We sit down with Ella Squire, friend of MANNING CARTELL – to talk about what it means to embrace change with confidence. After recently relocating from Melbourne to London, Ella has been navigating the excitement and challenges of starting fresh in a new city. From finding her sense of self in unfamiliar spaces to using fashion as a way to connect with people and places, her journey is a story of growth, style, and self-discovery.
You’ve just made the move from Melbourne to London – how has that shift challenged or shaped your confidence and sense of self?
Moving from Melbourne to London has been such a huge shift for me personally. It’s challenged me to step away from everything familiar and really get to know myself in a new environment! At first I felt slightly lost, confused and scared, but over time it’s built my confidence in ways I didn’t expect. I’ve learned to be more independent, open to new experiences, and comfortable with change. It’sshaped my sense of self — I feel more grounded in who I am, while also excited about the growth that comes from being in such a dynamic city!
From exploring new cities to discovering hidden corners of Europe, what role does fashion play in how you experience and remember those
Fashion definitely plays an important role in how I connect with each place I visit! While I typically like to keep my style quite consistent, I love to play around and adapt it slightly depending on the city I’m in. In Tuscany for example, I’ll reach for beautiful formal dresses that suit those romantic evenings, while European beach cities inspire me to embrace more colour and playfulness. Here in London, my wardrobe is more structured and classical, filled with denim, monochrome sets, basic knits and jackets, reflecting the city’s energy and sophistication. When travelling to new cities, I also love to learn about their own fashion culture and look through the local stores. I was fortunate enough to visit Malta Fashion Week last month and it was so incredible seeing some of the unique, smaller designers from the region and their creations. Fashion can truly be such a beautiful way to express yourself, to tell a story, and connect with other people and places in the world. My own fashion choices not only shape how I experience a moment, but they also become how I remember it - like a personal style diary tied to each destination!
MANNING CARTELL is built on the idea of giving women the confidence to create lasting, meaningful memories, how has confidence shaped the way you approach this exciting new chapter in your life?
Confidence has truly shaped this chapter of my life. Moving to London meant fully restarting my own life & career within the fashion and beauty industry over here, which was daunting at first. While I do feel so lucky to be working in this industry, I’ve definitely had to put myself in situations that usually trigger anxiety - like consistently attending events and meetings knowing no one, rocking up to my first overseas brand trips alone and having to find my feet with a full group of new faces, and even trying to find the slightest bit of consistency in my own work and routine has been difficult. Finding self-confidence and strength to persist in these moments has been transformative. It’s taught me so much about who I am, and it’s pushed me to continue stepping into new experiences. Each time I challenge myself, I not only grow professionally but also discover more about myself personally and what I’m capable of, and that’s been the most rewarding part of this journey!
As Ella continues to build her life in London and beyond, her experiences highlight the power of confidence in shaping not only how we move through the world, but how we see ourselves within it. Each chapter brings new opportunities, new memories, and new ways to express individuality through style. In sharing her story, Ella perfectly reflects the spirit of MANNING CARTELL: empowering women to embrace change, step into the unknown with strength, and create lasting, meaningful moments along the way.
