“WOW! It’s September, the summer was so blazing, it felt like a dizzy dream. Here we are, opening our arms out to a new season, autumn looming. A time for reflection and inevitable change, I thought it no better time, to embrace the best things about being alive,” says Cairney, and we couldn’t agree more.

Speaking about her exciting upcoming projects she continues: “I’m collaborating with fashion designer - Mary Benson - to design a range of ‘statement berets’, not only because I love a beret, but to add a positive statement across them, can warm hearts and add smiles for all, whoever wears them come across. Exploring what it means to ‘express yourself’ with stylist.co.uk felt like no better way to celebrate the launch the berets. Plus I wanted a joyful excuse to get the best people I know to write some brilliant things for us all to enjoy.”

“We know we aren’t alone in saying that September still gives us that back-to-school feeling. Indeed, it is so ingrained in our seasonal bodyclocks that we begin craving freshly-sharpened pencils, virgin notebooks and shiny new pencil cases whenever autumn rolls around,” says stylist.co.uk’s editor Kayleigh Dray.

“Above all else, though, we crave that fresh start which comes with a new school year. We want to be better, learn something different, and express ourselves in innovative and exciting new ways. Who better to help us achieve this in our adult lives than Gemma Cairney?

“An award-wining broadcaster, author, founder of a production company (Boom Shakalaka Ltd) and activist, Gemma is a trailblazing innovator and one of our favourite Stylist Women. Since cutting her teeth at BBC Radio 1 Gemma has moved on to host on 6 Music and has this year published two more books in her ‘Open’ series on opening your heart and opening your mind. And, as part of Stylist’s September Shake-Up campaign, she has teamed up with us for the Express Yourself initiative, which will encourage readers to think outside the box, embrace their creativity and open themselves up for something new and exciting.

“In short, she’s here to help us buck our ideas up, get our metaphorical uniforms ready and transform our outlook ahead of the new school year. We can’t wait.”

Watch this space for ideas on how to be more creative and kick-start the next year, you can follow Cairney’s content specifically by looking at the Express Yourself section here.

Images: Gemma Cairney / Getty

Why Gemma Cairney is taking over the Stylist website for one whole day