This current London heat is, quite frankly, causing havoc. Like so many others, I’m finding it difficult to function; between the lack of sleep and trying to remain productive in a very hot home, my usual creative rhythm has been thoroughly disrupted. Yet, even in the haze of a heatwave, the mind wanders to new projects. I am currently starting a new floral design collection, and naturally, my thoughts have turned towards the masters of crafts and design - and the designers that constantly inspire me.

Past inspirations: The enduring legacy of William Morris

When I think of floral design, one name stands above all others: William Morris.

If you aren’t immediately familiar with the name, his iconic prints certainly need no introduction. My very first designs, many moons ago, were heavily influenced by his work, and I remain deeply in love with those timeless, intricate textile patterns.

For those living in or visiting London, my favourite haunt - the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) - houses a vast collection of his work, here is just one example; Dove and Rose. They also feature his prints across a beautiful array of products in their museum shop. It remains my top recommendation for anyone looking for a dose of pure, historical design inspiration. And I do highly recommend that you visit the V&A if you have the chance.

William Morris’ most famous quote:

And I need to mention that one of my dream handbags is in fact the Loewe Puzzle bag with the William Morris Strawberry Thief print design, you can see it in the image below.

William Morris was a pivotal figure in the Arts & Crafts movement - a defiant, beautiful reaction against 19th-century industrialisation that championed the soul of handcrafted design. I believe we are currently witnessing a powerful resurgence of this ethos, as more of us rediscover the value of the unique, the handmade, and the human touch in an increasingly automated world.

Current inspirations: The pulse of the catwalk

It is currently the peak of the Haute Couture season, and it is almost impossible not to marvel at the sheer artistry emerging from the Paris runways this week.

Schiaparelli

If there is one “must-visit” exhibition in London this year, it is unequivocally “Schiaparelli: Fashion becomes Art” at the V&A. I don’t say that lightly, and it certainly isn’t just social media hype. In my opinion, this is one of the most masterful exhibitions the museum has ever staged. I’ve already visited several times, and yet, every single walk-through reveals a new layer of brilliance. The attention to detail - from the intricate construction of the garments to the surrealist whimsy of the accessories - is simply breathtaking. It serves as a constant source of inspiration for my own work.

I find myself continually drawn back to the same pieces, each one offering a fresh perspective on what fashion can achieve. Here are some of my absolute favorites from the exhibition that you simply cannot miss.

I filmed some clips of the exhibition here as well, available on my YouTube channel.

And My hot take on this week’s Schiaparelli Haute Couture collection? It continues to challenge the boundaries of surrealism, structure and materials. Seeing how Daniel Roseberry reinterprets classic silhouettes while maintaining that signature experimental edge of Schiaparelli is so mindblowing and inspiring - always a masterclass in daring design. See the looks here on the Schiaparelli website.

Below are some of my personal ‘Hot Takes’ from the latest Schiaparelli Haute Couture Show. I immediately fell in love with the Gaudi inspired designs for handbags and dresses, the use of florals, colour and materials are so unexpected and wonderful.

DIOR

Jonathan Anderson’s new creative direction for Dior is a fascinating pivot. By leaning heavily into the house's rich floral heritage and honouring Mr. Dior’s own profound, lifelong devotion to nature, he is orchestrating a soulful return to the brand’s roots. It feels like a homecoming, yet one that has been artfully reimagined for the modern era. Admittedly, I had lost a bit of interest in Dior, but Anderson’s vision has completely reignited my curiosity - and I am genuinely loving this playful, revitalised chapter for the house. You can watch the Dior Couture and see the looks on the Dior website here.

I frequently cover Dior designs in my London luxury shopping vlogs; if you want to see how these themes manifest in the boutique experience, you can take a look at my vlog here.

My latest floral designs

Despite the heat and the constant influx of inspiration from Paris, I am officially underway with my own floral collection. It has been a process of narrowing down the noise and focusing on the motifs that truly speak to me.

I look forward to sharing some of my sketches, colour palettes, and the behind-the-scenes reality of my creative process in future Substack posts.

How do you handle an overload of creative inspiration?

Do you find it overwhelming, or does it help you sharpen your focus?

Let me know in the comments.

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This SubStack will be the home for my experiments. Expect behind-the-scenes glimpses of my process, musings on design and fashion, and, I hope, a growing community of fellow creatives and anyone interested in all of this.

Thank you for being here and reading along. It’s lovely to have you here and I hope you will consider subscribing too.

Hanne

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To be honest, I wasn’t just too busy; I was neglecting myself. It’s a hard truth to admit, but recognising it is the first step toward a new chapter, my second act.

I am finally choosing to ‘declutter’ my mind. I’m embarking on a journey to reclaim my creative identity, and I’m inviting you along for the ride. I want this Substack to be a space for the “doing” - not just the thinking - and a place for us to have real conversations about the pursuit of our real passion and how we can make them a reality, even later in life.

I wonder if any of you have had similar experiences. Did you stop something because of other commitments getting in the way or being prioritised? I would love to hear your stories in the comments.

The warming up phase

My return to creativity really started with my YouTube channel, So Much Design with Hanne - of course if you are happy to support me there too, that would be amazing.

I’ve started small, combatting the “imposter syndrome” of returning to art and design by diving back into painting and printmaking.

The first step was a trip to the art supply store - an activity that remains one of my greatest joys. There is something transformative about a fresh stack of high-quality paper and a set of brushes that haven’t yet been stiffened by dried acrylic paint. Seeing my old paints dried up was a bittersweet reminder of how long I’d been away, but opening the new tubes felt like hitting a “reset” button.

I am taking it one step at a time, moving past the fear of how my work will be received and focusing on the tactile pleasure of creating again.

I did some initial warming up and a short clip can be seen in my travel diaries from my recent road trip from London to Denmark. As I make more progress, I will share more here on my Substack.

The London Studio Dilemma

One of the most persistent hurdles for a London-based creative is the physical reality of space.

My home is my sanctuary, but it is small. There is no corner where I can leave a print drying or a painting mid-progress without it encroaching on my living space. I’ve been researching studio rentals, and frankly, I am shocked. Most spaces hover around the £500-plus mark - a daunting overhead when you are in the “start-up” phase of a creative second act.

Has anyone else navigated this? If you have tips on finding affordable shared studios in London, or advice on how to create a “micro-studio” in a small flat, please drop a comment below. I’d love to hear your solutions.

What’s next?

I recently completed a three-day screenprinting course, and it was the spark I needed. My goal is to return to crafting handmade cards and limited-edition prints. I’m also dreaming of textile patterns and, eventually, a small accessories collection.

This Substack will be the home for my experiments. Expect behind-the-scenes glimpses of my process, musings on design and fashion, and, I hope, a growing community of fellow creatives.

Thank you for reading along as I start this chapter. It’s lovely to have you here.

Hanne

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Ultimately, I want to get back to my creative roots and I will of course tell you more about this in another post. I have many stories and experiences to share with you.

A few years ago now, I took the leap and started my YouTube channel in my 50’s; So Much Design with Hanne . YouTube made sense to me as a first step, I was really interested in learning about the ‘inner’ workings of having a YouTube channel (I am still learning … ), it was an opportunity that I decided to start to explore.

Is it worth starting a YouTube channel in 2026?

It required a certain amount of bravery to start, which I somehow found through watching too much YouTube content. I started to comment and connect with other YouTubers too on their videos. It was small steps but it made a difference. And what I kept hearing from all the other YouTubers was very clear: “Just start”.

And, so I finally did. The first video took a lot of courage, I was like many worried about the dreaded “judgement” from others. It took me a long time to film it and even longer to edit it. And I admit, when I got my first likes, comments and subscribers, it felt amazing - and at the same time a little surreal that people actually did want to watch my content.

So, given my own experience, do I think it is still worth starting a YouTube channel in 2026? For me the answer is a resounding: Yes. I would encourage anyone who is thinking of it, to give it a go - if I can do it, you can too.

There are many reasons why - and here are my Top 5 reasons to start a YouTube channel:

1. It will help to build your personal brand over time

2. You can share your passion for your given subject/interests with a new audience

3. You will connect with a like minded community - and maybe even find new friends

4. It give the opportunity to generate multiple income streams - this takes time but it is possible

5. With every video, you start to create a library of resources and assets that your audience can dive into at any time - and with this you build your expertise in your area

Are there other reasons that you would add to the list? Please leave me a comment and let me know. Even if you are still not sure, that would be great to hear about too.

What is next?

YouTube is far from easy, but it has really proven to be worth it for me personally. It is very time consuming, especially when you have to do absolutely everything yourself. I aspire to get some help with all the processes, at some point.

The community and the friends that I have made so far, have truly changed my life. I have found a community that has the same passion as me that really feels wonderful. And I am so grateful to everyone that decide to join my little channel and hopefully also here on SubStack.

From a financial perspective, it isn’t making sense yet for me. To be completely honest, I do want to make it an income stream, but I am not there yet. I am confident that I will get there. It takes time and a good portion of patience too.

Personally, I am still evolving - even in my 50’s - and I want to continue to do just that and at the same time create content that my subscribers will enjoy.

I feel similarly about SubStack, I am just starting this and seeing where it will take me. I aim to share behind-the-scenes creative content here too, general musings about all those design and fashion passions that I have - and hopefully have more in-depth conversations with you too. So, join me if that sounds interesting to you.

Thank you for reading along and I hope you enjoy being here.

Hanne

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