British Fashion Council

After the drama of London fashion week and the catchy enthusiasm in response to certain shows, the constant deluge of rain, the sometimes hilarious nonsense and absurdity of it all, the cold, the delays caused by London streets clogged with workmen laying pipes, the wind, the pressure to see as much as possible, the competition between cold-eyed ambitious bloggers and the live Twitter reviews and reports, the interminable flashing lights of streetstyle photographers looking for their next masterpiece, the promising new technological improvements offering live streams, the parties, PR madness and lack of sleep, I almost feel smug knowing that my full-time job stopped me from going to the shows I was invited to attend. It’s a welcome chance to keep things fresh. I find it difficult to shake off the feeling of how disappointed I might be if I’d had to confront a world that isn’t as captivating and enviable as we may think. The insights provided by a handful of obsessively dedicated and discerning writers quickly exposed substantial PR inconsistencies, ridiculous contention between established journalists, bloggers etc and the presence of too many drooling worshippers with no genuine calling (and I guess it will still take some time before industry experts make the difference between grovelling adorers and experienced virtuous fashion bloggers). I’ve been observing from the comfort of my office and listened to the complaints of several close friends who work in the business and lived through far from idyllic experiences in the past few weeks. It’s reminded me that fashion for me is fundamentally about sumptuous dreams, breathtaking photography and the delicious frisson of seeing a mesmerising collection for the first time. It’s another form of emotional escapism, similar to music or cinema. Today the Internet promises the thrills and fantasy of a catwalk show without the inconvenient issues mentioned above. The importance of addressing a wider audience is proving irresistible and necessary, justifying the emergence of live streams and Internet interaction. And I’m wholeheartedly in favour of this development!

A couple of days ago a friend mentioned that she’d found me listed on the British Fashion Council’s new blog portal. I’m incredibly excited to have been chosen to appear in the “Photography” section alongside some of the best fashion blogs around (SHOWstudio, Hedi Slimane, Love Magazine, Kingdom of Style and Bryanboy among many others). A huge thank you to the person who selected July Stars. I'm overwhelmed!