I got a 'useless' fashion-psychology degree — and now work with brands like Maybelline and Depop. Here's how I used it to land my dream career.

• Shakaila Forbes-Bell is a fashion psychologist who has worked with brands like Next and Depop.
• She was told a master's degree in the subject at the London College of Fashion was a waste of money.
• Forbes-Bell describes how she proved them wrong.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Shakaila Forbes-Bell, a freelance fashion psychologist. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

In 2011, I was studying psychology at University College London. At the time, I wanted to be a clinical psychologist. I became invested in social psychology and how it intersected with fashion. I did my dissertation on the link between race, clothing, and first impressions.