Unlocking Creativity Beyond Academia as a Psychology Student
What does fashion mean beyond the runway? Emily Davis shares her perspective on studying the Vogue 5 Days of Fashion Journalism course and how it transformed her understanding of fashion as a cultural force shaping the way we live_ dress and connect.
Seeing Fashion Everywhere
As a student of psychology and Italian at the University of St Andrews_ my creative flare burns inside of me_ trapped in the historic walls of academia. I enrolled in the 5 Days of Fashion Journalism at Vogue College in London during the summer to unleash my captive creativity.
A striking phrase about the omnipresence of fashion from our course leader_ Paul Tierney_ was: “Fashion is in everything; it is not just the clothes you wear. It is in the trees_ the buildings—it_s all around us; you just need to look up.” This statement perfectly captured my relationship with fashion journalism and the inspiration behind my writing. Fashion has never been a term exclusive to clothes—it is a combination of how we dress_ live and socialize.
Not dissimilar to Guccio Gucci_s inspiration for his luxury Italian Fashion House_ my interest in fashion writing sparked after interning and working in iconic 5-star hotels: The Savoy in London_ Hotel Savoy by Rocco Forte in Florence and Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland. I was enamoured by the opulent buildings where the walls quietly held the stories of the past_ the carefully selected artwork that loudly emanated throughout the properties_ and most importantly_ the glamorous guests who glided through the revolving doors.
Psychology_ Perspective_ and the Power of Fashion\
As a psychology student_ I naturally analyze my surroundings_ and these hotels were the ideal environment to explore how clothing_ lifestyle and social behavior intersect. Spending time in these establishments gave me the opportunity to develop a unique perspective on fashion and to consider why people are loyal to luxury. Why were luxury hotels not just a place to sleep? Fashion is the simple answer to my question. It is for this same reason that people are loyal to Vogue_ the same way they are to their favorite luxury “home away from home.”
Admiring the black-and-white tiled front hall of the Savoy_ my mind would wander to the place where aristocratic ladies would have once waltzed through the revolving doors after theater_ adorned in dazzling flapper dresses and pearls. And just outside_ horses and carts would fill the drive in place of the signature Rolls-Royce. Similarly_ in the Art Deco Manhattan Room in the Savoy_ a framed photograph of Christian Dior and his models from the 1950 Dior fashion show_ held in the Savoy Ballroom_ forced me to reimagine the space and its timely history. I took great joy in telling guests that the Lancaster Ballroom was where the last scene of the classic Notting Hill movie was filmed. Faces would light up at the thought of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant_s fictional love story unfolding in the same room where they were now standing.
It is a reminder that spaces like these ballrooms and foyers stand frozen while time outside rushes and evolves—where the walls are the only witnesses of the passing of time_ the silent record-keepers of evolving styles_ habits and relationships. There is no better place to create future memories than in the house of the past.
Similarly_ the physicality of the Vogue magazine is interesting. You may think of the space it occupies on your local supermarket shelf_ how you have walked by hundreds of copies flooding in place of each other each month with a new representation of current society. You may never buy the magazine_ but you are aware of its presence. Or you may envision your mother_s ritual of holding a Vogue magazine in the _80s and how you may be doing the same with today_s issue of Vogue 50 years later. There is something comforting and familiar in the continuity of the magazine_ whether on your supermarket shelf or held nostalgically in your hands at the hair salon. The reputable history and warm comfort keep readers reading and Savoy guests returning. These are the luxury pockets of peace in a fast-paced and unpredictable world.
Why Vogue College Feels Like Home
I chose to study at Vogue College of Fashion because Vogue is luxury_ and it is familiar. I am confident when I mention The Savoy it will instantly be recognized as a leading luxury hotel brand_ regardless of the person ever stepping foot in their iconic court on the Strand in London. In the same way_ Vogue will consistently be globally reputable for being the leading fashion magazine irrespective of an interest in fashion.
As someone who values learning from the most credible brands and universities_ I knew Vogue College would be the only place for me to step into the fashion industry. After having completed the course_ I understand the truth in my philosophy. Vogue College_s 5 Days of Fashion Journalism course taught me not only about the theory of trend forecasting and fashion history but allowed me to understand the authority of fashion on culture.
My experience served as a boost of inspiration for how I would like my future in fashion to look. A “fancy” fashion background is not essential to study a 5-day short course at Vogue College—an open mind and unwavering curiosity about the industry will serve as your foundations.
Explore Vogue_s 5-day short courses in key fashion subjects_ offered in London.