London Fashion Week SS26

This collection, affectionately referred to as "Barefoot and Braless" was a self indulgent celebration of all the good things happening in my life in the past three years. I met a wonderful man, got engaged, got married, and found out I was pregnant while preparing for this show. I thought I was going to have an epic bump reveal on the runway given I was five months pregnant but having a long torso really stole a lot of my thunder. Apparently the baby grew up instead of out and people just thought I was a little bloated. But I do digress.

This six piece collection was an homage to the romanticism happening in my life. The opening jumpsuit I designed for myself for my engagement shoot. It is a beautiful light weight white linen with a dramatic cape and even more dramatic open back. Definitely a design that caters towards the smaller chested ladies. In September of 2024 I got married and made my own dress for the ceremony and jumpsuit for the reception because I needed something I could dance in and there is nothing better than a drop seat jumpsuit. Designing for such an exciting moment of my life reinvigorated my passion at a time that I was really struggling to pull myself out of a creative slump. Both of these designs carried over into the collection. The one shoulder romper was inspired by my wedding dress and the exaggerated low back jumpsuit was a nod to my reception look. 

Far and away my favorite piece was the finale. The gorgeous red floral linen with a plunging neckline and ruffles for days. The sweet floral print was from Merchant and Mills, a UK based sewing house that sources the most incredible prints and linens from all over the world. I had the best time making this jumpsuit. I spent hours just adding more and more ruffles until it felt like the perfect balance of softness and edge. 

This collection holds a special place in my heart because it marked a return to designing and doing what I love. I took a break for several years due to COVID and TomFoolery became a very passive side business. Coming from a family of doctors, I pursued a career in medicine for the next few years. I started working as EMT, went back to school, planned on grad school to become a PA but in the process I became completely burnt out emotionally. I worked in the emergency room of a children's hospital for two years and hit my limit. Around this time I had met my now husband and the way he believed in my design abilities made me want to try again. Not to mention my family rejected my engagement and marriage because my husband is mixed race and suddenly not having my family in my life made the pursuit of medicine seem pointless. All I ever wanted to be was an artist. Saying yes to London Fashion Week felt like choosing myself again. It was an arduous process and I had so many days that I woke up and could not get myself to draw, cut, sew, anything. It was painful getting back into it and my procrastination was boundless. I made this whole collection in the two weeks leading up to the runway show. But it got done! I finished. I was back.