How bad do you want it?

SUCCESS = PASSION + PLANNING + PERSEVERANCE

But only with passion can we be committed to plan

And only with passion can we have the strength to persevere 

and push through in hard times to achieve the goals that await.

So as you climb towards success I must ask, how bad do you want it?

This week London was buzzing. Couples walked hand in hand (en masse) as the remnant spirit of St.Valentine lingered in the air. The crème de la crème of the music world performed and were awarded for their achievements at the Brits. Designers unveiled their A/W14 collections to crowds of eager celebrities and fashionistas at London Fashion Week and we watched (shouting at the screen and sharing tears of joy in my case) as athletes continued to battle for gold at the Sochi Winter Olympics. But in the midst of it all, there was only one thing that united everyone in their pursuit of success: Passion.

My week started with a stroke of luck, as by way of my sister (who happened to sit next to the Jamaican High Commissioner at a show on Friday night) I found myself invited to an exclusive fashion showcase and panel event in Mayfair. Here, five emerging Jamaican designers presented their collections and shared their passion in an exhibition called "Thread Bare", which formed part of the International Fashion Showcase organised by the British Fashion Council and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation.

Clockwise (from top left): Abenah Adelaide Designs by Abenah Gonzalez; Spokes Apparel by Dexter Huxtable; Clairely Upcycled Jewellery by Claire Requa; Ms. Sim by Simone Nielson & ASD Clothing by Ayanna Dixon

In a setting that combined three of my passions: fashion, food, and Jamaica (my motherland) you can imagine that I was in my element! Coupled with the panel of industry experts - Susan Bender, fashion stylist and consultant, Claire Sulmers, founder and editor of Fashion Bomb Daily and Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, the Jamaican High Commissioner herself, the event was nothing short of inspirational. As each shared their experience and imparted words of wisdom on the topic of the "It" Factor, what stood out for me was their emphasis on three things which they felt were the key ingredients of success: Passion, Planning and Perseverance and with this I couldn't agree more!

Top: Panellists - Aloun Ndombet-Assamba (Facilitator), Susan Bender & Claire Sulmers
Bottom Right: Me with Aloun Ndombet-Assamba

As I mingled afterwards, discussing a mix of things such as the difficulty of juggling a 9-5 with a creative calling, the years they have spent perfecting their craft and how we manage to stay motivated during the daily grind, it was confirmed that success is definitely not an easy mountain to climb. However as I looked on to admire the finished work of these five budding designers (who had all flown from Jamaica for the week-long exhibition) and watched them beam with pride, I was assured that despite the inevitable struggle, it is all worth it, the only real question is: How bad do you want it?

Pretty.Young.Things

How do you create something out of nothing? 

Something that makes others want to go and create their own - 

slice it up, add a twist and put their name on it 

giving birth to something that is living, breathing and strutting down the runway, 

commanding our attention?

This week I had the pleasure of attending Pure London, the UK's definitive fashion trade show which took place at Kensington Olympia. As a relative newbie to the fashion scene, my plan was to fully immerse myself in it all: attend seminars, fashion shows and wander in and out of the trade stalls to discover the latest and greatest of today's cutting edge fashion spanning across womenswear, footwear and accessories.

During my two-day stint, I was really inspired by the range of talented designers whose exhibits I stumbled upon and who have used their passion and creativity to create something out of nothing and present it to the world for all to see and enjoy.

I put the spotlight on three of my favourite "pretty young things" whose beautiful fashion creations caught my eye and who I'm sure will soon be taking London's high streets by storm!

1. Ema et Malina

There is a magnetic force that takes over me when I catch a glimpse of a beautiful item of clothing (usually jackets and blazers in my case) and despite trying to fight the urge, I find my self drawn, touching, stroking, arm in sleeve...and before you know it, the card is out and it's game over!

Ema et Malina is young and edgy brand from Denmark which oozes personality and which had this very effect, I must admit it was love at first sight.Their items are a union of  "fierce" and "sophistication" and what I would call "off the beat chic" accentuated by their suede and leather panel detailing which look and feel gorgeous.

Sadly though, we will have to wait a few months until we can get our hands on any of these goodies, but the lovely co-founders did assure me that they are definitely on their way...so I will be keeping my eyes peeled and will be sure to keep you informed!

Facebook: Ema Malina


2. Y.A.S

You know Vero Moda? Well Y.A.S is it's cooler cousin also from Denmark and stands for Your Apparel and Style. This fresh new brand promotes individual expression of style with items that have an understated beauty to them, very trendy, yet very down to earth with a warm, genuine spirit that has me hooked. Y.A.S is not afraid of bold print, funky textures or the beloved jumpsuit and this is why I love this pretty young thing...I hope you do too!

Website: Vero Moda
Also available at: ASOS.com

3. Elie Tahari

I couldn't leave without mentioning shoes, could I? In my old age (of 26), I refuse to purchase shoes that either restrict me from walking more than 50 metres or prevent me from dancing the night away and by no means does that mean I buy ugly shoes...It just means that I buy shoes precisely like these (pictured above) by Elie Tahari, which combine comfort and ultimate style. 

I am quite certain they have just perfected the shoe boot, and although they are a little on the pricey side, the A/W14 collection above is at very least something to drool over!

Website: Elie Tahari 

***

So that's my Pure London round up, I hope you enjoyed it - let me know if you love these Pretty Young Things as much as I do and please feel free to share!

Tahlia x

Why blend in when you can stand out?

No one else has your eyes, your smile, your wit or your charm. Nobody does "you" quite like you do, and for this we should celebrate, always.

Growing up in Australia as one of very few black children in my school, I always loved the things that made me different - my chocolate brown complexion, my tight afro curls that had the power to defy gravity, and my infectiously boisterous laugh, a noise that not even the school walls could contain. It was during those days in a classroom scattered with faces from China, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and beyond that I learnt to truly embrace diversity - it was here that I found beauty and mutual acceptance of all the things that made us unique.

As a woman of Caribbean descent, now living in London, I created this blog (in conjunction with Sheer Chemistry) to celebrate these diverse shades of beauty as I am still often surprised by the lack of diversity I see in the media and on the shelves of beauty counters, which don't always reflect the city's colourful tapestry.

I want to make this a playground of thought where our differences are embraced and celebrated for the ways that they enrich our lives - there are no boundaries, just one rule: Let your true colour shine! Why blend in when you can stand out?