First Year Fits & Flashbacks

A Style Time Capsule of my first year at uni

As expected, after receiving my final uni briefing, I have been feeling quite nostalgic. I took a trip down memory lane and noticed how each outfit brings flashbacks of my time at uni. Here are 15 outfits in chronological order that reflect my style and personal evolution during my first year at London College of Fashion.

1) First Day Of Uni

I still remember all the nerves from my first day. I had planned my outfit in advance since my sister had bought me the whole green suit. I remember the night before she said I should swap out the suit trousers since a full suit would be too obvious that it’s a new first day outfit. So I prepared my outfit the night before with black and blue wide leg jeans as options - I went with the blue. I also got this bag from dune and still use it to this day.

I loved this outfit. I wanted to show that I am ready to work but also stylish, I think younger me did a good job.

2) Doing my first Vox pop

I got this bright pink shirt in the age of the Valentino pink era. I loved it so much and wore it the day I had to do street interviews for the first time ever. I was so nervous so I knew I needed an outfit that was going to boost my confidence and it definitely did just that. This picture was taken after doing the Vox pops in the Harrods store as part of a trip we were on for uni.

3) Attending my first big lecture

I had a very similar outfit saved on my Pinterest board for the longest time and this was the day I was able to recreate it. My sister gave me her blazer that I use till this day and I had discovered a great love for ankle boots (I wore them almost everyday). I really felt like a fashion girly - I felt like a fashion journalist.

I have never been shy about wearing my natural hair and do it often in uni. I love how it looks in this picture.

4) Meeting Fisayo Longe

I had this shirt since sixth form, but wore it differently then. I felt so chic in this silver satin shirt, like something out of Devil Wears Prada. Layering it with this tailored blazer brought the whole look together. This was the outfit that I wore when I met Fisayo Longe and took a picture with her, not knowing a year later, she would agree to be interviewed by me.

Now, I LOVE Converses, but if I could go back in time, I would tell myself that they did not have a place in this outfit. It creates a bit of an imbalance, but it worked at the time.

5) Obsession with Converses

I used to style outfits based on colour and this day was black and white. The converses were fairly new, a gift I bought myself after finishing my A-Levels. I would have them cleaned about twice a month and really treasured them. I styled my whole outfit around these shoes and my tote bag obsession was already in full swing.

You can’t see it in this picture but I was also wearing Mona Lisa shaped earrings.

6) Attending Stylist Live

I love method dressing, if you can call it that. This pink shirt made another appearance layered under this mini dress and paired once more with ankle boots. I was going to the Stylist Live Event and knew the magazine colour was hot pink - of course this shirt had to make an appearance. When I met the editor of the magazine at the time, Lisa Smosarski, she really liked my outfit!

The inspiration of this outfit was The Bold Type which is my favourite series of all time about fashion. If I was part of that cast, I would wear this.

7) Stylist Live Day 2

Stylist Live is a three day event and when speaking to the Editor of the magazine, I mentioned that I got tickets for the whole weekend. What I didn’t expect was to wake up the next day to DM from the Editor Lisa asking me if I’d like to join her backstage to meet everyone and watch the catwalk behind the scenes. That was the biggest pinch me moment so I wore my power suit and had the best time ever.

That same day, I went to my workplace at the time and handed in my resignation. It was a risky move and I had no back up plan. But I also knew that this was a pivotal moment in my career, it was time to focus wholly on the life I wanted to make for myself.

This will always be my power suit.

8) Being aa true journalist

I had an assignment that I was doing about dopamine dressing and I really needed primary research from an expert. I reached out to a fashion psychologist and her assistant got back to me saying she was too busy for an interview because of her book launch. So, as a true journalist, I didn’t take no for an answer and went to the book launch where I was able to meet her and she was so nice to speak with me and sign my copy of her book.

This outfit felt so sophisticated and classy. I had actually go this outfit (besides the flares) for my 18th birthday and I still love those kitten heels.

9) Damn, that fur coat

I had a love hate relationship with this coat, There were some days I felt like mob wife, and others that I felt like a grizzly bear. I remember thinking I ate and to be honest, it’s not as bad as I think. I just wouldn’t wear this today at all, especially not those shoes. The purse is cute though!

10) Sakina for Mayor

This picture makes me laugh so much. It was actually a candid shot my sister did of me to test out her camera for a photoshoot we were doing in Oxford Circus. I was supposed to be the photographer hence the basic looking outfit.

Something about the lighting and relaxed smile reminds me of those pictures candidates running for Mayor would use. There’s not really anything wrong with this outfit, but it doesn’t reflect fashion student.

11) Pose like a Zara model

I had this phase where I wanted my IG photos to look a little cooler - this was not the way, but it was the route I took. I started posing in my mirror selfies as if I was a Zara model and now, I can only look back and laugh.

I actually love this denim jumpsuit and layered it so I could wear it in A/W too. I actually bought it the day I got my A Level results and found out I got accepted to study at LCF.

12) My first fashion week

I remember this was a very crazy day for me. We were literally about to move houses so all my clothes were boxed up and ready to be loaded off. But when I go the email from uni that we were invited to Natasha Zinko’s London Fashion Week show, I knew exactly what I wanted to wear.

I had done a design short course a couple years before with UAL where I designed and made these denim trousers. I had never wore them before (and never wore them again after), but I knew that if I was going to fashion week for the first time, it had to be with something I made. Who knows, maybe paparazzi would take a picture and before I know it people want their own…that didn’t happen. And thank God it didn’t.

13) Maid in Manhattan

You know that Jennifer Lopez movie where she works as a cleaning maid and wore one of her clients outfits and felt like a million dollars. That’s exactly how I felt. I watched that movie when I was much younger and wanted that feeling, that look and I got it this day.

I personalised it with my chunky ankle boots and felt like I was in a one woman show in the big city.

14) The get work done jumper

Everytime I wear this jumper, just know that some serious studying is about to happen. I wouldn’t wear this to lectures, only for my solo study days.

This day in particular was when I went to the Oxford campus to study in the cantine and stayed the whole day. It was a weekend and no one else was there. When studying I prioritise comfort above all and I remember coming to take this selfie after completing my assignment that day.

15) Louis Vuitton Pharell Debut Show

Some students, myself included, were invited to a screening of Pharell Williams debut show at Louis Vuitton. I remember thinking, I don’t have anything Louis Vuitton and it would be a crime to wear another brand. So I played it safe and ended up looking like stage hands. But on the day, I actually liked my outfit and was just there for the vibes. Looking back, I wish I dressed more for myself rather than bend to other people’s aesthetics.

It was an event/party put on by the Louis Vuitton team in London and it was such a great night. I remember saying that after watching a screening of fashion week, my next step is to work fashion week and I actually already did that.

One thing I have to point out is I actually still have almost every single one of these outfits, but style them a little differently. Style evolves and reflects you more than you think. In first year, I tried to experiment every once in a while, but it was really in second year that my outfits began to reflect this new phase of life I have begun. Make sure to subscribe to receive alerts for the next blog!