Hadley Freeman is a strange hybrid in many ways, not least because she’s an American living in England, but also because she’s a journalist who fell into fashion. Talking about both of these conundrums when she visits Blackwells next Thursday, the Guardian columnist and novelist is relishing the freedom both mediums afford her to view her opinions.

Which she will do in no uncertain terms when tackling the controversial subjects of body image, sex and dating, as discussed in her latest book Be Awesome, although she doubts her Oxford university professors will approve of the title. “They’ll be horrified at the misuse of my English Literature degree,” she laughs.

Be Awesome was born via Skype as Hadley languished in New York City moaning about life in the Big Apple to her sister in Switzerland, when it dawned on her that the same gripes arose time and time again, making perfect fodder for a book.

So what bugbears does it cover? “The Daily Mail, romcoms, sexism in films, bad press for vegetarians, how to be a feminist without hating yourself all the time, a realistic guide to dating, how to read fashion magazines without wanting to be a man, cellulite....”

A broad reaching subject matter then, all written in her hilarious spiky prose. “Its not very conservative,” the 35 year-old agrees proudly.

Her last novel The Meaning Of Sunglasses, which also went down a storm, was more fashion based, a satirical dictionary of fashionista terminology and observations. How Hadley came to be in the world of fashion in the first place is equally entertaining and more a case of being in the right place at the right time than strategic planning, but it still meant she grabbed the kind of job most women would die for as deputy fashion editor of The Guardian for six years.

“I got to wear all the clothes and go to all the shows, yes,” she says.

But she quickly made a name for herself as a voice to be wary of; the fashion houses resisting her criticism which she found staggering and hilarious in equal measures. “I just wanted to make fashion more accessible,” she says.

So she sat down and penned Why Everyone Wears Sunglasses to empower women who liked fashion rather than make them feel too old, fat or poor to take part.

Realising they were wasting Hadley’s talents, The Guardian quickly moved her over to their commentary team, but she still pens the Ask Hadley column, for fashion questions and queries.

And having just moved back to London, after spending her early 30s in New York, she’s delighted to be back. She spent her childhood here from the age of 11, but moved back to New York for The Guardian. “This is a great island,” she confirms. Uncomfortable with American politics, views on abortion, women’s rights and the New York attitude to single women in their 30s to name but a few of the issues that grated, Hadley is relishing a more relaxed way of life in London, writing and walking her dog.

Hadley’s thrilled to be coming back to Oxford, especially Blackwells where she used to spend hours buying books, “on Anglo Saxon English and York notes for my Hardy essays, so I’m thrilled they’ve invited me, and really excited to be coming back to Oxford.”

  • Hadley Freeman will be at Blackwell’s Bookshop next Thursday. Get tickets from Blackwell’s, Broad Street, Oxford or call 01865 333623.