Fashion in motion
Image from @xdansussams 10 March 2025
Fashion is something we all inherently lean into, whether consciously or not. Every morning, we make choices—some intentional, others instinctive—that shape the way we present ourselves to the world. While the fashion industry is often dictated from the top down, through the vision of designers, editors, models, and influencers, we rarely stop to consider the reverse: how those high-fashion influences trickle into everyday life, shaping the wardrobes of people who can only dream to step foot on a runway or into a fashion week show.
Miranda Priestly, in The Devil Wears Prada, famously explained the “trickle-down” effect of design, how a color or trend born in an elite maison eventually ends up in high-street shops and everyday wardrobes. But what about the trickle-up? What about the organic style movements that exist on the streets, on public transport, in coffee shops, in university libraries—curated not by editors but by the masses themselves?
As a student living in London, I spend at least ten hours a week on the Tube. It’s here, in this underground world, that fashion is at its most fascinating. The Tube is more than just a mode of transportation; it’s a moving runway, a collision of personal styles, cultural influences, and unspoken fashion codes. The 7–9 AM commute offers an entirely different aesthetic from the post-rush hour crowd. During the early morning hustle, polished professionals in carefully curated ensembles dominate the scene—tailored coats, sleek boots, effortless monochrome. But shift just an hour later, and suddenly, the carriages are filled with students, creatives, and freelancers, each with a distinctly more relaxed, expressive approach to dressing. These are completely separate fashion shows, running back to back with no official invitation required.
Even something as simple as positioning yourself in a different carriage can alter the style landscape around you. One end of the train might be a sea of neutral trench coats and leather loafers, while another boasts vintage streetwear, bold patterns, and experimental layering. Each person is a walking mood board, a reflection of trends influenced by—and influencing—wider culture.
My intention with this blog is to document and comment on the fashion that surrounds me, through the lens of a London student. I want to capture the essence of these unspoken runways, the everyday sartorial choices that make this city one of the most stylish in the world. Because fashion isn’t just about what happens in glossy magazines or designer studios—it’s about what happens on the morning train, in the lecture hall, at the corner coffee shop. It’s about the people who may not consider themselves “fashionable” but who, in their own way, contribute to the ever-evolving tapestry of style.
