I give you… the shirt off my back (well, sort of)

8:41pm Wednesday 3rd March 2010

By SEE - Real fashion (from Journalist Works)

From perfect partywear to slalom-worthy snowgear, we three SEE-sters have scoured the shops, shared our style secrets, showcased the best of Brighton street style and generally had your backs for the last four months — sartorially speaking, at least.

Now that spring has officially sprung — in fashion terms, that is (the weather’s still got a bit of catching up to do) — and my time in Brighton has come to an end, it’s time for me to pack up my handbags and go home.

I will always be a top end of the high street kind of girl, but I’ll be taking a little piece of Brighton with me in the shape of some retro sweats and tees from Dirty Harry’s, the odd North Laine vintage find and even a 50p charity shop jumper that has fast become the surprise star of my winter wardrobe.

Shopping bags aside though, if there’s one thing I’ll be taking away with me, it’s a big deep breath of Brighton air. I’ve always been a little bit scared of full-on fashion — wet-look leggings and bare midriffs are never going to be my friends — but away from London’s production line army of generic trendy bendies, I’ve stumbled across the confidence to wear a giant flower in my hair if I feel like it, throw a cheeky statement piece into my usual monotone mix, and ultimately embrace who I am without worrying about how or where I fit in to other people’s moulds.

For me, SEE has always been about making fashion work for you and your lifestyle, and I hope that we’ve given you some inspiration, a few laughs and, just maybe, a little bit of self-confidence along the way.

My parting pick of the week is this floaty and feminine H&M blouse (£24.99) — I know everyone else is wearing denim right now but the oh-so-trendy stonewashed versions I tried just made me look like a big fat frump — or, as my boyfriend very helpfully pointed out, like I should be finger painting with my kids in the kitchen with baby sick on my velour tracksuit bottoms and crumbs of indeterminate origin in my hair.

I’ll leave you with that delectable vision as a reminder that you should always know who you are before you get dressed in the morning. If you’re not quite there yet, keep trying everything on for size until you find the ‘you’ that fits. Don’t be afraid to try something new, play to your strengths and have fun — it’s only fashion, after all…

Oh, and don’t forget to visit me at my new home every once in a while, or drop me a line at emma.laurence@sky.com