No more excuses.

Let me introduce myself and explain why I’m late.

Growing up, I always imagined myself as a journalist, strutting around London in a stylish outfit straight off a Chanel runway, complete with five-inch heels, while reporting on the latest fashion trends and interviewing designers backstage after their debut collections. However, as I matured, I had to face the reality of my youthful aspirations.

First, it's clear that five-inch heels are utterly impractical and, frankly, rather ‘naff.’ Second, a Chanel outfit straight off the runway is not as fashionable as it sounds and is the last thing you want to be seen in.

In pursuit of this dream, largely inspired by the character Andy Sachs from The Devil Wears Prada, I moved to London right after finishing high school and applied for a Fashion Journalism degree at the London College of Fashion (LCF). I was thrilled to secure a spot in the course. Writing has always been an escape for my little ADHD mind, which conveniently has this AMAZING ability to process thoughts at a lightning speed of 100 miles per hour. So, putting words on a page helps me visualise my ideas (and those incessant, obsessive thoughts) while sorting through what is genuinely beneficial, and what is merely noise.

However, as I delved into my studies at LCF, this sense of satisfaction began to fade. The once exhilarating escape that writing provided slowly diminished, and with it, my dream of working as a writer at Vogue House began to wither away. I can’t entirely blame my education for snuffing out my writing spark; instead, I fear it was the harsh truth that becoming a journalist often required compromising one’s morals. As someone who values honesty, this no longer seemed like an acceptable path for me.

Thus, I ventured into the workforce, entering the world of Public Relations (PR). PR gave me the opportunity to create tailored narratives for brands through strategic pitching and positioning. Crafting multiple press releases to showcase these fashion brands in their best light offered me a sense of fulfilment, yet the longing to write, a longing I had kept at bay - slowly but surely began to resurface.

Fast forward to the past two years: I have found myself in a relentless internal battle, weighing the possibility of rekindling my writing journey. I’ve always been intrigued by Substack, but articulating what I wanted to share eluded me. I dreamed of creating pieces that would envelop readers, leaving them with insights or emotional echoes. Unfortunately, my stubborn self-doubt and nagging sense of inadequacy tied me down, paralysing my creative aspirations and wrapping me in a thick fog of fear.

Still, my Notes app transformed into a trove of small stories, enticing article titles, and even a couple of chapters of an autobiography that poured out after a bottle and a half of rosé last June. Yet, like the app suggests, those ideas seemed destined to remain mere notes; unfinished thoughts drifting in the digital ether. But as 2025 approaches, I find myself ready to change that narrative.

With a new job on the horizon where I will be writing for a national UK paper, the time has finally come for my words to reach an audience. The fear that has held me captive must unravel. Before I plunge into the whirlwind of daily publishing, complete with clickbait and lifestyle pieces, now is the moment to start crafting the stories I truly wish to tell.

So, hi, I’m Sasha and I’d like to welcome you to my Substack. Here, I’ll publish a vast majority of articles, including reflections, wishlists, and studies, which I’ve probably written over a Vogue cigarette.

I look forward to starting this journey with you.

xoxo