My journey started with a pair of shoes that I fell in love with when I was around ten years old. A pair of deep cherry red, patent leather Mary Jane’s started my love affair with fashion & dressing. In my teens, I became immersed in the 80’s punk/new-wave scene in my small hometown, in Ontario (ON), Canada. After graduating university in the 90’s, I adopted the “ugly” aesthetic, introduced by Miuccia Prada, as my professional style whilst working in the healthcare sector, in Toronto, ON.
In 2006, I moved to the United Kingdom & eventually enrolled at the London College of Fashion (LCF/UAL) in their BA (Hons), Fashion Business programme. During this time, my interest in fashion & style-subcultures broadened, taking into consideration the impact of Western culture on standards related to the body: in particular, representations related to ageing.
I then completed an MSc in Applied Psychology in Fashion, also from UAL (University of the Arts London) where I explored issues of fashion & ageism from a social psychological perspective. More recently, I have lectured part-time, at my alma mater here in London, and completed a postgraduate certificate in Applied Social Psychology, from the University of Kent – research of which is currently being prepared for academic publication.
It was whilst attending the University of Kent, that I came across the psychology of humour. It was almost like a “duh, no kidding” moment – I mean, who hasn’t been teased, mocked, or had a joke made at their expense, based on their appearance? Or maybe you were the one doing the teasing, mocking, or making the joke? Or maybe it wasn’t you, but you heard it & laughed along too. Or maybe you didn’t laugh.
Have you ever wondered why this is?