You can check out the ABOUT page for more on what Fashion Kazoo is, but, essentially, it combines fashion with daily living. It’s a whole mesh of things – from real-life fashion anecdotes to tips and tricks on how to look stylish, whatever the occasion. Most importantly, none of it is prescriptive, some pieces you might take with a pinch of salt whilst others might be genuinely helpful. Overall, it’s meant to be fun!
Fashion has always been something that has interested me. I still remember deciding to wear my ‘Mary Jane’ high heels for a year 8 mufti day. It was a bold move – I even paired it with a waistcoat, having planned the outfit the night before. When I walked into school, I remember getting my first buzz from dressing more stylishly, shall we say. (T-shirt and jeans just didn't cut it anymore.) That said, I also remember a few interesting comments from people asking why I was wearing heels. But that’s the thing about fashion: what you wear won’t please everyone. It’s a matter of taste, it’s subjective and heck, that’s what’s so great about it! Knowing that whatever you wear, no matter how hard you try, won’t be to everyone’s fancy is something incredibly liberating.
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| What textiles GCSE taught me: how to make a dress (and how to pose) |
So I developed a love of experimenting with fashion. And, like anyone, I had my fair share of 'fashion disasters'. But with time, I learnt what worked and what didn't. I grew up reading Vogue and watching the recaps of London Fashion Week on YouTube. I won the ‘Best Dressed’ award during sixth form leavers. On joining Oxford, I became Deputy Fashion Editor for Cherwell, the university newspaper. I have been involved in the last three seasons of Oxford Fashion Week.
Whilst at uni, I also spent some time as the Fashion Broadcasting Editor for CherwellTV - you can see some of my videos on here! This included talking to students on the street and collecting opinions on various trends. It was great fun, but what struck me most was just how SHY people were to give their views on fashion. One girl, before being filmed, even asked if her critical opinion on crop tops was ‘acceptable’ enough to go online. (The answer was, of course, yes!)
If fashion is about expressing yourself, then having an opinion about fashion is inevitable. It's a strange feeling starting a blog and putting that opinion out there - but this industry is one where people are constantly talking, tweeting, messaging. And that very fact drives home the point of this blog - showcasing the place of fashion within society, within day to day life and, crucially, having fun whilst doing so!