Oh hello darling, and welcome back to growth month. The jaunt down the path of the past three years of benpechey.com.
Right from my humble beginnings all the way back in 2016, I had a huge passion for DRESSING, FASHION AND THE LIKE. 3 years on I am still the same, but I feel like I have evolved a WHOLE bunch. I have no idea how many outfits I have put together and brought you.
Today I am going to look back at some of the outfits that stick in my mind. Right from the very beginning alongside a brand new one to add to my oeuvre. Discussing the motivation and the moments that make up my history.
OH LOOK BABY BEN!!!
Okay so not exactly baby in the sense of age, but baby in the sense of outfit. Fun fact I still have both of these garments, but have lost the handbag!! The shirt is one of my favourites and I wear it so much to this day. I remember vividly being so awkward and nervous standing for these shots. What these images lack in confidence, they make up for in the fact that they laid the foundation for everything that came afterwards.
Okay so this post was a MOMENT. This was the first statement I ever made on my website. One that I still stand by, that clothes are just clothes. There is no rule that says you can’t wear something . THERE IS NO GENDER IN CLOTHES, THEY ARE LITERALLY JUST FABRIC.
WEAR WHAT YOU WANT MY DARLING.
Oh look its my first anniversary. I really loved that top- but it never really worked in real life, to much creasing. We shot this in Kensington, and it really was a moment. I felt powerful, and in charge of my sense of style. I was really beginning to move away from traditional markers of gender in the way I dressed.
Also I adored the constant flow of Range Rovers stuffed full of au pair’s and posh kiddies trying to run me over, SCREAM.
Another anniversary, a very different Ben. This time I am in full control of my identity, clothes have become my playground, and I fully fuck with the rules BECAUSE THERE ARE NO RULES. This was a print colour clashing moment that I am very much into. I would 100% let this outfit buy me a drink.
If I was going to wear this lewk today, the only change I would make is add a heel, just to make me feel like the power bitch that I really am!
URGH. To this day one of my best performing posts. We shot this on a quiet country lane at 10am on the 27th of December, it was FREEZING, but the light was DIVINE. If you recall I used the comments from a troll/hater and really cemented the things I do and say as a LGBTQ+ activist.
I live for this look, and will be rocking this look all next autumn winter. The jumpsuit in general is a huge liberating garment, and I urge you ALL to grab one. They make you feel like you could take on the world. Now I know why Annika Rice always wore one! Oh it also clear that I have a THING for polka dots
Okay so this is one of my personal faves, I REEAALLLLY love this dress. This was a big step away for me. I have worn dresses before of course, but this was the most DRESS LIKE DRESS. Floral print, BIG SEQUIN DETAILS. I felt like this dress was a true awakening to my personal style and EVOLUTION.
This was the beginning of Ben 3.0.
I am so lucky to have such a large collection of pictures of myself, because I AM BEAUTIFUL. No, seriously to have such a large repository of images to chart my own evolution is a wonderful thing. I have thoroughly enjoyed taking this jaunt down memory lane, and growth month was the PERFECT opportunity.
Thank you for joining me today, and I will see you next week for the continuation of growth month...
Shot by Rachel Pechey
Shop my Lewk:
Dress: Collusion
Trousers: River Island, but like 4 years old
Shoes: ASOS
Earrings: John Lewis and Partners