The Style Diaries is an independent fashion blog dedicated to those of us who are truly skint.

It’s all well and good celebrities telling us how to dress and how great the high street is… but The Style Diaries can do one better: our aim is to inspire and encourage you to take control of your own style, not imitate someone else’s.

I believe the key to true style is to be bold, fearless and creative. Most importantly, it should be affordable. Style cannot be bought, and I hope The Style Diaries’will prove that with a little bit of vision and some elbow grease, your pocket money can go far!

The Style Diaries will include:

• Patterns – simple instructions for making your own clothes on the cheap, starting with the most basic!
• Alteration techniques
• Inspiration pages and discussion pieces
• Style profiles of my equally skint pals
• Guest columnists
• Where-to-buy contact lists and discounts.

I’d love this blog to become a place where you can share your ideas, photos, thoughts and opinions…

About Me

I spent my first 19 glorious years growing up in the dizzy heights of Derbyshire, and after battling for a place at London College of Fashion, descended upon the glittering city in a fit of eagerness and naivety. For a while I secretly resented the course I’d chosen (Costume Design for the Performing Arts). I always felt slightly restricted in my work, and was infinitely jealous of the Fashion students. However, looking back today, the knowledge and skills I acquired during those 3 tedious years have honestly proved invaluable – more so now than ever!

After uni, I then threw myself into the ruthless world of film and theatre. Assisting for many, designing for few, I realised it wasn’t the right industry for me. It took only a bottle of wine and a dear friend to convince me to spend the last of my savings on a one-way ticket Down Under. My reasons for this are still unclear, and whether I “found myself” or not, I returned a year later with more passion, more drive and a hell of a lot more confidence in my creative side than I’d ever had before!

I happily jumped back into London life and worked my way from the bottom once more, through fabric shops to freelancing. Just over a year later I now find myself  working for a higher end fashion company.

I love my job dearly, but have not so much love for my monthly pay-packet! Once I’d stopped moaning over the fact that I’m always skint, I began to discover other ways to satisfy my need to be ’stylish’, and without spending a lot of money.

That’s right guys, I had to get creative!

Honestly, there is no greater feeling than someone asking where you got your dress from, and replying – “I made it” – believe me!

And therein lies my desire to share it all with you.

Through The Style Diaries.

Enjoy

x