Leopard Print Love

Well, this has been a year. Whilst there have definitely been some high points, and I've done some things I'm really proud of, it's also been a year of stress and fear, both personally and politically. For me Right Queer Right Now was probably my highlight, and something which I'm still incredibly proud of, but my year definitely peaked early. And after many years of driving my poor boyfriend / web designer to distraction, I finally launched a new version of my online portfolio to start hustling harder.

Retro Christmas - H&M+ Dress with smocking

Even at Christmas, as much as I love it, my heart and my style are forever stuck amongst a pile of crunchy leaves in the autumn. But that doesn't mean we can't take something and make it festive - I wore this gorgeous H&M dress to a Christmas party recently, and with the right accessories it fit right in amongst the tinsel and twinkling lights.

Photography: Patchwork - Test shoot with Ruby Lorcan and Louise Lerego

Sometimes, just sometimes, things fall into place unexpectedly. I'd had an idea for a shoot I'd wanted to run with for such a long time - something simple, with mixed prints, mixed fabrics, and a bit of a vintage-but-can't-quite-place-it aesthetic to keep it timeless - but I couldn't quite find the right model or right brand to pitch it with. Then a model who I had wanted to collaborate with for a very long time posted a photo so different to her usual style that it blew my mind, and suddenly she was the perfect star for this role. And so began the mission of me standing utterly clueless in a North London fabric shop for an hour with no plan, clumsily gluing my fingers together with fabric glue, and somehow ending my year with the shoot of my dreams and a team who understood and even expanded on my vision.

Starry, Starry Night - Collectif Trixie Moon Velvet Swing Dress via Simply Be

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, it's hard to not feel a touch of magic around this time of year. If the twinkling lights and beautiful smells of mulled spice and pine needles don't get you, the thought of resetting everything at the stroke of midnight on the 31st is a pretty thrilling prospect. Who doesn't like a clean slate, empty diary and a whole new year to make some new adventures. And since we're jumping headfirst into a brand new decade, I've been thinking more about what to do for NYE, and seem to have assembled my perfect outfit by accident. Stars, moons and cats seem about right for me, and with just a few days until we go home for Christmas, it's all starting to feel exciting.