What it's really like to work on a design collaboration . . . .

I’ve never been very good at keeping secrets, but for the last year, I’ve been sitting quietly on two that have made me burst with pride every time I think about them.

If you’ve followed me here or on Instagram for a while, you’ll know how much I believe in good design: pieces that last, that feel effortless, that make getting dressed in the morning a joy rather than a chore. So when I was asked to collaborate with two brands I genuinely wear and love, THE UPSIDE and Kirstie Le Marque, it felt like a full-circle moment.

But here’s the honest bit: designing a collection is wildly different to simply pulling pieces off a rail and styling them for a shoot. It’s meticulous. Thoughtful. Sometimes a little exhausting. There are endless rounds of samples, discussions about necklines and drawcord thickness (yes, really), and the kind of small decisions that can make or break whether something feels right when you throw it on without thinking.