As I was finishing up packing for New York (I'm sitting in BA's lounge typing this by the by so excuse the semi unwoken, inbalanced witterings...), I looked inside the contents, at the dress that I have procured for the Gucci event (not showing, not telling....laters, laters!), at the other dresses, accessories and shoes which I have packed, wee strands of doubt crept in.  The contents most definitely represents me and what my style is all about but as I'm about to board and take to a city where the once-overs are ruthless and beauty is regimented (in comparison to London anyway...), fears, particularly about the big bash dress popped up.  Will they laugh?  Will they whisper 'What the hell is she wearing?'.  Fears about this unknown 'they' that hadn't previously existed, but for some reason in a last minute panic attack, they were invading my brain. 

However some reassuring words from stylist and photographer Manuela Pavesi (also known as Miuccia Prada's best friend...) from the feature in the latest Pop magazine (I know I know... repetitive but this is airport posting!) floated by and suddenly, I had to laugh at my fears of 'they'.  The 'they' ceased to exist...

"Today everyone wants to be beautiful, which looks very strange to me.  Because fashion is not about being beautiful, it's about wearing something you love and making you think about a lot of things.  The trend today is just to be slim with no wrinkles.  But style and fashion have nothing to do with being young and pretty - they are beyond that."

I closed up my suitcase with a self-congratulatory smile and locked it up with a padlock (that hopefully US security will be able to get into without ripping up my case...) and gave it a pat.