfit is so comfy yet still cute meaning I could take the home comfort on the go. These wide leg joggers are fleece lined so also keep my warm so I don’t usually have to layer up too much which is great for a monochromatic look like this.

11) Karla Otto Fashion Internship

This gallery features some of my favourite looks I wore during my internship at Karla Otto. I was there for about 2 months so had some time to adjust to the environment - which was super chic I must say - and get creative with my outfits. A lot of these pieces had been lying around in my wardrobe and I had never thought of putting them together until this moment.

12) Arts Award nomination

I had the honour of being nominated for an arts award for my contribution to community as a result of my Tiktok videos. I was so incredibly shocked because I was not expecting it at all, I didn’t even know it was a thing.

This outfit was very intentional because I paired my green power suit bottoms with my black confidence waistcoat. I know my confidence and power doesn’t come from those items of clothing, but it’s what I associate with them because of how I feel every time I wear it. Those two qualities is what allowed me to be recognised for my work. I will always be grateful for the nomination and proud of the work I’ve been doing to receive it. Even though I didn’t win the award, producing that body of work was already a win.

13) The day I decided to wear heels…

We’ll end this trip down memory lane with a little anecdote. I love this outfit, I would still wear it today. I remember thinking to myself that morning that I should wear heels to uni more often to practice walking in them. I started small with a block heel and arrived feeling great about my outfit.

At some point in the day, I had the crazy idea to walk up to the 10th floor instead of taking the lift to get something in the cantine. As I got there, there fire alarm goes off. So I had to walk all the way to the lower ground floor - each floor level had 4 flights of stairs - and I had to do it in heels.

It was an unwanted workout that I do not want to experience again. On my break I got this picture to commemorate the moment and it is still one of my favourite spring styles.

You might have noticed some of the outfits or pieces of outfits being repeated and that is because one thing about me is I’m going to wear my clothes to the max! Clothes deserve more than one moment in life. Make sure to subscribe below for more fashion content!