Walking through a market in East London around 25 years ago, I spotted a black silk kimono gracefully adorned with herons. I loved the idea of wearing this, but my style was rooted in the 1940s and 1950s, with a preference for the wiggle dress. Nonetheless, I couldn't resist trying it on.

At that moment, my style evolved. The elegance and flow of a kimono is like no other. They make you glide across a room and feel like a million dollars, wherever and whenever you wear them. Very quickly, they become my go-to.

Decades later, my collection is vast. My best finds are often pre-loved and from charity shops. I've learnt every nuance of what makes the perfect kimono. The fabric, the fit, the flow, the lapel, the sleeve, and the length. They are all equally important and holistically connected.