So, today's post is a bit different: it's the first of what I hope will turn into a long chain of post swaps. I'm asking other bloggers to switch blogs for a day, to keep the community feeling going, and to get everyone a few more readers. So, I'm starting today by swapping with my very good friend, Rachel Charlton of Polkadot Stripes.

This is her post, 'My Creative Journey'.

PS - wanna swap with me? Email me HERE :)

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My Creative Journey

Rachel Charlton

 Hi everyone, I know Amy sort of prides herself on being a fashion editor who doesn’t write about fashion on her blog so I didn’t want to start launching you all into a study of my favourite designer of the moment or my hottest trends for summer (which are Alice Temperley and floral and lots of them by the way). Instead I thought I would rite about I got into fashion and where I’m headed, hopefully.

I have a shock confession; I was not a stylish child. I grew up in the 90’s and if I remember correctly, the Christmas I was ten I received a lime green kappa press stud tracksuit. Not only did I think this was the best outfit ever I wore it at every possible opportunity. Sadly these photographs are destined never to see the light of day again. So here’s a picture of me and my sister being years ahead of the tea dress, socks and aviators trends….

When I left school childcare seemed the best option for me even though I was forever reading fashion magazines, drawing little pieces and mentally changing outfits. Naturally that career ran its course and I sought more, something creatively stimulating. Anything.

The main reason I left childcare though was poor mental health. After what seemed like the worst year of my life I finally came out the other side as a brand new person, happier with a sense of who I was and what I could do for the fashion industry. Yes I love writing editorial pieces and I adore designing but here’s the twist. Here I sit a healthy size 8-10 young lady who wants to break the shackles of the fashion industry, why should girls be penalised for their shape no matter what they are? In September I started my blog then though the BSB body image season I helped girls feel more confident about themselves.

ANTM cycle 10 winner, a plus sized Whitney Thompson – image HERE 

So what’s the next step? I hope that by learning how to build my portfolio in college I can also begin to learn to draw for models of all shapes and sizes. I would love it if one day designers all other world started drawing design sketches on a variety of models. I want to be at a catwalk show taking notes on a show full of girls with real curves, elegant silhouettes, long legs or short figures. Who really knows but one thing is for sure. It’s going to be one hell of a journey