ARTICLES
Why I Created a Fashion Psychology Magazine
The content is giving, but who is the face? Where is the visual?
(Context below)
Hello, I'm Lillia, the founder of Psychology, But Make It Fashion... Uh, hmm, no. OK, content creator then... Uh, how about no. Fashion psychologist? Uh, no. Let's leave it as editor.
Over the past two years, I've been lurking in the shadows (love that) writing content (do two articles per year count?) on the psychology of fashion... and wellbeing. Psychology, But Make It Fashion has become more than just a blog to me; I love interacting with you and creating content (that I hope you find interesting!). I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce myself (have I ever actually introduced myself though? Hmm...).
A couple of weeks ago (more like two months ago) I asked you to send in any questions about me you'd like answered. Although I couldn't answer them all in this post, thank you for sending them in, it's much appreciated.
Why did you create a Fashion Psychology magazine?
During my undergrad years, I had developed an interest in positive psychology (i.e., the psychology of flourishing, living a happy life, positive mindset, flow state, mindfulness, etc.) and took a liking to exploring fashion-related topics in my coursework, which in turn gave me a really good insight into the [fashion] industry's shortcomings. Fashion has a large impact on our lives in many different areas, directly and indirectly. I created Psychology, But Make It Fashion to explore how psychology and fashion are connected, not just in a theoretical way, but in a way that leads to real, positive improvements in people's lives. Life can suck a lot (sometimes). I'm very lucky to say that Psychology, But Make It Fashion has a global audience of over 100 countries and if the platform has offered anyone at least one useful titbit then I can say it's been worthwhile.
Did you study BSc Psychology of Fashion or MSc Psychology of Fashion at UAL, and would you recommend it because I want to become a Fashion Psychologist too?
I don't have any experience at University of the Arts London in that respect, but if you want to study psychology at a degree level (in the UK) make sure that the course is accredited by the British Psychological Society, make sure to have a placement year (or at least some form of work experience), and network!
Would you consider print? I would order it, please ship to Asia!
That's kind of you, thank you for your interest. The idea of a print version is definitely something I've considered, and it's really encouraging you'd be interested in it. Shipping to Asia is something I'd need to look into. I'll keep that in mind for the future. It's wonderful to know the blog resonates so far!
The content is giving, but who is the face? Where is the visual?
This question. Haha, I love this question. The face will remain behind the screen. I made Psychology, But Make It Fashion as a resource for Gen Z, it was never intended to be a personal blog. I need to use this question as an article title or caption. Becoming a content creator was never something I planned to do.
If your personal style was a UK snack, which one would it be?
What an odd question. I like it. At the moment, my wardrobe is mainly black, brown, and beige (50 shades of brown?), and I dress for comfort and simplicity so I would say my style relates to Dark Chocolate Digestives. For those of you who are like, "Yuck, what's that?", it's a tasty wheat biscuit with a one sided chocolate coating. The milk chocolate ones are superior (even if I do say so myself). I like Hobnobs more really…
What fashion influencers do you watch on YouTube?
I don't really watch 'influencers' as much anymore, but from the top of my head I've been subscribed to Jordan Lipscombe, Nuria Ma, and Sian Lilly for nearly a decade now. I've always enjoyed their vlogs. I also think Heejoo's (Yoo's Beauty), Veiled's, Ena J’s and yuyusai's channels are fun to watch. I like urbex (urban exploration) channels too (e.g., Urbandoned, The Proper People) where they explore ‘dead malls'/abandoned shopping centres (does this count?). With YouTube (and any other social media platform) you can live vicariously through other people without having to visit places/experience things yourself anymore. I like to see what type of content the algorithm serves me these days—Just out of curiosity. But, it’s nice to watch content that aligns with you and makes you feel content.
Do you have a favourite quote?
I like quite a few but here are the contenders: 'People can only meet you as deeply as they've met themselves'; 'What would you do if success was guaranteed?’; and how could I forget… ‘It is what it is’.
What's your go-to outfit when you need a confidence boost?
While I don't particularly have a confidence-boosting outfit, I find that feeling put-together gives me confidence. And for me, that feeling comes from knowing I'm prepared. My handbag is always stocked with things I need such as tissues, gum, hand sanitiser, snacks, hair-ties, things like that.
Bonjour. What's your coffee?
Bonjour! I'm a tea person, I like black tea with milk. With Caribbean parents I grew up drinking Lipton Yellow Label (controversial I know). Caffeine and I have a bit of a disagreement (Not that kind of disagreement, more along the lines of I won't be able to sleep).
Love PBMIF. What's your biggest challenges in maintaining a brand?
Thank you! By brand, do you mean PBMIF? If so, I would say sticking to a consistent visual identity. Also I don't like putting out low quality content at all. There was a time where I was posting daily on TikTok and while PBMIF was getting engagement I wasn't happy with the content. I'd rather not post at all than post lame content.
Do you analyse people by what they're wearing?
Absolutely not. I don't analyse people either. Could you imagine? “Oh, your shoes suggest you're feeling a bit off today...” Haha. That would be annoying, no?
Tell me something?
One of my friends had a rabbit that was allergic to carrots. Does this qualify?
How do you feel about overconsumption culture on social media?
I'm struggling to answer this. I think you've broken me. I'll leave a GIF set here of Britney Spears that's been in my screenshots folder for years (I can't find the original source, and I'm not sure if she actually said what she said in it). I think it sums up how I feel about both overconsumption and social media.
All this stuff goes away and it's just yourself and your soul that you have to deal with.
Hi I'm from TH. Your journal has improved my life so much. Can you make a 2026 digital journal?
Hello! Thailand? What a stunning place. I'm glad to hear the journal has made a positive impact on your life. This is the best feedback I could ask for. My heart. Yes, I will surely make one for 2026.
Three words of advice you would give to clients starting their own fashion brand?
Only three? I can't, please... I need more time to decide. Research, create, connect... Can I add one more? Persevere... And one more? Refine.
Fashion Psychology student here, I'm stuck on choosing a dissertation topic, what did you write your dissertation on?
The wellbeing of fashion undergraduates and the impact of male plus size clothing models in TV Adverts. Quick advice for you: You should find a topic with enough literature to talk about! You've probably chosen it by now! Best of luck.
What’s your favourite way to unwind?
There's nothing better than a very, very toasty shower. Very toasty.
If you could time travel and give your younger self one piece of fashion advice, what would it be?
You do not need to go to H&M to buy lots of shirts for sixth form; do your maths homework instead.
Not a question, but I love this blog.
That's so lovely, thank you. I'm glad you enjoy it.
Thank you for sending questions in. I shall continue to lurk in the shadows. Bye! :)
How To Get A First Class Psychology Degree
SPSS?
I don’t know her.
It’s been five months since my friend Ash graduated from her Bachelors in Psychology (with Education). I met up with her at her local café in Manchester to ask how she gained a first. Yes, she is residing in Manchester now after expressing her hunger for a change in scenery, one that is less “bos-lin” (bustling) she giggles.
As we have a chat about our lack of knowledge on the FA Cup (a bar across from us was airing a match between Chelsea and Liverpool), two large iced lattes are placed on our table. The café serves American-inspired cuisine—and the sun is directly in my face—we move to a table at the back—the weather is surprisingly nice for an evening in mid May.
JH: I wanted to start off and ask—what are you wearing since this is a fashion magazine?
AS: Oh right. I’m wearing my Veja V-12 Marsala Nautico Leather shoes gifted to me by my sister. An En Route necklace and ring. And a Levi’s denim jumpsuit.
JH: I just wanted to say well done, it must feel great to finally finish your degree after the past few hectic years. What are you up to now?
AS: Thank you! I know right, uni was all over the place last year but it’s all done now, thankfully. I’m working in a primary school at the moment and I love it. You’re not going to get your dream job straight away after you graduate, so don’t fret about it.
JH: How did lockdown affect you?
AS: It was pretty tough adjusting to online study. But not having to travel to uni was refreshing because it gave me time to do other things. I was kind of sad at first but then I got used to a different lifestyle. I don’t think working from home is a bad idea at all and it’s made me appreciate just being in the moment.
JH: What would you say to students studying from home?
AS: I would say that studying from home and being physically at uni are not entirely different. Since psychology is mostly independent study you can be by yourself writing essays and reading most of the time. If you’re only online at the moment and you live on your laptop, it would be a good idea to get a laptop stand and a separate keyboard and mouse to reduce strain on your eyes, wrists, and neck. My laptop stand actually helped me so much—it really encouraged me to be at my laptop. It’s also super important to get up and move every 30 minutes. Another thing is, make sure that your software is updated whether it be Teams, Zoom, or SPSS. If you have any questions or you don’t get something, it’s really important that you let your lecturer, tutor, or uni know because leaving it last minute can make you feel lost and helpless.
If you have any questions or you don’t get something, it’s really important that you let your lecturer, tutor, or uni know because leaving it last minute can make you feel lost and helpless.
JH: What would you say is most important for a student?
AS: Out of all? Sleep. Yes, sleep is so important. If you’re sleep deprived you’re not going to concentrate well on anything. You’re going to be grumpy, you’re going to snap when you don’t mean to. I know that it may not be easy for some people to sleep, but just getting a few good hours in can really improve your quality of life.
JH: And how can a student get some good sleep?
AS: As mean as it sounds, if you live in halls, you have to tell your roommates to shut up (politely) if they’re being inconsiderate. First year was eye-opening for me as I got a taste of living with people that weren’t my family. I had to wear earplugs because the halls next door to me would play loud music until 4AM every other night and my roommates would have an endless Riverdale marathon every Monday night which included lots of sighing... and pining.
JH: Speaking of Riverdale marathons, is procrastination something that you had to deal with?
AS: All the time. If I didn’t procrastinate I would have achieved much more by now. I do regret procrastinating but I still procrastinate today. For me, I think I’ve always been like this. I’d leave my homework until the last minute. I’d walk to secondary school scribbling away in my notebook. I would say go on and procrastinate as much as you'd like. You know you’ll feel bad, but you’ll do it anyway. If I tell you to not procrastinate, what are you going to do? Just do whatever gets you through, but just know that your work isn’t going to write itself.
JH: Hard truth. I wasn’t expecting you to advise procrastination.
AS: I’m really passionate about routines—I don’t mean getting up at 6AM on the dot and making yourself a green juice. What I mean is that you shouldn’t be studying, working, or doing something university related 24/7. Make some time for yourself. You don’t need to follow routines that are currently trending on TikTok—just do what’s right for you.
You can’t always be work, work, work all up in your head. It’s going to take a toll on you at some point. This goes for your future career as well. Find something that takes you away for a bit such as a good game, exercise, going for walks, cooking, reading, whatever you like. Consistent and steady progress is what worked for me—I would set aside a couple of hours a day just to focus on assignments and prep work for seminars.
JH: I totally agree. Where did you spend the most time at uni?
AS: Honestly, it’s turning into a blur. I remember being in my room a lot. Or I would be on the bus. I also remember being in open spaces seated around uni—on my laptop—before lockdown. I’d pick a nice spot by a window to sit and enjoy the view whilst typing away. I was alone most of the time—everyone had their own thing going on. I rarely visited the library—maybe just to print something occasionally. One thing I would say is to have a good place to study, one where you can concentrate, especially when you have limited time. This should not be your bed, sit at a real desk, otherwise you’ll want to get under the covers, rest your head on the nice fluffy pillow, take your phone off the bedside table... start scrolling through Instagram... eyelids are getting heavy. You see where I’m going with this.
Sit at a real desk, otherwise you’ll want to get under the covers, rest your head on the nice fluffy pillow, take your phone off the bedside table... Start scrolling through Instagram... Eyelids are getting heavy. You see where I’m going with this.
JH: You don’t mention spending time at lectures?!
AS: I didn’t realise! I actually didn’t spend much time in in-person lectures because we didn’t have many and they were short. But they were super helpful to meet your lecturers and other people in your class. When the whole lockdown fiasco happened, no one really contributed to lessons, you’d just be looking at a screen of mini people icons. I had lots of prep work and reading though which covered mostly everything in the syllabus. This is what I meant when I was alone most of the time.
JH: You missed out on a lot. You mention that it was super helpful to be physically in a lecture. Could you share a little more on that?
AS: Lectures are important no matter how you attend it, online or offline. If you don’t attend any of your lectures at all—you’re not getting what you paid for and you’re not learning. It’s as simple as that. Somehow when you attend your classes a bit of knowledge manages to absorb in your brain whether you’re paying attention or not. Attending your classes gives you a chance to meet your peers who you might study with, do presentations and group work with, etc. They’re most likely in the same boat as you—make a group chat with them or at least make a little effort to get to know them.
If you really struggle and get bored with your lectures, take modules that you’re interested in, otherwise you’ll sit in your 9AM class one day and think to yourself, “Why did I take this module? I could be sleeping in right now...”. You can also ask your tutors questions and some may even hint what exactly they’re looking for in your work. If you’re worried about looking like you have no friends, at the end of the day, you’re there for you. Got a question, ask it. If you have recorded lectures and you’re playing them on 2x speed it’s totally acceptable and works wonders. If it’s up then it’s stuck? In the context of memory that is…
JH: I see, you’re paying to be there so you might as well use it to your full advantage. How did you manage your expenses?
AS: I applied for a student loan and used that for uni expenses only. I had a part-time job so I used that to cover food and clothes. I’m not that much of a big spender. When you’re studying psychology, in the words of most of my lecturers, you shouldn’t be buying or really using books (maybe only for definitions). You should be using peer-reviewed journal articles to show your understanding of up to date research. Your university should have an online database with access to psychology/science journal libraries (such as Frontiers, SAGE, JSTOR, Taylor & Francis, and ScienceDirect, just to name a few). Any search engine is your friend though—PDF files can readily be found online (antivirus software advised).
When searching for a journal article it’s all about the use of relevant keywords. For instance, let’s say you want to write an essay on fruit preference and the personality of young adults (because that’s all I can think of at the moment), you would type into the search bar: fruit personality psychology journal article or even fruit big five journal article. You can use filters to screen out languages and years (2013-2022 and unpublished articles hit the sweet spot).
Any search engine is your friend though—PDF files can readily be found online (antivirus software is advised).
JH: It’s one thing to know how to search for journal articles, but another to know how to read them. How many articles have you say... read through over your three year course?
AS: A psychology degree involves lots of reading. I would say that I downloaded around 20-30 articles for each essay then checked if I had full access to them, they were recent, and that they were peer-reviewed. Once I made these checks—I would be left with 15-20 articles that I could use for definitions, comparing research, and to search for further references. It’s also enough to show your marker that you’ve done some reading—which means you’ve put in some effort.
Because it’s so much reading, it’s important that you know the basic layout of a published Psychology journal article; it usually comprises of an abstract, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, and references. Never copy articles word for word because it will flag up on your university’s plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism is bad and a big no-no. A helpful tip to search through articles is to use the find shortcut on your keyboard “ctrl/cmd-f”. Organisation is also important here, you can create a new folder for each module and assignment—and then stick your articles in them.
JH: Psychology uses the APA layout, so it’s super important that you know the right version to use.
AS: Yes, it is super important that you use the correct version of the APA format because there are a lot of differences between each version. APA format is the layout that psychology students and researchers use for their research papers in the UK, this includes the reference layout. APA 7 is probably what you should be using now. I used 6 because when I started uni 7 wasn’t really used yet. You should save a template of the APA 7 format so that you can refer to it.
This includes references, citations, headings, font, font size, where your page numbers should be, tense, headers, footers, quotes, things like that. Saving a template will save you from having to type in the same thing over and over. Correct layout, grammar, and spelling accounted for 10 per cent of my final grade so it makes a huge difference. The content of your work can be a little crap, but at least it’s spelled correctly. Speaking of what contributes towards your grade, you have to know how your modules are graded and what grade you’re at (so you know how many marks you should be aiming for). Know what your assignment, coursework, etc. is asking from you—this should be outlined on your module guide. This is what your lecturer is going to mark you on.
Correct layout, grammar, and spelling accounted for 10 per cent of my final grade so it makes a huge difference. The content of your work can be a little crap, but at least it’s spelled correctly.
JH: Any tips on finalising a piece of coursework?
AS: I would say make sure that you’ve read through your work twice fully a few days before it’s due. It’s really easy to misspell something or type words twice. Tweak your Word settings to detect incorrect grammar. I’ve seen lots of students get caught out because they didn’t know how to upload their work correctly.
I used Turnitin, it’s one of those websites where multiple lecturers (admins) dip in and out and change things around. Make sure you’re enrolled to the module you’re doing, you know when your assignment is due, and if you’re allowed to resubmit preferably 24 hours before your assignment is due (not 24 minutes). This is in case you want to change something. Time is one of your greatest tools.
JH: Have you ever gotten a grade you didn’t like? What came out of it?
AS: Yes, a couple of times. We had a reflection piece of coursework we had to do every year and my grade never improved. I let it go though. I used the feedback and all but it didn’t improve my work. Feedback is given for a reason, so it’s wise to use it. You’re not going to be happy with your grades all the time—and it’s not always your fault. If you’re really not happy with a grade, it’s probably best to ask your lecturer to go through your work with you—book a meeting with them. Emails can get you places, and sometimes not. It used to happen quite a lot where you would ask a lecturer two questions and they would end up not answering your questions at all! The lecturers at my university used to get anno—can I say that?
JH: Yes, that’s great, go on.
AS: Yeah, they used to get annoyed when students would send them an email stating something like, “hi nic, what do you mean by asdgdsrgsrsrgwhdt. thanks. g.” No name, an inappropriate email address, no class name, no context. But when you send a nice and clear email, you may get the reply you’re asking for, and your lecturers will also get to know you as a student. Keep it to the point. Writing emails is a great skill to have. Don’t get stressed about writing emails though, lecturers get a lot of emails daily and genuinely don’t look deep into what you wrote. If your email is urgent, don’t forget to send it as high importance.
JH: How often did you ask for help from other students and your tutors?
AS: Quite a lot really. Just be careful not to share your work with others too much otherwise you’ll end up writing the same thing! There’s no shame at all in asking for help, we’re all different with different abilities and skillsets. There used to be a poster in the university that said something like, “Ask a question and you’re a fool for five minutes, don’t ask and you’re a fool for life”. Also, don’t be afraid to use your university’s services. You matter.
Sometimes you may need some help whether it be for career advice, counselling and wellbeing, general concerns, or academic assistance. Your library has many resources to offer such as books, articles, and quiet places to study when you want to be on your own. If you really can’t find an article from your own university’s database, you can ask your librarian for help. You can also join societies where you can meet other people that share your interests. You should’ve been assigned a personal tutor—they’re meant to be there to help you with your progress at university.
There’s no shame at all in asking for help, we’re all different with different abilities and skillsets.
JH: Did you have any group assignments and how did it go for you?
AS: Honestly, I dreaded group assignments. I had one proper group presentation in first year but it didn’t count towards my classification. It was a bit of a shambles because no one was answering their texts and we weren’t prepared to present on the day. I’m quite go all in or nothing so I was bummed after we presented, but it was an alright grade in the end. There’s always going to be someone in the group that does more and one that does less. That’s just how it is. You might have to pick up the slack for others, but don’t get taken advantage of, because you’ll get burned out.
JH: You talk about uploading assignments and presentations - Did you ever have any written exams in a hall?
AS: If you have a timed written exam, I’m sorry to hear that. I loathed exams, I never saw the point in them. You can have all of the expertise in a subject area but completely lose yourself on the day and forget everything. One way I used to prepare for exams is literally to write them out and memorise them. This is good if you know the questions beforehand. I knew what I was going to write and how long it took. Draft your exam on your word processor of choice, make sure it’s good enough for your liking, then make sure it can be written in a set amount of time. Then number the each line. Your job is to then memorise the exam line by line. You shouldn’t really be asked for references—that’s mean. Oh, and remember how to read an analog clock.
JH: Did you study psychology before your degree?
AS: Yes I did, it was a big help, but psychology is quite a wide subject so you’re never going to fully experience psychology for what it is. You just need to know the basics and how to be critical. One thing my psychology teacher taught us in sixth form is the acronym GRAVE. It’s used for critiquing articles and it stands for generalisability, reliability, applicability, validity, and ethics. If you’re new to psychology it’s pretty simple to use. Generalisability - Is this research generalisable in terms of its methodology and/or its findings, or is it only applicable to one or few populations? Reliability - Is the method used reliable? Are the findings similar to other studies? Are any measures used measuring what is intended to be measured? How well is the study replicated? Applicability - Has the research findings been implemented in the ‘real world’? (Education, healthcare, policies, etc.). Validity - Here we’re talking control measures, extraneous variables, order effects, demand characteristics; things that could have an effect on the DV. Ethics - Think about confidentiality, deception, (informed) consent, debrief, withdrawal, and protection. Ethics is super important when it comes to designing studies - you will have to prove your understanding of ethics when planning your own dissertation.
JH: What would you advise students who have never done psychology in their life?
AS: Don’t be afraid of SPSS—a statistics software that you will definitely use more than a couple of times in research methods. To tell you the truth, I love SPSS but that’s because I’m done with it. The software is pretty minimal but using it for the first time can be a little daunting. The best thing to do is to make everything as simple as possible. Make little guides that you can refer to. Take each type of data - name it - give an example (e.g., nominal data = Flavours of ice cream). Take each research design - name it - give an example - write the procedure. Take each statistical test - name it - give an example - write the procedure. See where I’m headed? Some really handy books (PDF files of earlier versions can be found online) are: Dancey and Reidy - Statistics Without Maths for Psychology, and Howitt and Cramer - Research Methods in Psychology. YouTube has many useful tutorials as well. When it comes to planning your dissertation keep in mind whether you’re more comfortable doing qualitative or quantitative research.
The best thing to do is to make everything as simple as possible.
JH: Summer is here.
AS: Yes.
JH: What should a psychology student do during summer?
AS: It would be a good idea for you to gain some experience—in anything you want to do. You can do this by applying for internships or volunteering. Even a few hours can make a big difference to your CV. Just make sure that you apply early. It’s easier said than done though, it can be competitive and that sucks considering all the things going on at the moment. Ask your university’s career service for advice and if there are any companies in your area that offer internships.
JH: Takeaway messages to sum up the uni experience?
AS: Do your best. Just do your best, that’s all. It’s your degree at the end of the day. If you know that you did your best then you can’t kick yourself in the bum after... And sometimes you just need realise things. If you have to deactivate your socials, do it. If you have to put your hand on the window of the bus, and gaze longingly at passing cars as you listen to ballads through your airpods, fine. Time at university goes by quickly and spending 10ish hours of your time on a piece of work you’ll never have to do again is pretty great if you ask me... Can I add one more?
It’s your degree at the end of the day. If you know that you did your best then you can’t kick yourself in the bum after...
JH: Go ahead.
AS: Save your work in at least two places whether it be a USB, your email, your laptop, or an external hard drive. My sister lost her work once. You never know when you can lose your work—and it can be really disheartening if it happens. Good luck everyone!
IF YOU’RE FEELING OVERWHELMED OR WOULD LIKE SOME ADVICE, SPEAK TO YOUR UNIVERSITY’S WELLBEING SERVICE, THEY’RE THERE FOR YOU.