London Fashion Week Recap

Dear Aya,

I know you are only 5 years old right now, but I wanted to tell you a story.

The story about you. Only 24 years later. That time when all your Barbie dress-up playdates finally transformed into a beautiful craft that makes people feel seen and keeps others in awe.

It was a warm September week in London. The streets were filled with gorgeous people dressed in any imaginable outfit, taking photos before jumping on the tube (taxis are unbearable when it comes to the central part of the city) to get to see collection after collection.

Attending shows is not as easy as it seems. Besides a natural admiration for the craft, there comes networking, tons of people, and let's not skip content (little Aya will learn about that much later in life, but damn it will be fun). I always thought I was an extrovert, but with the years, my social battery dies way faster, just like the battery of my iPhone 13. Nonetheless, you push through because you remember that one year ago, that was a literal dream.

Shows, pop-ups, afterparties...it is a lot to take in. Mind you, every show, in my opinion, deserves its own outfit. So now, adding to the equation, bringing outfit changes and keeping it Street Style Worthy.

Now let's get to the winners, which I got to experience within the shows I was invited to.

Please keep in mind, this September Fashion Week, my personal goal was to source the invitations without actually purchasing a ticket aka my Risky Business is still very much a thing (hence I was doing the research and sending out 58 emails in August), plus I am still growing across social media platforms as a styling expert, so invites were there but not back-to-back, tho every day.

So the award for the best show I got to attend goes to SPRAYGROUND. Besides, the little touch in the form of a keychain for every guest is just what I want to remember them by. We love a little gift that is not a piece of paper.

The award for the most thought-through pop-up goes to clothing brand S’ranouir. My attentive to details brain was beyond pleased to explore every little detail that the pop-up had to offer. From the history of the craft, to the story of the brand, to the gorgeous details during the guests' visit left me yapping my life away for 2! hours straight. The dresses I've tried and seen guys try on some capes overall were giving New Vilian Era 2.0 unlocked.

There was also one show that easily won the cringiest show of them all. Again, in my very own opinion. I honestly tried to see the beauty in it; however, I failed. And no one likes to be sitting around and waiting for the designer and models while they change in pure silence.

Oh, today I have received photos from the event...NONE of the guests were captured. Only the so-called designer herself in different gowns. It was the oddest show I have ever attended. And I've been to shows in 4 different countries. It was just not giving... well, it wasn't giving anything if I am being honest.

Moving on to yours truly. Sunday, I was missing the majority of the shows I was kindly invited to, due to my own London Fashion Week debut (yet another accomplishment I will not shut up about). I was styling 5 models for a designer within the Creatives fashion show. It was a pleasure to work with not only wonderful people all day long, but the organisational skills of the agency were running beyond expectations. We were not only on time, but all of us were ready EARLY!

If you know anything remotely about fashion shows, it is never on time. So that was an extremely pleasant surprise for me personally. Because let's also keep in mind that every single day during any Fashion Week is packed with back-to-back shows, so it is highly important to start the show not more than 15 minutes late, due to your guests trying to get to other shows, pop-up, panels, and also on time. All between the venues of the busiest cities in the entire world. Gotta be smart and punctual. So huge shoutout to The Creatives for just being highly professional. We love to see that.

Another special shout-out goes to Temi, at TemiDrewIt, for trusting me with his pieces. It was such smooth work. Legit had 2 meetings, and the whole thing was done.

Now let's enjoy the results.

For in-depth details on each outfit, click here

This experience shows again and again that styling goes beyond and is needed. After all, one brain is good, but two brains will level up the job regardless.

And then it was....poof...done. The day was over even before I could process it. But the hustle never stops, so Monday was straight back to work and 2 photoshoots that I had been booked for before my trip to Ukraine. I was jokingly saying at the beginning of the London Fashion Week that I would be able to sleep in a week. And it was like I knew the future. I arrived in Kyiv on Thursday morning and spent 2 whole days just not doing much. That was something I wasn't able to do for weeks. And here I was surrounded by my family and just being in the moment, not hustling, not rushing anywhere, just being present. So relaxing that I nearly forgot today is Sunday, and you all deserve to know the LFW recap and its best and its cringiest. Besides, I am here, a slightly (read loads) traumatised millennial who is learning to share all kinds of wins, small and big. Styling only 5 models for London Fashion Week might seem like not a big deal to some (read haters), but for me, it was an enormous milestone that redefined me as an expert and definitely helped to once and for all burn that imposter syndrome.

Because, chances are... You do belong in those environments and rooms that used to seem this far away.

Don't let anyone convince you otherwise, especially yourself.

And if you are too ready for a shift, for a change, but didn't know where to start and how to approach that feeling where you don't feel like enough, or have been struggling to be taken seriously in the rooms that used to be far out of your reach, this is your sign and gentle reminder that Hot Mama Bakery is LIVE and you can join styling society any time. New topic drops every Monday. Click here to read more and join.

Okay, that’s all.

Love you, bye xo

Your neurospicy fashion stylist,

Aya x