WELCOME, welcome. Come inside the weird and wonderful mind (and wardrobe) of a fashion obsessive and style aficionado. The lovely people at The Northern Echo have offered me my own monthly column (very Carrie-esq) to share my style secrets. I should start off with a little introduction. I am a stylist and personal shopper based in the North-East and I also run my own online boutique named Joe Prince Vintage (www.joeprincevintage.com) selling vintage clothing and accessories for men and women.

My current line of business is a million miles away from my previous career as a solicitor (much to the frustration of my parents!). I initially studied law at the University of Northumbria and I then went on to work at Ward Hadaway, in Newcastle, qualifying as a solicitor in September 2003. After three years at Ward Hadaway, I decided it was time to follow my heart and pursue a career in fashion.

Fashion has always been an enormous passion of mine and it probably started when I was about four years old when I was dressing up in my mother's beige snakeskin stilettos, raspberry satin turban and floor-sweeping jade hostess gown. Quite a picture, I know. However, up until now, it has always taken a back seat as far as my career is concerned as I was encouraged to become a 'professional'. After seven years of training and working in the law, I decided I didn't want to be a 'professional' any more.

Soon after, I was lucky enough to get a job as a style advisor for Topshop to test the water and see if this was what I wanted to do on a permanent basis. I loved it, so at the beginning of this year, I finally decided to take the plunge and venture out on my own. Joe Prince (don't ask me about the name yet...it's too embarrassing to tell you and we've only just met!) was born out of my obsession for vintage clothing. The personal shopping aspect of the business was born out of my obsession for dressing people up, like my very own Barbie doll.

Joe Prince Styling (www.joeprincestyling.com) already has a portfolio of regular personal shopping clients and I've worked to develop each person's unique style. My approach to styling is pretty laid-back and informal (no Trinny and Susannah attacks here) but my passion for fashion is infectious! You've been warned...