July Editor's Letter: Get Outside and Get Proud

july-2018-editors-letter-261772-1530199768489-main

(Image credit: @babba.c)

When was the last time you said you were proud of yourself? When was the last time you gave zero fucks and just walked out the front door full of confidence? When was the last time that you thought about how amazing and special you are; how lucky you are to have the body giving you life? I have to admit that the above rarely applies to me. In a new era of self-love and acceptance, however, I'm starting to see the tide turn for both myself and some of my most modest (read: self-deprecating) friends.

Incremental daily improvements in the business of personal style will lead to monumental shifts. With the democratisation of fashion comes some long-overdue diversity and important questions raised about consumption. With all its flaws, social media pushes us to honestly discuss issues we've typically kept in the dark. And with the combined global power of the people, change—in terms of the way people think and how we act—can be solidified in a matter of moments.

july-2018-editors-letter-261772-1530270125716-main

(Image credit: House of Holland; PICTURED: House of Holland has just launched a range of rainbow-coloured made-to-order tailoring to celebrate Pride Month. 25% of the line's proceeds will be donated to the Albert Kennedy Trust, an LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity.)

Last month, after reading Stephanie Yeboah's powerful piece on how to stop hating on yourself, I knew that our plans for July couldn't be better timed. This month, the UK celebrates Pride Month to show support and solidarity to the LGBTQ+ community. Similarly,Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK is a fashion platform committed to supporting and lifting up our readers—no matter what their struggles or pivotal moments may be. Being heard and valued is hard. Having your voice be heard is even harder for those who have long been overlooked or sidelined.

That's why we'll be highlighting key queer influencers and forces within the LGBTQ+ community—starting with the brands that genuinely support the cause (no bandwagoners allowed). It's also why we continue to make considered efforts to be as inclusive, diverse and user-driven as possible (your fashion choices inspire us on a daily basis and often generate some of our coolest content).

We'll be looking to people who stand for the things they really believe in—whether it's a fashion lover who's a football fanatic or a style journo who has modelled her entire life's wardrobe on Princess Diana.

july-2018-editors-letter-261772-1530270315475-image

(Image credit: @lucyknell; PICTURED: Instagram needs you! More and more cool girls like Lucy Knell (pictured here) are challenging the archaic, nonsensical beauty standards of our society (we also want to buy her Bower swimsuit). Share your summer looks with us by tagging #WentOutLikeThis.)

There's also the fact that this part of the year brings a great deal of outside action. I'm urging you to throw those body/wardrobe hang-ups straight out the window. If you don't have them, tell us your secrets (a DM on Instagram will do nicely). If you do have them, please ditch them—they're only holding you back, and you'll regret them one day. We'll be offering you plenty of fun fashion ideas for the moments you'll be OOO, so you can go OTT. Get out, get proud and (most importantly) get an ice cream.

Hannah Almassi
Editor in Chief

Hannah Almassi is the Editor in Chief ofBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK. Hannah has been part of the theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits. Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.