Graduates 2025: Annie Wright, Fashion and Design History

My work and Influences

Annie on a beach My work and influences throughout my time on the course have been very varied – I have enjoyed looking at both historical and contemporary fashion.

I love periods such as the 18th century, Regency, 1920s, 1930s, 1960s, and 1970s. But my favourite is probably the 1990s, specifically designers such as Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano and Mugler.

Because of my varied interests, I have really loved looking at how modern designers have been able to reinterpret the past, which is prominent in the designers I have highlighted above.

Why Brighton

I chose this course as I am interested in fashion history and knew that I would like to pursue a career in curating. The course is also not practical; rather, it is essay-based, which suited me much more.

I have really enjoyed my time on the course. It has opened my eyes to different ways of looking at fashion history.

Through a variety of different assessments, I have been able to become much more critical and academic in my approach to fashion history and the fashion industry. I have also had the opportunity to develop skills which I hope to use in the future in my career, such as creating an exhibition.

The favourite part of my studies

My favourite part of this course has been the variety of topics I have been able to cover. This course has allowed me to look at fashion history in so many ways, and I have had the opportunity to produce work on such different topics.

I have also enjoyed the trips we have been on during the course, such as the Bishopsgate Institute and the London Docklands Museum.

Inspiring staff

All the staff have been amazing throughout the last three years.

They all have such vast amounts of knowledge and love for their subject areas, which has made lectures and seminars interesting. They have also all be super helpful and always willing to answer any questions, whether that is in person or over email.

Susanne Rowlands has been really helpful as both my Academic Supervisor and my Dissertation Supervisor, throughout the past three years.

What Brighton means to me

Brighton means so much to me, as I have been able to grow as a person here.

For me, this was the first time living alone, in a city where I knew no one before coming, which is also very far away from my home. This independence has allowed me to grow so much and develop my confidence.

I have also made some really great friends over the past couple of years.

After graduation

After graduation, I am taking a year off to work, save money and hopefully do some volunteering at a museum or heritage site.

Then I will be coming back the following year to do the Curating Collections and Heritage MA.

Advice to my 17 year old self about university

If I could give my 17-year-old self advice about going to university, it would be to be more confident in my academic work. I remember before I came to university, I was so stressed about everyone else being so much smarter than me and that I was going to struggle with the work and assessment.

However, it quickly became clear to me within the first couple of weeks that this was not the case, and that everyone is in the same boat. University work is different to school and A-levels, however, because I was doing work on subjects I enjoyed, I have much preferred university assessments to any work I did at school.