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Today I'm going on a style journey with the world renowned
interior designer, author of 10 books, affectionately dubbed the
Queen of Taupe, the Titian haired inspirational pocket
rocket powerhouse that is Kelly Hoppin CBE.
Kelly, you can follow me around everywhere.
Did that feel? Good, the bit of fluffing.
But actually you don't. You don't need fluffing your
your CV just talks volumes. I've been around a long time.
Well, if you have, I have too. So hey ho.
In fact, I was just trying to work out this morning how long
we have known each other and I would say it's 30 plus.
Years. Yeah, definitely.
Gosh, now you are affectionately dubbed the Queen of Taupe.
How would you describe your interior style?
Oh, I hate that question. Oh.
God, that's a good start, isn't it?
Because I think the press created that whole kind of queen
of taupe, Taupe on tap and everything, and it was funny at
the time. On tap.
I like that. But actually when I, when I did
my 40 year retrospective and I, I looked through the book,
there's a lot of colour there. But I guess my style is neutral
and my my whole ethos about design is creating homes for
people to live in because that's I'm doing what I do today
because of my grandmother's home.
And my happiest times were with my granny and grandpa and their
home was so old fashioned, but it was the way it felt.
So I've always tried to kind of bottle that and recreate that
for people. And yes, I love the simplicity
of that kind of East meets W very, you know, it could all be
neutral in whites and creams and topes, but it could equally be
monochrome in black and white, or it could be all shades of
black and grey. So it's just choosing a certain
array of colors and it's about balance and it's about allowing
people to put their own identity into their homes.
But I can't really describe it in one word because it's it's
changing all the time and it's movable.
And what I do is, is like you with your couture gowns, you
design it specifically for the for whoever you're designing
for. So it's very couture.
Interesting, although I will pick you up on that word.
Yeah, couture is specifically for sewing and dressmaking.
Is it really? It is.
It's a French word. My God, I use it all the time.
Well. Look it up.
OK, look it up. I, I 'cause I saw that in your
bio and I thought, hang on a tick.
I'm not sure about use the use of the word couture outside the
world of fashion, and in fact comes up on Google.
Couture is a French word that means sewing or dressmaking.
The phrase Aute couture translates as high sewing or
high dressmaking and is synonymous with high fashion.
Wow. And in France, clothing cannot
be labeled aute couture unless it meets certain standards set
by an official organization, the Chambras in de Calde.
I love that, isn't that? Interesting.
Yeah, I thought, I just thought you would find that interesting.
How do you feel the interior space has changed during your
journey in interiors? Oh, I think it's changed hugely.
I think in the early days when I started at like sort of 16 and a
half, seventeen people didn't say they had an interior
designer. They didn't want to admit it.
The the Americans talked about their decorators long before
anybody in Europe, said my interior designer.
And I think it became acceptable in the same way as you would go
to some a fashion house for clothing.
We were very behind in the interior as well.
We've kind of caught up with fashion in that respect.
Other than the fact that we don't change seasons, you know,
like having different looks and things.
I think people are more aware of their home.
I think that it was always apparel here and interiors here.
I think now the home is the most important thing in people's
lives. So I think that interiors and
finding designers and architects and wonderful craftspeople is
just normal now. And it wasn't way back then much
more difficult. And interesting, I mean, just on
that front of homes and interiors, how do you approach
sustainability with interiors? Do you upcycle at all?
Yes. I mean, when we do hotels, very
much so. A lot of the hotels that we work
with are very into that. When we worked with the cruise
industry, strangely enough, you think the opposite, but very
much. And we choose the companies that
we work with, the people that we work with, even down to where
fabrics are from. And so we're learning every day.
But I find that all the young people in my office are teaching
me a huge amount, you know, and I'm completely open to it, and
they're very much into it. And we run a very sustainable
business as well. So it's important.
Yeah, as well as your flourishing interior design
business, you've got arrange with M&S and arrange with QVC.
How do those two ranges differ from each other?
They're completely different. QVC I've been doing for God
years, 1516 years maybe. I've kind of lost count and it's
very specific with bedding with a few accessories and it's sold
into the customer's home. But with Marks and Spencer's,
it's a very broad range. So it's everything other than
heavy furniture across the home. So we launched in September, you
know, everything from cushions to throws to bedding to
accessories. And in March, April next year we
have like another, I don't know, 100 odd pieces coming in.
So we're doing all kitchen and tabletop and whatever.
So the Marks and Spencer range is a very full range for the
home. So every aspect and lighting and
it's just amazing. And it's a dream for me because
my father used to make the clothing for menswear at Marks
and Spencer. So Marks and Spencer was very
much a part of my vocab. You know, everything I listened
to at dinner at night with my dad talking and then meeting
people and stuff. So all my life I've said I've
wanted to do a home collection with Marks and Spencer.
So when it actually happened, I was literally bouncing off the
walls and I, I absolutely love it and the quality my partner
had a really bad cold. So I went and slept in the guest
room and I slept on my own sheets, even though I know
they're really soft. So the next day I got on
Instagram, I'm going, they're really soft.
I've actually slept on them. The quality is fantastic and you
can see I'm excited about it because it's it's been received
so well and they're such an iconic company.
Yeah, they are And they're they're sourcing is second to
none isn't. It and very sustainable, which
is really important. And to be able to reach a much
broader audience for your aesthetic is really exciting.
It's interesting, yeah. Yeah.
Any other projects that are going on at the moment that
you're really excited about? I mean all the interior
projects, you know, we're, we're opening a studio in Dubai, we're
doing a lot in the Middle East. We've got some, we've got some
really interesting sort of hotels and private client homes
and commercial properties. But each one is different and
challenging. And I think that over the years
you can, if I look at the sort of work and what comes to us,
it's never the same. And you know, no one private
client is ever the same anyway. So that's a given.
But we now get sent these kind of projects and you'll and you,
you don't just read it and cost it and then meet people.
You're reading it and going, wow, that's really cool.
And could be about technology and how that works with interior
design. Or it could be an island
somewhere with, I don't know, just amazing things.
So it's, it's exciting. So not about to hang your clocks
up. And I never do that.
But you know, I definitely choose my time.
How I how I allocate my time for work now is different to what it
was before, but I feel that it's more I get more done.
But for Dubai, do you have to up the volume?
No, I think, I think Dubai has changed massively.
And when I went back there after many, many years, I was
literally bouncing off the walls.
When I came back to London, I was so energized by the people
that I met, the cultures. It was just extraordinary.
And it's changed. And so any country that you work
in, you're going to be designing for a different culture and what
people want. But I wouldn't say that Dubai is
for that reason. It's the complete opposite,
actually. It's a proper melting pot,
isn't? It Yeah, but it's just, you
know, I what I loved about working in Asia for so many
years is that you were appreciated and in a really
magical way. And the Middle East is the same
now. They love what you present to
them. They're excited about your
designs. And any designer would be lying
if they didn't say they, they want someone to be happy with
what you provide and design for them.
It's not just about designing something and doing the job.
It's like the whole process, isn't it?
And the friendships that you make and, and the, you know,
creating something that's different and groundbreaking.
True, true, true, true. Today we're going on a style
journey. How did you decide what you were
wearing for this interview? Well it's really interesting
because I was thinking about it obviously because I was coming
here, but I didn't think any differently in terms of getting
dressed. This morning I came back from
Brick Lane having got my back sorted and I just decided to put
on a warm pair of trousers and then thought I'll wear layers.
So I didn't even think about the fact I was coming to see you.
But what it made me realize was that it took me nearly 48 years
to get to a point where I knew what I wanted to wear, or 45
years because I struggled throughout my but no one would
know this. But I never really knew what my
style was. And I remember when I met you
and your kind of tailored clothing with your long coats
and stuff, that was kind of the beginning, if you like, of my
journey into more, I would say tailored.
You know, I wear big trousers. I know what suits my shape, so
when I shop now I know exactly what it is that is good on me,
whereas I didn't before, so it took me a long time to get
there. But when you say 45 years until
you were 45? I didn't really feel comfortable
in what I was wearing, Yeah. But that doesn't surprise me
because I think a lot of people, do you think, Yep, 40s or even
50s before they really feel totally that they've got their
style, do you think? It's because we just get to a
point where we're old enough to not care.
No, I don't. I think we really listen to our
intuition and we really work out what makes us.
It's what you were saying about the home, what makes you feel
amazing. It's the same clothing wise,
what makes you? Feel.
No, I totally I, I'm 100%. If you put something on and it
doesn't feel right, you as a woman, you have to change that.
Otherwise your day is destroyed. Yeah.
It's a bad clothing day or a bad bad hair day.
Now. You were born in South Africa,
moved to London when you were two.
Were you very aware of your parents style growing up?
Yes, very. My mother has amazing style and
did very early on. You know, she had Chinchimino
design, her study, I remember, and her bedroom was kind of
groundbreaking when I look back at it.
My father was in fashion, so I suppose sort of subconsciously
it was always there. And of course she was into art,
and we were always in museums and music and very kind of
people coming over to the house that were poets and authors and
whatever. So I was kind of surrounded by
that whole world. So I'm not sure I was conscious
of it, but subconsciously it was very much a part of my growing
up. I mean, I never knew your
father, but your mother I always thought of as being Immaculate,
always the sort of twin set and pearls.
I always think of her with giant pearls.
And I think of you as someone who wears pearls a lot.
Do you think you've got that from your mother?
Probably from my grandmother because she gave me some pearls.
So I think, and I've always loved pearls.
I think pearls are great on your skin.
And yeah, I, yeah, I love. Jewelry.
Do you still have your grandmother's?
Pearls. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I wear them all the time. Hopefully.
Yeah. Lovely.
Do you think about her every time you put them on?
Not every time, but I have a brooch that specifically reminds
me of her. But yeah, but I'm lazy when it
comes to jewelry. I just put the same stuff on day
in and day out, you know, I. Think you're very good with
jewelry, You know, you layer your jewelry really beautifully
well. Thank you, but it is the same
pieces. But do you remember the first
time that clothes made you feel different, either in a good way
or a bad way? Can I answer that twice?
Yeah, so the first time I was probably 8, and I remember this
because somebody found a photo of me standing wearing a bright
orange and yellow dress that is quite horrendous.
But I remember feeling so good in it.
And I remember having to fight with my mother to wear it.
But I remember really, really feeling great in that.
And I think that there have been many moments in my life where I
felt that way, but there have been as many the other way as in
not feeling that good. Yeah.
So the other night I went out and I felt so good in what I was
wearing. And it was just a dress with a
pair of sock boots with I, I just felt amazing.
So the whole night I felt great. But if you go somewhere and it's
something just isn't quite right, it I, I don't feel 100%.
And I don't know if that's a bad thing or it's just the way that
we're built as women. Had you planned that look that
you wore out the other night? Yeah, so I had thought about it.
Yeah. So I've become more laid back
about it. So it's in the my consciousness.
If I'm lying in the bath, OK, what am I going to wear?
And then that morning I decided begrudgingly can't say the word,
to try it all on. I couldn't actually be bothered.
But I tried it on quickly and I was like, Yep, that's fine.
Hung it up and went. On with my day, grudgingly, was
someone making you try? No, it was just I had better
things to do, you know, that's what I'm saying.
I'm more chilled about it. But if I hadn't and I got
dressed sort of 45 minutes before and it didn't work, then
I'd be like hot flush, you know, running around mad at myself.
Just describe that look to me. So it was a Victoria Beckham, a
kind of plum colored satin dress with long sleeves that kind of
slightly battered under here, but very, very tight.
And it was, I think bias cut. And I had a pair of, I can never
say the designer's name. I always want to say Prozac, but
it's not Prozac. Thank you.
Sock boots, flat because they were more comfortable.
And I had my hair up like this, which is the lazy Kelly Hoppen
hair. And I just felt great because it
just slid on my body. The shoes were comfy.
I was swanning around and it was brilliant, brilliant.
Now, spinning back, you spent a year living and playing with a
band in South Africa. Oh.
My God, where did you get that? What were you wearing back then?
That was a troublesome time for clothes for me.
I think I remember well it was probably warm, so sort of
hideous. Linen dresses and jeans and
T-shirts and nothing special at all because we were, you know,
travelling a lot. To be honest with you, I can't
remember because it was obviously so bad.
It was a traumatic time. Yeah, clothing wise, you know, I
couldn't, no, not in my life, but just like I didn't really
have a look. And I I think what I've learned
today is if you have, you know, Angela Radcliffe, you know who
you know, is a dear friend of mine, She really helped me with
my wardrobe, eliminate things that I never wore but I felt I
had to hold onto. And I sort of found my look.
Whereas in those days, I didn't know whether I was Arthur or
Martha, so I didn't know what I was doing.
Yeah. So I never really had that
capsule wardrobe. Did you, do you feel like your
style changed hugely when you returned to England and you
started your business and. Yeah, but I was still very
young. I was sort of 16.
So I think, you know, I had a look then, but it was kind of
miss. I remember Missoni scarf,
T-shirt, jeans, cowboy boots. It was kind of that era.
And then I remember sort of going into more kind of Kenzo,
more tailored. But yeah, I, I I'm better with
tailored. Is it called tailoring?
Yes, tailoring, you know, I think it's better for me to have
that kind of structure. Yeah.
You got married for the first time at 23, so that was the
early 80s. Can you describe that dress?
Oh my God, you are really drudging up some.
Well, it's part of your journey. It's part of your skin, not.
Like a meringue. Are you happy?
It was the 80s. Everyone looked like a meringue.
I mean, it was kind of crossover here with a really odd cut on
the in at the waist and this big thing that came out like skirt.
But we could talk about my second wedding, which was a lot
better. Tell me about your second my.
2nd wedding was How I Met you and I still have that.
The coat and the dress. I would have them both.
Oh my God. And I wear the coat all the time
over jeans. Lovely.
So just to describe it to everybody, it was emerald green
crushed velvet long coat with mink cuffs.
And then it was a dress that had like a mink bodice.
It was very pre Raphaelite and I had Amanda Wakeley.
Jimmy Choo. Jimmy Choo shoes, flats and
highs for the after party and whatever and I have never felt
better. And I had beautiful antique red
roses that John Carter did. And all the girls Sienna,
Savannah and Tash all had similar crushed velvet.
I think they were wearing have. You ever been a bridesmaid?
Yes, I have been a bridesmaid. Good bridesmaids.
Dresses bad. Well, I was very little.
Yeah, I just found the bracelet, funnily enough that I was given.
It was my mother's brother and sister-in-law that got married,
so I was probably 6-7. Yeah, that was the first and
last time. Was it a good moment?
Yeah, I loved it. I loved it, loved it.
It was white and it had a pink sash.
Yeah. And I just thought that was the
best thing ever. Yeah.
I think some of those young bridesmaids moments, oh, they
can actually be what switches you on to realise the power of
clothes. Yeah.
How good you feel in that little dress or that little outfit?
Now, at the moment you're living between London and the
Cotswolds. Do you think you have a
different style for the Cotswolds than you do for
London? Tricky, isn't it?
So when I said I found my style, I definitely have found it, but
it took me a little bit longer to find that mix of country and
town. Yeah, but I've got it down to an
art now, and it's very chilled jeans.
And then what I found is the old country in averted commas, where
people went and literally just wore jeans and sweaters.
Now, if you go to someone's house for dinner, you have to
actually ask what to wear because I've made that mistake
where I've kind of gone and that kind of chilled, like sloppy
almost slippers, but not really. And people are like properly
dressed up. So you have to ask these days.
Cotswolds for you, I have to ask this question.
Do you think you've ever dressed to match the room that you're
going to be in? Never, never, never, never.
Even at home, that's interesting, but.
One weird factor is that John and I will get dressed on
different floors and it's really odd that we end up often like
our Navy, he's in Navy. Our webby cut khaki, he's got
cut. That's so weird.
Do you think you've ever used clothes to, or bags for that
matter, to message? Just talk about who you are.
No, Well, no, not, not like what you're sort of saying, but I
think that I would dress a certain way in the old days if I
was going to give a speech or if I knew who was in the room, you
would dress appropriately, but not to not to give a message.
And actually very early on in my career, and I won't say who, but
somebody, I got dressed one day to go and give a talk at
Bloomberg and I dress in something that was so not me.
Like I was going like I was in suits and, you know, banking.
Going into a boardroom. And somebody just went, what are
you doing? Like, where has Kelly Hopping
gone? You're going there because of
who you are. Go and get dressed
appropriately. And I remember that being a
really pivotal moment for me, which was never lose your
identity wearing somebody else's clothes.
That is such good advice, I think it really is.
And I think it came out of fear that I wasn't good enough to be
doing Bloomberg. Yeah.
Do you know? Yeah.
So I think, and I think more today, people can be their own
identity, can't they? You only have to look at the
Fashion Awards, all different ages, age groups, all in
different types of clothes, just having a good time and being who
they want to be. And you know, in this crazy
world we live in, I think that in itself is a good thing.
Talking about dressing appropriately, you were awarded
your CPE in 2020. Now that's quite a moment.
You went to Windsor? Windsor this time, yeah.
What did you wear to collect your honor?
So Sam Dougal, who's made quite a few pieces for me, I called
him up and he'd made me a kind of classic dress that I've worn
over the years on and off, which was, you know, racer back and
just very tight with a huge skirt.
And I said, I really want to wear something in a beautiful
grey, like a kind of wool and with this tiny little blue
bolero type of jacket that came across because I knew I would be
putting my, my CBE on and I knew what color it was.
So I was kind of working it that way.
And so he made it for me. And I've still got it and I'll
I'll wear it with a pair of trainers and do something
different with it another time. But I always find making clothes
for something quite terrifying. I prefer to go and try something
on and buy it. Did you wear a hat?
No with. This no.
Would you say you've got a style icon?
Yes, So you'll probably laugh, but obviously it's someone like
Jane Birkin. I mean, who wouldn't?
I loved her kind of casualness and it just, she threw it all
together and it just looked so effortless.
But then I was thinking of somebody like Diane Keaton.
Keaton Keaton, yes, that kind of look with the baggy trousers and
the shirt and the polo neck and whatever.
I sort of like that. I, I really found that amazing.
So I'm not picking an icon like a Marilyn Monroe who, you know,
I absolutely adore. I'm sort of talking more about
people that I look to, even Meg Ryan, who's a dear friend, but
her look and the way she would wear dresses with bigger,
clunkier shoes and things, people like that that have
created a look and a style for me, they are iconic.
Would you say you had an interior style icon when you
first started I? Think I was too young, the only
one who you know, But you know, obviously the David Hicks of, of
our, you know, was extraordinary.
It was the very first book I'd ever bought.
I've still got it and it's completely faded.
But there are, you know, there are some unbelievable designers,
you know, that have been around for a long time.
But they were all very different styles to what I did.
But I suppose when I started the likes of Anoushka Hemphill, who
I hugely admire, their granny who's a completely different
style, you know, Christine Liag is my 100% top icon of all
times, you know. But then there are a few people,
yeah, that I definitely looked up to.
And you're in front of the camera a lot, are you?
Does that affect your choice of what you put on?
Well I'll always want to know if it's going to be hot or cold so
that I don't overheat and have too many clothes on.
So I think that is probably the only checklist that I check now.
But I want to feel comfortable. I want to feel OK in what I'm
wearing. But you're not sort of aware of
silhouette in terms of filming. No, no, not really.
Now you were a WAG for a short while.
God, you're really. Dreading too, and I was proud to
be a WAG, no? I think, you know, it was a
moment. It was a, it was a fun moment.
You know, when you were dating Sol Campbell, do you think your
style changed notably? I mean, he was also a 16 years
old junior. Yeah, so I remember that moment
that picture was taken of us at an Asprey opening, and I was
wearing an orange satin Calvin Klein dress.
And it was everywhere after that.
And it was like, you know, Kelly Hoppin, her Renaissance and
whatever. But I look back at my fashion
past that first date and it was quite questionable.
Now when I look back at it, you know, it was quite dolchig a
banner. It was quite a bit over the top.
I just wish I had been the person I am now in fashion then,
because it would have been. But it doesn't work that way.
So yeah, it was, you know, a part of my life that I don't
regret. But I certainly don't think my
choices of clothing were great. But were you affected by
probably the other Wags? Oh, no, no, not by the other
Wags, but more about no, definitely not by them, but just
because of the relationship. I think maybe what was expected
of me, maybe more, yeah. And I mean, now you're with John
very happily. Does he?
Does he have a lot to say about what you wear?
Nothing at all. And do you dress?
Who would you say you dress for? I think I dress differently now.
I mean, every time I come down, if we're going out, I'll say,
what do you think? And he goes absolutely
beautiful. But then you always do look
beautiful. He always says that.
But if I said to him, as I did the other day, which shoe he
went, please don't ask me that because he hasn't, you know,
it's not his thing. But he will always say you look
fabulous. Oh yeah.
Good boy John, how would you want someone to describe your
style DNA in three words? Stylish, classic and effortless
like that. I mean, that's what I'd like to
be seen. It probably would be something
completely different. What do you reach for when you
need to feel empowered? I will always go for one or two
pairs of trousers. Funny enough, a leather pair of
trousers and a sweater probably would make me feel good rather
than an evening dress, you know, because my identity is more
about the big trouser with the small top and a good pair of
trainers or a good pair of shoes that that will make me feel
strong. And I like to put a twist on
clothes, which you've always done.
You know, you taught me a huge amount in the way that you used
to mix your styles and, you know, wear something I'll never
forget. One of your things was a
beautiful grey satin Duchess silk massive skirt, which you
just wore with a grey cashmere sweater.
And I remember thinking, God, that's so clever.
You know, mixing those, and it's what I've done in interiors, is
mix the most unusual fabrics together.
So I think for me, it's about finding something, you know,
fits your body no matter how you feel.
Yeah. And that's empowering.
Yeah. I mean, talking about feeling, I
know you had a horrible brush with breast cancer a few years
ago and I just wondered if you ever used clothes during that
time, sort of, you know, as a, as your armour.
It was a very vulnerable time. No, not really, because your
shape changes, you know, after what I went through.
So I'm, I'm sort of conscious now, less so because I don't
care because I'm cancer free. But you know, I have one breast
which is smaller than the other and it just is what it is.
So if I'm going to be wearing something that is tight, I will
probably make sure that I put a bra on that looks better.
But actually I don't care. And in a way that's quite
liberating for me that I've kind of got to the point where health
is more important than that. So I think at the time it was
literally track suits and just feeling kind of cosy.
Cocooning. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
We talk about hair, makeup, manicures for a moment.
Have you ever been tempted with the Talon nails?
Because I know you've you're always a woman who's got the
most Immaculate nails. I have a thing.
Well, so do you. I have a thing about short nails
and if they get too long I can't bear it so I literally.
The tap on the keyboard. Yeah, I just, I hate the way it
feels. I like very short so and I
admire women that have got long, long nails.
I used to, but nails are really important for me because I use
my hands a lot and I think it's something that's easy to get
done. My hair on the other side is,
you know, either down or up. There's those are the only two
ways. And I've become very lazy in the
last couple of years where it's literally in a scrunchie.
Never thought I'd actually say I was wearing one.
I was trying to work out somebody.
Bought it for me, but I just wrote and I literally just put
it up and it goes on the top and it kind of it.
It just is what it is. Because otherwise, there's a lot
of it, but it's kind of the only thing in my life that's never
let me down is my hair. A lot of other things, huh?
Where are you at on tweakments? What's a tweakment?
A tweakment is a bit of filler, a bit of Botox, a bit of.
I am 100% into collagen wave and which.
Is collagen wave. So collagen wave is something
that I have done for probably, it's probably six years.
So Neelam, it's like a wand and it overheats the collagen
inside. And I've been doing it every
month for probably six years. So that sort of creates some
trauma. It creates the trauma under the
skin, but it depends how hot you have it.
And I will do. And I've had micro needling and
I've had Morpheus a couple of years ago.
So I've done things like that. But you were one of the faces of
the L'Oreal Age Perfect campaign, which is amazing,
Absolutely. What did that mean to you?
Well, I was so shocked when I got the e-mail, but so excited
because it was, it's such an iconic brand to say I'm worth
it. And obviously, like drove John
mad. After that, you can only
imagine. But more to the point, I thought
the campaign was so strong and so relevant.
God. We need more of.
Them so relevant to my age at 65 and so many times people have
come up and said you look great for your age and but I'd never
kind of thought about it until I read it and read the campaign
notes and they wanted it to be really authentic.
And I was like 100%. So it was a, you know, a
frighteningly brilliant day shooting it are.
You a talking age. Are you aware of dressing
appropriately for your age? No, because I think I do anyway.
I mean, I'm not, you know, as you know, better than anyone.
I'm never going to be in a pair of hot pants or a mini skirt, so
that's never going to be a problem.
But no, I don't think so. I don't.
Would you say you've had had a worst fashion moment?
Oh God, yeah, so many. One in particular that really
stands out that you think about and you just cringe.
Well, one was a dress that somebody lent me that was so
heavy to walk in. God, I hope it wasn't.
Wasn't yours? I knew you were going to say
that. It definitely wasn't one of
yours. I still own a lot of your
dresses, you know, I've kept them, but I couldn't walk.
And yeah, it was a lot of metal on it and stuff.
It looked amazing, but I couldn't get out the car.
I couldn't walk down the red carpet.
So that was definitely not one of my greatest moments.
It wasn't effortless. No.
When you're choosing what to wear, do you start with a
particular item in mind that you really, really want to wear,
Like a new pair of sneakers or a pants or.
But I think that I think if you start with a pair of shoes, it
becomes quite awkward. I don't know if that's the same
with you, but I'm always better starting with the trousers or a
dress or a jacket rather than a shoe.
End up with everything on the floor because I just want to
wear this pair of shoes and it's just not going to happen.
When you are going out shopping, if you indeed you do, do you
have in mind what you're looking for or do you, are you, are you
a mood shopper? Well, I.
Don't really go out shopping. I do a lot of shopping online,
but when I go to another country, if I'm traveling for
work, I know this is going to sound weird, but I can kind of
dream up the, the one thing that I've wanted for a long time.
And I and I kind of make it happen and I'll walk into a shop
and it will be there. But that moment will be probably
a 15 minute moment that I will have in my work day where I've
just specifically going to go there because I'm sure I'm going
to find that one thing. Can you give me a for instance?
So it will be like I'll be. In Milan and I will have been
before to Corsicoma and I'd had a great experience at that time
before finding something so in my mind I'd be like what would I
think I could find there? So it might be the perfect white
T-shirt or it would be a certain brand that I know is that.
And I think, well, I wonder if they've got that and I'll find
it. So it's not like magic, but it's
like, I will go there specifically for something and
it often works. Have you ever?
Bought yourself a gift having completed a large project that
that just as a sort of a well done Kelly gift.
No, because I do that quite often.
Anyway, I thought you might say that I don't need a job to do
that. I'm quite good to myself, as you
should be. And let's talk about travel for
a minute. Do you pay particular attention
to your your airport look, your travel look not like other
people? Do but I I will be comfortable,
but I'm conscious that I I like to travel looking good.
But I think it's more about your handbag.
I don't know why, I don't know why.
What's your favorite handbag? I guess the first.
Birkin I ever bought because that was a really big moment for
me. Was it a Taupe 1?
No. Actually, it was.
Like sand color, you know, they're classic.
And then my row bag that I have now, I just love.
But I everyone knows I'm a Hamburg person.
I love hamburgers. I particularly like mini
handbags. Coming back to travel.
Good Packer, bad Packer. I'm a brilliant Packer now.
I was dreadful before, but I've taught myself.
I actually went on on Google and and looked at some people showed
how you roll things and pack everything and I learnt
something new the other day, you know, in your suitcase.
Like one of those wheelie ones that you open, you know, on the
one side, it's got a zip, but you never think you can put
something underneath. But it is, It's for shoes.
Did you know that? I didn't.
Anyway, what? What luggage do you use?
Samsung. Just really simple, easy, but.
And I never pretty much check in a bag, really.
Yeah, so I've got that good because I've lost so much
luggage which. Brand, would you consider to be
your guilty secret and why the Roe I.
Thought you were going to say that A.
Teeny. Teeny bit of Chanel every so
often but not really. I would say more the Roe or Yeah
High Street favorite. Well, Zara.
M&S for Cashmere, Zara for kind of cool things that you might
just want to add to other things.
Yeah, a money. No object brand?
Well, the row and. What, if anything?
Do you feel you have an excessive amount of in your
wardrobe handbags? Yeah.
You're not going to tell me how many are you?
No, because it's not as many as. You think, but I've just I it's
not even big handbags, it's little ones as they're like
tiny, they don't really count. And do you use them?
I can. Use them all.
Yeah, you. Can fit things.
In them, yeah, definitely. Who does the best mini mini bag?
Well, it depends what you call by.
Mini So VB Victoria Beckham, her Dorian bag or all her bags.
She has really thought out the telephone, you know, your
lipstick, your everything that you might need, and it's small
enough. Yeah.
Woman designing for. Women.
Yeah, absolutely. Guilty.
Secret What's the most expensive item of clothing you've bought?
I'm not asking for the price tag.
You might be relieved to hear. Well, it was probably the.
Birkin, I would think, yeah. Do you still use your?
Birkins yes I do, but. I'm not as much as I used to,
but I do love them and I sort of quite like the way people are
putting things on them now and making them not so quite so
stiff looking. Yeah, I must admit I pulled.
One of mine out of the safe the other day in the country and I
thought, God, it's knackered. Is it the blue one?
No. No.
It was the tan 1 and I just thought.
Maybe I should just? Graffiti it.
No, no, don't do that. What's?
Your approach to sustainable fashion look, I think.
Everything we do in this life right now should be sustainable,
should be green, should be, you know, and without getting
political, you know, everyone is in Baku was last week trying to
figure out how we can do all of this as we're seeing, you know,
towns around us sitting in water.
And, you know, so I think whatever we're doing in the
world, we have to become more sustainable for all kinds of
reasons, but we need to do it quicker.
And I'm not an expert on it. So I don't know what it is that
we're doing wrong, but I I'm all for being sustainable in every
aspect of the way that we live. What do you do with your
clothes? When you've had enough of them,
give them. Away.
Do you ever sell them? I sell some of the like big
pieces that, you know, I've I've had for a while, but I tend to
like recycle them. And when I did the big clear
out, I gave a huge amount away. I mean like a proper amount 1 to
a particular woman who I gave to who I knew was going to then
give it to a lot of other people because it just felt the right
thing to do. You know what's old to me, is
new to someone else, just begins its journey.
Yeah, or it continues its journey.
It continues its journey which is sort.
Of I love that, yeah. Do you ever buy vintage?
I have a bit of a problem with. Vintage because I feel like it's
got history that you don't know about on the one side.
And on the other side, I want to go, yeah, I love vintage because
it sounds cool, but maybe I just haven't had great success with
vintage. And there's a smell about
vintage. But there are some people who I
admire who always look incredible in vintage pieces.
And what would you say? Is the oldest piece in your
wardrobe? Well, probably.
Jewelry, obviously, yeah, I've probably got a few pieces that
I've had for a like jeans actually.
Yeah, like 5 O ones and yeah, yeah, yeah.
Oh, and I've got yes, I've got lots of very cool.
I've got Voyage jeans that I never threw away with all of
the. Stars justify through.
Yeah. No, no, I know.
But they still fit and yeah, so probably jeans are the oldest
thing, but our. Bodies change.
You're super fit and probably fitter than you've ever been.
Yeah, with jeans. Have you?
I've altered them. You've altered.
Them I've done an Amanda Wakeley.
Yeah, I mean, you're the the, you know, the ultimate of
changing and doing stuff to say upcycling.
Yeah, right. Let's spin.
On some quick fire questions. OK, what fashion advice would
you give your 20 year old self? Oh.
Start again. I mean literally.
I wish I would have been able to be confident enough to be able
to feel good in what I was wearing.
I feel like I wasted a whole part of my youth not feeling
good in the clothes that I wore. And yet you probably look back
at the. Pictures and think I look great,
no I don't. Which fashion?
Trend would you most like to see make a comeback?
I'm quite partial to sort of. Gatsby, you know, all of the
kind of that movement in dresses and things, flapper dresses.
I could pass on the hats, but I, I kind of love that whole era.
Yeah, fashion or. Beauty trend that you would
consign to room 101? What do you call those things?
Knickerbockers. Not great, no.
Awful. I can't really think of anything
your last impulse by. Yesterday.
What was it it? Was a pair of.
Shirling lined black suede kind of slipper boot from the row.
Impulse, extravagant buy, Probably go back.
Your views on. Tattoos.
I don't have AII. Don't dislike tattoos.
I wish I'd had the courage to have a tiny little one on my
wrist or something when I was like, in my 20s, but I wouldn't
do it now. I'm surrounded by people with
tattoos, you know, in my office. My kids, they're cool.
Beauty treatment you. Couldn't give up.
Oh, collagen wave. High end.
Or High Street. Can I say both?
Yeah. Bling or bear?
Bear. Minimalism.
Or maximalism. Oh, minimalism.
Couture or charity? Shop, you're so mean.
Well I've never bought couture so I'm going to say charity
shop. Crocs.
Cute or puke? Oh, total puke.
Sneakers or stilettos? Sneakers, bags or shoes?
Oh, bags boyfriends or wide legs.
Wide legs body con or boho body con?
Sports Lux or. Rock Chick Sports Lux.
Red carpet or? Relax, relax Trendle.
Style. Style.
Color or monochrome? Or taupe monochrome is good.
Experimental. Or UU cashmere or cotton,
cashmere, beanie or Berry. Very hoarder or editor?
Editor, charity shop or resale? Both.
Shapewear or sexy lingerie? Oh, skims.
Yeah, comfy. Yeah, Bridget Jones.
Not that bad. Tights or stockings?
Stockings. Definitely bikini or one piece.
Bikini and finally, traditional last question.
At the end of the day, what do you or don't you wear in bed?
Oh, it's I. Wear like a sarong which ends up
around my waist, which I think probably comes from childhood.
So I'm basically naked but with something around my waist,
Kelly. I've so enjoyed going on our
style journey together. Thank you.
Thank you for thank you so much. What fun.