Today I'm going on a sartorial Journey with the TV and radio
presenter and all-round Trailblazer.
The wonderful Anita Ronnie and eater welcome.
It's such a pleasure to have you here and to be taken on a
naughty Journey with a glass of champagne, I know.
Well if you're going to open your fabulous fridge and it's
just full of beautiful bottles of champagne, it felt wrong not
to have a glass and a number completely wrong, completely
wrong. And And I was saying to you
earlier, I feel like I know you so well, because I listened to
your wonderful Memoirs, the right sort of girl.
And as I went on this incredible journey with you in which you
navigate Life, as a young Asian woman growing up in Bradford,
where you said there was just nothing, no one that looks like
me. And that just really pulled on
my heartstrings to tell me a little bit about that.
Well first, Thank you for listening to my Memoir and I'm
sorry that you had my Northern Voice.
I am ringing. Anyways, it's on myself, and
yeah, and that's the reason I wrote it, I guess I find myself
as someone who's kind of worked up in this industry in a
industry. That really there was no one
like me especially 20 years ago and I've after 20 years of
working away and getting to a place where I have a level of
success It felt the right time to now, talk about how I got
there, because I remember feeling.
There was no one who looked like me when I was a growing up in
Bradford's, in Suburban Bradford's.
And so during lockdown, I got no one that looked like you on
television television. In any of the culture that I was
consuming like mad. Yeah, in my little bedroom, the
Magazine's I was reading the TV hours watching the radio.
I was listening to not that I felt at the time because I was
just absorbing culture. And the thing is, you stories
are stories, right? So if you're watching somebody
on telly or you're looking at fashion magazines, you Just
because you don't see yourself reflected, doesn't mean you
can't, I dint you find a way of identifying, however, on a
subconscious level. It absolutely.
It made me feel like an outsider, absolutely, which is
really weird to think about, but felt, and it's so that's why it
felt really important to write a story for lots of people like me
who just needed to know that. You know, I can understand.
And I think sometimes when you have a level of success, people
just presume that you might be privileged in some kind of way
or, you know, have had can have don't get what they're going
through. So I wanted to say, look, I'm
just like you and I get it because you really inhabited
almost two, separate worlds, didn't you, you know, you
inhabited, your, your home life, which was quite traditional
Indian, and then, Going to school and you were probably you
sort of in the minority. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
I was two different worlds, like my Punjabi home life and it's
really important to say Punjabi because in India if anyone's
been, you know, every region every state is quite distinct.
And so every state will have its own food and culture and
language and, you know, ways of tying a sorry, I'm sure we'll
definitely be talking about salaries at some point.
Definitely, absolutely. And which I'm looking forward to
But I'm Punjab is, it's just, it's the state that gave
everyone tender e, food, and Bhangra music.
And, you know, and the book I'd say we are the Irish of India.
It's kind of a culturally identical to the Irish big
gregarious fun-loving, very generous, party animals and but
also a migrant community and we are and also a rural community.
So, you know, this post the partition of India in, you know
what? This Generation my grandfather's
generation left and they went to all corners of the earth and
mine landed in Bradford somehow. And I used to say, Granddad why
Bradford of all the places you could have gone right back.
But actually now I'm really grateful that he landed in
Yorkshire because I'm very proud of being from Yorkshire and that
land and yeah, absolutely. I was the first my dad came over
when he was 4, my mum when she was 24 to get married.
So I was the first really to be born in Britain which is quite
crazy to think about my dad's a real, your command.
I was only four when he got here but still, you know, it wasn't
born here. And so it meant that, you know,
we're the first generation who had to really straddle different
worlds in the world of my Punjabi home life and the things
were done a certain way because my mom was from India, which
often meant that things got, we got, I got things very wrong
when I went to school. Sometimes, like, like what.
So once I mean I had school dinners which is great but when
mom made me a packed lunch once and sent me off with chickpea
Curry, and Curry, which is a deep-fried capacity, which is
absolutely delicious, but not to be had in a little private
school as a seven-year-old when everyone else is having ham
sandwich was going to say white bread.
I'm sorry, which is all I wanted, right.
All I wanted was a cheese sandwiches.
And why got delicious Indian food or we'd go on these
fabulous expeditions to for day trips into the Yorkshire Moors,
which was unusual for an Asian family because my dad's quite
adventurous. But my mum would have to pack
You know, the Punjabi picnic the full-blown full-blown perrantes
samosas, you name it and of course now I love it.
Now I when I get together with my friends who are from all
corners of the earth we get together and everybody brings
something delicious to eat and a samosa is the perfect thing to
Hannah picnic, right? But when you're in 1980s
Bradford, it's the it's mortifying.
So yeah, there was a lot of contrast and I would imagine a
lot of contrast in terms of dress, did you have a push-pull
in terms? Of cultural dress versus well, I
would assume school uniform versus what you wore in front of
your white friends. So, clothes are just like we
never the only time I would wear Indian clothes were for a
special occasion. We weren't we're not a
households that where's my mom? Wouldn't wear a sari on a daily
basis or a shalwar kameez? Like that's just the culture of
my granny would, my granny would always be in Indian clothes, but
my dad, my dad was like, just soon as my mom came from India.
She thought she was going to come to Britain and learn to
ballroom dance. She just loved.
She had low romantic view. Must have loved it when you
weren't on the strictly. Oh my God.
That was, that's another question.
Yeah, we'll come back to that and dad was like, no, we go to
the pub. And so you know, she and ya know
mum was like mum. She was a real fashionista and
India but I think marrying my dad enabled her to really
Express herself in a way that she wasn't allowed when she was
in India. Like so my dad really encouraged
Her to get, she's got, We've Got Fabulous voters.
A mummy like really skinny jeans with a tiny little waist,
fabulous, little figure and just really, they're just very sharp
drop. My dad is a very sharp dresser.
So encouraged her to dress quite Western.
Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.
So mean Indian clothes were worn for Indian occasions and the
rest of the time I was just running around in, you know
western clothes and what was your earliest sartorial memory?
When did you first understand the impact of clothes for you?
How How did it make you feel? So, clothes are really important
in my life. My parents had a manufacturing
business when I was little. So my my dad is an amazing
Taylor. Like he can, you will know this
because this is your industry, he can look at an item of
clothing and cut the pattern free hands.
Love that? That is such a talent.
Yeah he's really creative. He's very logical.
So he can see patterns and that. Yeah yeah and then but also he's
a perfectionist. So when he sits at a machine
Often he would get one of his seamstresses to do the sample
but then he would do it himself because no one could Stitch
better than him. I know one zapper, you know, he
wants Justice and so clothes have always been part of my life
and understanding clothing has always been so fundamental to
Growing Up. Do you remember the first outfit
though? That the first time an outfit
just made you go? Yes.
Yeah, we were going to India when I was really little.
It's one of the first times we're going to India.
And my mum is quite a strange story.
Mom took us to this lovely little Children's Boutique in
Bradford and made me try on this beautiful silk skirt and top in
a maroon color. And I remember trying it on
absolutely falling in love with it and feeling like a million
dollars and we got to India and my mum said, oh no, I bought it
for your cousin. I just wanted you to try it on
this cousin brings a story. She's now in nearly 50 and to
this day when we get together as family, she'll say, you were
such a brat, you wouldn't let me wear a you like it.
It's my outfit. Yeah, that's my mum.
That's bad on my mum. But yeah, that was so, you know,
decadence and dressing up and yeah, that was the first moment.
It's a Bittersweet memory of an item of clothing, obviously
being surrounded by your parents and the factory and all of that.
It, you, it's in your DNA really?
Yeah, I love, I love style. But what I've learnt and this is
something I've learned from my dad, he would say.
It doesn't matter how much you paid for something.
If it doesn't fit you, yeah, that's like so true.
Yeah, and he says, it's the mark of whether something looks good
on you is whether it fits you properly.
So make sure the shoulders are right.
And, you know, so that's something.
But also, as a to have a father and especially an Indian father,
who has an aesthetic and is really particular about the
clothes he wears, it will go to weddings and my dad would always
stand even to this day, you know, he's they look great.
They're very youthful. They're in their 60s but what is
60, it's nothing right? But no, there were so and he had
me very young. You had me at 20 and he would
wear leather jackets to pick me up at school.
Oh yeah, love it. Yeah, it cool.
It is very kind, still like just very cool but really individual
and wasn't afraid. And that's in every aesthetic
Choice, how we decorate them, how they decorated the home, the
choice of car, the clothes Oliver, I used to have long
hair, long, silky black hair down to my bottom.
Wow, and hair is Mark a beautiful Indian woman.
Particularly punjabis particularly seeks.
Because, but long hair long, you don't cut their, if you're a
very religious. Yes, which my family isn't
spiritual not religious. Like we're not, you know, I
wasn't brought up with, you know, we must pray, you must do
this, but there was a lot of spirituality around.
And anyway, my wanted, I was desperate to cut my hair.
My used to stand in for on the toilet in front of the bathroom.
And secretly chop my hair. Once I lock cut too much off,
one side and my mum was like your punishment, is he going to
go to school with lopsided hair, sent two beds?
And then like she said, look, when you do after your A Levels,
you can cut your hair, you know. So I was 18 and the day of my
last exam I went straight to Toni & Guy.
Did your mom know about this NEPA?
Yeah, she knew. And I know they will disappear.
He said it's not because we are strict.
It's not because we're saying you need to keep your hair for
some any Cultural or religious reasons.
She says it's just because you've got Gorgeous Hair.
She's beautiful beautiful as and but my God Amanda it wasn't me.
And actually, I've had kind of shoulder length hair for a long
time and it was I've had it. I've had a bob for a while now
and I don't recognize the photos of me with longer hair.
I'm such a short haired girl to know what I'm looking at you.
I can't imagine you with anything other than what you've
got this beautiful glossy Bob. It's really, it's a real face
framing. I like it short now and what it
does, it's funny. It's funny that for me.
The hair is, it's really important.
Now, my short hair is just really important, part of part
of who you are. Exactly.
Yeah. Because and I guess it's because
it's so not the norm for Indian girls growing up, it just felt
really defiant. Yeah, I'm going to get my hair
cut short. And so, yeah, short hair, just
means has a significance. And when you chopped your hair
off, did that affect your clothing.
Choices, did you change your? Style at all.
I don't know if if if it's changing my style because my
style is like Here, There and Everywhere, I feel like it
definitely finishes off my luck. It kind of gives me, it makes me
feel like me because me the edge so but, you know, yes,
definitely. I just there are certain outfits
for I'll go. Oh yeah, that'll look great with
because I've got short hair, you know, I don't know.
I know you're a well-known lover of Music.
Yes. And you Dance.
And what's your do, how did you evolve your clubbing look like
her? Have it that way?
Yeah, and clubbing is a look so I'm going to age myself now but
so music has just always been a Lifeline, like so many of us,
you know, top. I was the kid who would stand in
front of the TV. When top of the pops was on and
I was standing in front of that TV, two years, dancing.
Wishing I was in the studio for know, knowing I was.
Yeah. They can see me and you're the
greatest dancer in the room fast forward to.
You know, when I went to Leeds University, I did a placement in
London, in the music department of the BBC, remember program
called the ozone. Yeah.
How was that officer system for six months?
And then they kept me on in the department and I was 19 and
working on top of the pops. And so, how did you dress for
that? I mean I was like the most
casual dresser I have been obviously thinking about Knowing
that I was coming to talk to you, but in the 90s, if you were
a bit alternative, you would do anything.
It's like anti-fashion, it was baggy jeans and a little
t-shirt. Yeah, that was what I lived in
and I guess. Yes, Club wait.
DMS was definitely part of my look when I was at school.
It was all the kind of grunge thing that was happening.
I mean, I look back, I'm like, what was I thinking?
I remember going to India at the age of 16 after my gcses with my
best friend, Allison. We stayed with my mom, sister
through the summer and we went to Delhi.
There's a very famous Market called jump at Market which is
where all the sort of thing. All the clothes that were made
from Monsoon and all the various High Street shops, they kind of,
and some of them end up there and it's all the tie dye stuff
and a long flowy dresses. And we went my aunt, I said
whatever you do do not get excited because I'll know that
you're from Britain and they going to put the prices.
We as soon as we got there we just squealed.
My oh my God it's so amazing. But anyway, so just dressed in
kind of these long floaty dress. With DMS and lots of Indian,
jewelry, tons of Bangles and then got to UNI and was into got
into clubbing and clubbing is really interesting.
Particularly back then you know drum'n'bass clubs.
You think there's no fashion because it's just people in
Street web actually. It's really calculated a lot of
fashion. Yeah so much and it's all sort
of coming back like a V. Su jeans was a real thing real
skater where I'd love a pair of EC jeans.
Now I'm actually trying to Source myself a like it's so sad
that 20 years on. I'm still in Doc, Martens still
wearing black nail varnish, but yes, but I love that because you
knew who you were. Yeah.
Early. Yeah.
And it was yeah. And it was almost like, you
know, I why I went clubbing in my dad's genes which sounds
ridiculous, but it's too bad. You what did you built them?
Belted them with her with one of my belts but I mean they must
have just looked ridiculous but now they were trousers.
They won't change. So just trousers.
But To wear my dad had a remember the brand Soviet.
Yep my dad is Soviet denim jacket that I used to wear big
baggy stuff. I'd I mean it's actually
thinking back you're right. It was a real sense of style but
at the time it felt like I was making a statement about how I
really wasn't into dressing girly and I think actually it
was about sexuality, it wasn't, it was about me saying I don't
want to be seen as a sexual being.
I want to be seen as a Young woman, who is part of a youth
culture that isn't really about my sexuality.
I don't care about being attractive to men and it's kind
of complex and layered, you know.
But but and that's just from clothes.
Do you have siblings younger brother?
Yeah. And did he have any impact on
your dress sense? I don't think my brother did.
I don't think anyone did my brother actually said.
It's really. He said you know, Anita most
people have older siblings. Who have someone to look up to?
But I didn't, I did have an uncle my dad's youngest brother,
who I guess is the person who was the biggest influence for
me, everyone needs a cool. Aunt, your uncle right.
This guy went to art college in the 80s.
A fabulous. He was so cool.
Amanda like he was so ahead of his time as well and so unusual
growing up in Europe and a great dresser used to.
He had a year, he drove a VW Beetle.
He had big Parker jackets like massive DM boots.
Eyeliner, I need sweeping to my grandma's and houses her.
So it was permed and big and I but show it is so 80's and we
are talking 80s but he was like the biggest influence and then
as I got older, I would just go and hang out his hat.
His house in this beautiful part of your Chuckles, salt are
amazing place. Where big, David hockney land?
Yeah. Salt smell is full of hockney's
and he just had the best collection of leather jackets
and he lend them to you. Yeah, absolutely.
We shopping David, he was, and he lived as an artist and lived
really lived as an artist. So we just, you know, get drunk
together on a Friday and talk about music and sounds like us
on a Tuesday afternoon, really taught me about living, really
taught me about living, but really taught me about again,
aesthetic and choice and individualism, and being
something not being afraid to be different.
I love that. I mean, because fundamentally,
who would you say you dress for? Do you dress for yourself your
husband? UND your audience other women?
I, I think I dress myself. I don't think I dress for my
husband. Sorry, I don't, I don't
definitely don't dress for men. If truth be told probably other
women more than anything else and why is that?
I don't, I think there is nothing nicer and I try and I am
this person like, if I'm in a shop or even in a toilet in a
club or a bar, and I see a woman dressed amazingly, I don't know
how I will compliment him. Hallelujah.
I am a huge fan of that. Someone's got crazy fabulous,
hair or just amazing shoes, or whatever it is always.
I just don't think we complement each other enough.
There's nothing better than getting a compliment from a
woman, especially a stranger. Yeah, I love it.
And you can light up someone's day.
Yeah, can change their day by saying, I think your hair looks
amazing. Yes.
And I've been known to go up to strangers on the street.
Yeah. And I, yeah, I love it because
why not? If someone does and There are
those people you can. And this happens in London, I'm
love living in London because it's the best city on Earth.
And you know, you're walking through a crowd of thousands and
for some reason, one person will just shine.
Yeah. Yes.
Why not just say to them absolutely because it because
that person's made your day, visually happier.
Yeah yeah. So I quite like you know when
for me there's no better compliment than a woman saying
you look great. So when you look great by the
way? Yeah, so yeah.
So yeah you have a Seriously impressive TV and radio career
must be said, but people have grown accustomed to seeing you
in your Wellies. Yeah.
And your raincoat on the country file.
How does that make you feel? Because you're a super stylish
chick and then you're out in a wet and windy muddy field in
your Wellies and your raincoat? Yeah.
So when I joined country file country of has a really
interesting point where you're right, like, My it's I've had to
blend my street style with being in the countryside, so when I
first got the job, I rocked up in box fresh trainers.
I remember being on this farm and I'm getting an email from
the country filed. God saying, usually Anita we
wear Wellington Boots, we own a farm like, okay, the only well,
he's I had a mother like you know, these Cheapo ones that I
probably bought in a petrol station, you know, just just for
one action or functional and you can't wear those On a tower
shoot day in the middle of January for your fries.
Yeah, so I went down to this amazing shop.
Pharaohs of London on Palmer. Yeah.
And I went and I just want, I want the Rolls-Royce of
Wellington Boots please because I, and what did they produce for
you? Less.
Shamo their Fab hell? Yeah.
And the funny thing is, is I bought I rocked up in them.
I'm such a such a city girl. And every all the other
presenters are like, all right, Anita with you.
And well, he's one minute, she knows nothing and Now she just
rocks off in like, leather lie. Exactly.
Am I? I am so now I know more about
neoprene lined. Well, he's I can talk to you
about thing. Is I always knew about coats,
right? Jackets have always been my
thing because my feet but on an 8-hour shoot.
Yeah. Fundamental I have actually
bought myself. Electric heated socks.
I am not taking any chances in the winter now, being cold is
horrendous. But yeah.
So I but I kind of refused to just because I'm working in the
countryside, all of a sudden be in someone did actually say to
me in a ghoul. Yeah, I mean, I love and love
outerwear, though. Someone said to me, I don't just
get a bar because you work on country, farms, like, I live in
East, London, of course, I've got a barber, everyone's in a
barber, but actually I had Barbers when I was a kid,
because my mom and dad's, No made wax jacket so and I love
coats, I've got more coats, coats and shoes, and my thing
more than a handbag give me a nice jacket, you know, a nice.
So I've got so many but I have a really.
Yeah, I am very I do like to have style and Country filed,
definitely a nice jumper clearly.
Yeah, clearly try and thank you for that because, you know, the
country is a very stylish place to as well as being full of
tweet coats. And well, he's yeah absolutely.
But now also So you're presenting on BBC Radio 4
woman's out which is I'd be like one of my view were on and you
are amazing. Thank you, thank you.
Now I know when I came on with you you looked so super Chic but
is there is there a Temptation because it's radio to just sort
of rock up in you in your joggers and say well no one's
going to see me or in this world of social media.
You've got to be camera ready all the time.
So I on the scale of women dressing up and the world of
kind of women in TV and in the public eye, I guess I'm
definitely on the bottom end in that I'm quite casual, you know,
it's not that I don't make enough.
But I mean, you know what I mean?
I don't. It's not like a she says that
I'm actually getting more and more glamorous.
The older I get, that is the fast.
So are the fact is a fact, my old house mate will tell you, we
share a birthday and we used to live together and she said we
both went through disappeared into our rooms too.
Get dressed up to go out for drinks.
Robert. And she came up all dolled up to
the nines and she said you rock. I turned out.
I came out of my room and a vintage added us t-shirt and
she's like, any are you going to get dressed up?
I bought this today from a vintage shop.
Like what more do you want? This is this is a classic added
us t-shirt but now she when we get together she's like I can't
believe it's the same you because she I'll you know full
face of makeup and everything but what was the question?
Where did where did we go? It was about being on radio.
Yeah. Yeah, do you care about what you
wear by? I'm getting the feeling you
care. Yeah, I do more time I do now
more than ever, but particularly women's our because I got the
gig during lockdown and we weren't going out.
So I had no reasons and not that I was not dressing up.
I'm not someone who just wears. I don't have.
I think I've got one pair of tracksuit bottoms and they are
ones that I could happily wear to the pub with a nice pair of
heels if I wanted to. But for me it felt important
because Cuz I was going out to work.
Yes. Which was unusual and I thought,
right? I'm going to make sure and it's
one day a week which is lovely but also its woman's hour.
Yes. And it's like you know, this is
a new look woman's hour. We've got, you know, the amazing
Emma Barnett doing and it's kind of it feels like I'm stepping
into a new era of woman's hour. And yeah, I quite like wearing
something interesting every Friday.
How do you how do you plan your look oh gosh, I'm not a good
planner. I'm up really early.
So sometimes I'll just have a think the night before.
Okay, that'll do you'll know when I'm not really dressed up
so I won't take a picture. They'll beat Isis.
So thanks again. Thank you.
Got ya, go, you know, photo today.
Anita, you and your tracksuit? Yes.
Let's swing around to your strictly experience just in
terms of outfits. Did any of those costumed, take
you out of your comfort zone. Everything like the first one.
I wore I have never I am not somebody.
Buddy, who is particularly, you know, Slinky or sexy or that
terrifies me. And also I don't believe a woman
that makes a woman sexy. I've always said confidence.
Yes. I mean, I've been banging on
about it for long and we have so much in common.
I just, and I couldn't pull that off.
Anyway, and the first outfit they put me in Amanda it had,
I've never experienced it before in an outfit side ass on show,
is it? It's a thing.
Well, lucky for us, but must have felt quite exposed.
Really exposing and terrifying, but the funny thing is, when you
step into the bubble, that is strictly what you do in your
outside world and what you doing this strictly world, I could two
completely different things. And the credit to the costume
Department because they are Vicky and her team are the best.
They are unbelievable. Unreal.
And they make you feel because everything is so fitted and
fitted to you. And the way they can stitch, You
in and your boobs aren't going to go anywhere and you feel you
don't feel exposed. You feel so secure?
Can you tell me a bitter little little bit about the process of
creating the costume? You know, you're doing the Rumba
next week. How how does that all come
together? So it's all.
So the first of all the your dance partner has to come up
with the choreography and the theme of the dance and they
might have an idea that they will take to Vicki.
Like this is what we're doing. This is the mood.
This is the, for instance, movie week.
I'm doing the same dance too, she's cracking her head on the
table, that's because my strictly experience with.
So Bonkers, like, was I even dancing?
I was I doing aerobics every, I don't know what was a
acrobatics. But anyway, I did Unchained
Melody from Ghost. So they had me in a wig,
obviously, looking like the mimo, but so they have a theme
and so, they'll work around it. But every single person on the
program has a dummy that is, there's Yes.
And they make it to your size. Yeah, life-sized Army and that
they'll use that to to fit the outfit on during the week when
they're stitching it. But these dummies change sighs.
Well, I was going to say because I mean from everyone, I know
that's been on Strictly. They've lost pounds and pounds
or kilos or whatever during what you've got anything to lose.
But your body changing your body, shape changes death.
Yeah. And you're training like an
athlete yet incredibly fit and so they tailor it to you.
You And then say, I don't, you know, this is my style, I think
some people are more vocal than others.
I'm one of those people who likes to please everybody.
So you know, there are some of them I look back and go.
I should have maybe said I didn't want to wear that but
it's okay. It is fine.
And then hair and makeup, get involved.
And, I mean the hot and that's what it's all about, isn't it?
Just go for it? I guess.
I thought you were amazing. I really do.
Did I actually believe I've done it?
To be honest. I haven't.
I'm in or of it, do its Amanda Mmm, we'll talk about before you
agree to it. Talk to me.
I'll, I was asked many, many moons ago and just thought, I
just think I would become sort of Step dyslexic on.
I'm strictly, I love to dance but I just think it would all go
so wrong with the pressure of the cameras and all of that.
No stress. No.
It is stressful. I'd rather go to a club and
dance. Let's do it.
Yeah, let's do it. But coming back to A dress and
actually Heritage it felt like such a joyous moment.
Seeing you wearing your sorry when you are presenting at the
Queen's Platinum, Jubilee. And I never forget because I was
there, you know, doing my bit to and looking up at a screen and
thinking oh my God, I need that is amazing.
Your energy think, cultural dress, I love.
Will I love Of sarees and and so, what led you to that
decision? Because that's how we started
the first time you've worn a sari sort of to present him.
Absolutely. Absolutely.
And I don't know when I will next, do it, but it just fell.
I don't know. Just became obvious.
I was talking to I work with an amazing style is called
Christian who helps me. So you know, it's very it's I
love love, love love clothes, I love style.
However when you when it's part of your job It become.
It becomes like, it becomes like a job, so you sort of need
people to give you a hand. Yeah.
And he sort of went, maybe, maybe you go for a sorry for
this. And as soon as he said it was
like, There is never going to be a better time.
Yeah. Then the Queen's Jubilee.
I am, I have. And I've sort of got to my place
in, you know, the British media landscape where people know me
now. Yeah, I feel like I can do this.
I can just step into and people and the reaction has been
amazing. I was walking out for BBC and
one of the black security guards actually stopped me.
It was quite emotional. And he went, you, you looked
amazing and he also said, it made us all feel.
Also proud, I and would not agree more.
I mean, the whole Commonwealth must have looked at you and just
said, well, somebody must join nod to the Platinum to that it
was yeah, such a beautiful pale sparkly.
Yes, you to hand embroidered. Yeah, Lucknow e.
Embroidery at specific to that area.
And somebody messaged me to say she said my mother watched and
she had tears in her eyes. She was a doctor in the 60s and
she was told she's not allowed to wear a sari on the wards and
here you are, and that's going to make me emotional.
So, you know it was a moment and also there's a story I tell him
my book about how you ask me about, you know, clothes that he
throws a kid every Sunday. We would go to the temple, and
that's when I would wear my little Indian outfit and I love
dressing up. It I mean, nothing makes me feel
more feminine, or more graceful than when I'm in Indian clothes.
Especially a sorry, it makes you hold yourself.
Lately. I feel at my shoulders go back.
I feel like a woman, I just feel incredible.
I can't explain it. If you've what everyone should
wear one and know what it feels like it's over put one on once.
And yes you hold yourself differently.
You do feel incredibly feminine. There's something about those
layers of fabric and the folds. And the.
Yeah. And you're wrapping right
draping. Yes, just it's very it's I think
it's quietly sexy. Yes.
Oh God's. Absolutely.
I mean, it's literally one piece of material wrapped around you.
Yeah. And and then the midriff and the
little blouse pieces underneath, actually the blouse and
Petticoat, incidentally, were introduced by the British prior
to that women, just used to wear them.
Wow, just material. I mean, but a side boob going to
slow food. Yeah.
But yes, I wore every Sunday, I'd wear a little Indian outfit
and then the ice cream van would come on Sunday afternoon.
But by, then I'm back in my jeans rolling around.
But this one Sunday the ice cream van caught.
Me and I was still in my Indian outfit and I went out and my
neighbors who I used to play with all the kids, you know,
kind of didn't like, they were like well what you know, what
are you doing? Wearing this close and I just
felt really ashamed. And oh, that is beautiful.
I remember that moment in the book and it really it, I found
it really heartbreaking because they referred to you as one of
them. Yeah, we didn't know you're one
of them. Yeah.
Which is a I mean it's because it was a wreck.
I mean, and racism is something that I've grown With and it's
all, you know it's just a fact of growing up in Britain at that
time, but it really, it was a moment that just exposed how
intricately you have to live your life.
We have to live navigate our lives back then between when
where and when do you turn up who you are?
And when do you turn it down? Yeah.
And to some extent I had to do it even in my career, you know,
it's definitely getting to a point now where I am just you
are who volume. Yes, it feels like over the last
couple. Couple of years.
I feel like the real Andi. Tehrani is out there full
volume. Thank God doing who you being
who you are. And I think how much is there to
be celebrated in that? Yeah, absolutely.
And the Jubilee was exactly that moment after like boom, this is
it, and you're right. I think the last since writing
the Memoir it's kind of you know it's a different different me
going back to sarees. Yeah.
Ty can you tell me a little bit about your wedding?
Because I love the whole Indian wedding.
Are there amazing process? I will worry, I went to went to
India, to do the shopping. So I was actually thinking about
this before I because I knew obviously I was coming to talk
to you and it's I was thinking about luxury, you know luxury.
What does luxury mean? And how I have never been a
slave to labels ever? I love and love something.
That's well made I love something that's quality.
See, I love something that's good but I'm not somebody who
has to have something just because it is a label.
However, and so I know it's like, what is why is that?
What what is it? What is it about me?
That can see that actually, just because it's got a nice label,
it doesn't mean that it is luxury.
And I think it's because I grew up in a world where for me
luxury, when my mum was going to get dressed up, would be
something that is made of silk, that's hand-embroidered.
Is, you know, somebody has crafted and that is true luxury
with jewelry. That will be, you know, and just
the adornment of a woman. Yeah, I just saw it as something
that and to me, that is luxury. And so, yeah, the wedding was my
first opportunity to get properly dressed up because even
having said that I was a really annoying teenager, my, Indian
clothes were very low-key, and, like a nicely made, sorry, but
it doesn't, I'm not into massive bling.
But yeah, there's an amazing designer called sub.
Yes, Archie, like, in India in the last sort of 20, odd years.
There's been a real growth in high-end designers with their
economy opening up. And so you get these Exquisite
high-end designers, and I knew that I wanted to go and kind of
by one of his. Where was he based?
I mean he's actually from Calcutta but he's got shops all
over but I went to an amazing shop in Delhi and splurged on a
war, a Or a maroon, not a sub, you're such a different
designer, but I wore a maroon van.
I got married in November in Bradford by War and maroon
velvet outfit with a lot with lace arms and hand-embroidered.
Cuffs yeah, really beautiful. I just sort of Victorian feel
to. It was bit bit mixed, it wasn't
like a full and then a beautiful.
Sorry, I'll show it to you one day.
Oh, that sounds absolutely Exquisite.
I call it. My big Punjabi, sweat Fest.
Did you have many outfits for your wedding?
Oh yeah, I had a few outfits. Oh yeah, yeah outfits outfits.
I mean it's a week so you have an outfit for your henna
ceremony which is when you get your hand up on, you have an
outfit for the morning of that ceremony.
There's other something you have so many outfits for the actual
wedding. I had one outfit for the
religious ceremony and then one outfit for the reception and
then you have an outfit for that.
We even have a ceremony where you cut once, you're married,
you come back to your parents house as a married woman and you
have I wore another. Sorry for that.
I mean, it's with the water. Some tools though sarees have
got them all fabulous. I'm not they're not going
anywhere. They're going to be in my
collection and I wear them I do re wear them fantastic.
Do you consider yourself to have a style icon, or you?
I'm stopping Immaculate. You are, am I like women who?
I mean, there are so many different women who look
amazing. I think individuality is what I
really like an effortlessness in so that they just look like
they're haven't even tried. These are guess style.
There's a woman called Emmanuel alt who she's fabulous.
Oh my God. Yeah.
I mean she's French. Yeah but it's definitely go get
some point. I mean just awesome bit rock and
roll. Yep.
You know, she's got a jealous, ageless, exactly legs for days
and I really like that. I like women who just are don't
care about being fabulous. I aspire to that, I think the
older I get the more fabulous. I want to become, I want to be
in my 80s, Amanda just, you know, draped.
Silks and just really with, I don't know, I just still
drinking champagne, I will hopefully be there with you.
And you just, how would you describe your style now though?
I don't know. I have this moment the other day
you were there. We were lucky enough to be at
the hello Inspiration Awards. Yes.
And I wanted to wear just a really nice tailored something
and I was I wore this fantastic Celia be sort of 60s, print
dress, and I have never felt It more fun, this dress just
brought me such Joy. I was going to say it was a
joyous dress, it brought me joy and I just had a sense of joy
around me. Yes.
And I felt like I was bringing Joy because of the dress and so
I think I'm I don't know, I'm trying to be confident.
It's a weird industry that I mean where I feel like sometimes
I felt I've had two dressed for an occasion of fitting.
Now it's about dressing for an occasion.
Yes. But making sure that I'm
comfortable in what I'm wearing that's it but such such good
advice. Actually, in terms of getting
dressed, do you have one item of clothing?
That means the most to you that's got real sentimental
value attached to it. Oh.
I mean, I I have I haven't one of my, the artist Uncle, I've
got one of his waistcoats so that's really I love that.
I love a waistcoat and that comes out every now.
And yeah, definitely, I absolutely love wearing
waistcoats. Just a nice pair of jeans and a
little waistcoat that's it looks really good.
And I've got some of my Granny's jewelry or jewelry is really
important. Not that, I mean, I've got lots
on today but you know, I don't know what I wear this Indian
jewelry, but it's just, you know, Semental.
Mmm. Well, how would you describe
your style Amanda? Oh, we're not going there now
he's, we people are supposed to describe you.
You've got, it's just effortless, and ageless.
Thank you. Thank you.
That will do. That will do.
I'll take that as a very good complement.
Would you say you had a worst fashion moment?
Oh my God. I'm sure of it.
I think when I first started out in Telly I didn't really
appreciate that. You need to elevate a Ttle bit
need to step out of your comfort zone and I'm probably a bit, you
know, the shoes are probably made ya.
I'm sure there's lots of mistakes, it's all there, but
there's not one in particular that you go.
Oh, no, no, no. I mean, I don't know.
No, no, it's okay. We don't have regrets doing.
No regrets, absolutely none. Let's talk about travel for a
second. That's please do you pay
particular attention to your airport?
Look, You know, you're well-known high-profile, you
know, are you aware of those sort of sneaky, snaps that get
taken of you? I probably should pay more
attention. No, I am.
I, I mean, I loved who doesn't love traveling, but trout means
to be somewhere traveling on the road is just off free and on the
road is just my happy place. No, I'm aware.
I am the opposite of that. I I just as long as I'm
comfortable and black pair of jeans cashmere cashmere is.
The thing though that makes me feel like I've actually become
an adult and nice cashmere sweater to travel in as long as
because I, you never know, the air conditioning on a flight.
I always call it a hug of Kashmir.
Hug of Kashmir is what I need to be indefinitely at trainers.
I love trainers, love trainers. But like I love running and I'm
not some, I'm the opposite of all the gear and no, Tia.
I just run and run and run but I'm more than happy, just a cap
on a hoodie and a pair of leggings and off I go, no one,
you know, doesn't matter. Would you say you're a good
packer. I should be the amount of
travel. You, do you travel all the time?
I've just invested in some back separate, so you can put your
t-shirts in one and like help. That's and does that help?
Yeah. Is it?
I mean, the amount you travel, I mean, with country file alone,
you're constantly packing unpacking on.
Yeah. And and when I started makers of
international documentaries, I made a mistake of taking two,
suitcases for a three-week shoot in India and it was the worst
thing because your Bamboozled it's much better to have a
uniform. Yes, much better to go.
Okay, this is what I'm wearing on screen, and I'll just have,
like, 32 shirts or three t-shirts that are white and I'll
just know. Keep it simple.
Almost sort of girl. Yeah, I'm talking about wardrobe
secrets. You have a brand.
That is a guilty secret. I mean no.
But I mean hey we go, we are living in an age.
Now where we know about fast fashion growing up, while a
fast-fashion wasn't a thing, when I was a teenager, we used
to shop in vintage shop. So used to go to a place called
Blue. The blue-rinse in Leeds and buy
all my vintage t-shirts blue-rinse.
This smells like like a bad hair style.
And but then top mean, you know, Topshop was for years.
I used to love who didn't love that iconic Topshop.
It was brilliant. Wasn't it?
Absolutely amazing. And now I am I just don't just
buy less, absolutely. Now I'm not.
Now, I'm trying to buy quality. Well also.
Yes, I think once you been used to buying a trade or having your
family make for you or whatever, it is exactly really hard to pay
full price. Absolutely.
I think no actually shoes.
Am I guilty like a like a, like a really nice pair of shoes.
Okay, so honestly, How many pairs do you own a lot?
A lot. But it doesn't matter about.
I'll never forget the first pair of designer shoes.
I bought myself, you know, moved.
And with nothing twenty years ago and that I will never forget
that experience of going into Chanel and purchasing, my first
pair of Chanel shoes with my own money that was great.
And was it a Chanel? Which Chanel shoes before a
Chanel bag? Yes, yes, yes, yes, absolutely
shoe, girl, shoe girl, absolutely.
But it's that first moment that first designer luxury brand
moment, is, is embedded in our minds, isn't it?
Yeah, I think it was because I knew I lied.
It's, I'm spending my money that I've earned on this and I'm
treating myself, which still for me is quite difficult.
Yeah, it's really difficult. I can't get beyond that.
Do I deserve this? And am I really going to buy
this and is it really like what? But yeah you know that moment
I've never forgotten that moment I treated myself and I
psychologically explain to myself.
Why am I allowing myself to do this?
It's a lot of talk that got. Did you ever justify with pounds
per where I Justified it with you've worked your ass off.
Getting that shop and go and buy those shoes.
You are you venting go and go and enjoy them.
What if? Nothing.
Do you feel? You've got an excessive amount
of in your wardrobe shoes cuz all of it all of it.
I think we just got too much stuff, haven't we?
Generally, we really do. I mean swinging around to
values. What's your approach to
sustainable fashion? Yeah, just not buying tons of
stuff. So I like everybody because
things don't fall apart, you know?
It's just we're being told constantly that, you know, where
you do need. You need you need images
Instagram. You know, every day we're
bombarded with, oh, you could have this, you could have that.
And so it's, you know, it's it's, it's gets into your head.
So on the I don't, I don't think people should feel guilty
because we're being pushed it but absolutely, we can all make
choices and yeah, I I'm what do you do?
Once you've got these clothes that you don't want to wear
anymore, what you do with. Well I was going to say, I mean,
obviously in in your TV life you have I need quite a lot of
clothes, obviously. So what do you do with them?
When you've had enough to you rotate, do you archive, do you
resell? So some stuff goes to charity.
Some stuff goes to friends, I'm very good at gifting, my friends
Lu, ya know I've particularly popular especially if I'm having
friends around and we've had a drink or two and then they're
like, she's going to open that wardrobe.
At some point, we are never going to leave with something.
Saying, yeah, I'm really quite nice like that.
I'm good generous friend. So, I get have given, especially
if someone looks great in it, and I know I'm not going to wear
it and she looks amazing. Take it, it's lovely, though.
The circularity of fashion? I just love definitely, but it's
sort of done with you and then it goes on to have a whole other
life and hopefully another life beyond that.
Yes, yes. But I think there's a definitely
a business opportunity for somebody to take people's
clothes and Resell them for them because if your time poll but
you want somebody to do that, someone can do that.
Yes. I mean there's a lot of there's
a lot of that going on but it's a very complex business model
but but I really do believe that will break through.
Yeah. And also now it's a lot of,
there's a lot of rental isn't there?
So the movie rental and a lot of it's a huge Trend to be in.
Vintage will be in unique pieces, my not this amazing if I
could get my hands on and Ossie Clark dress, you know and what
you that's a A Timeless piece, just where that anywhere.
And you're just, yeah, I love, I found this amazing Laura, Ashley
70s, beautiful black floor-length dress in this heavy
cotton. We're just a bit of lace on the
collar, high neck, and it's might want to just brings me
such joy. And, you know, I'd rather have
something like that pieces that will keep forever.
And was that a piece that you've kept forever?
Or is that a vintage scientist? Find that I will keep forever.
And you have any specific Vineyard It's spots that you
love. Well, you're not going to share
them because you don't want them read it.
Yeah, now I'm lucky I live in East London and they, you know,
there's a plethora of the antique shops and a lot of
varied people a lot of very stylish people in East London as
well. So they're good places to go.
Although someone did say to me if you want add is if you want a
vintage vintage inverted, commas designer gown, then go to this
is what's the area in Manchester where all the footballers live
because all four door? Or altering young?
Yes, yes ring. Mm.
That's the place to go because all the footballers wives, you
know, all the dresses that they don't wear anymore goes there
the places to go shopping. They were probably 10,000 lb
dresses in the first place. So, even vintage vehicle
functions. Right?
Onto quickfire. Questions sister.
Let's do it high-end or High Street.
Oh, high-end. Now, for sure, bling or bear.
Are playing. Yeah, minimalism or maximalism.
Oh God it's difficult. Isn't it?
Let's say minimal today to do tomorrow's different culture or
charity shop? Charity shop?
Yeah, wonderful bug off. 01 off, Crooks Que te puke.
Oh my God. They're so I know I'm there so
puke, but I know that like I've got mates who were like
middle-aged men who are in Crocs at the minute and think it's all
right. But they're puke their puke but
I might wear them. I've not got them yet but
they're puke, sneakers are stilettos.
I've sneakers for sure, skinnies or boyfriends or wide legs in
terms of Gene our boyfriend's at the minute, mmm body Colonel
boho boho Sports Luxe or Rock. A chick.
I'm in a bit of a mixture there, a little, like, a bit of both
sport. Rock, sport rock.
Oh, I like that clamor grunge. Can't you see I'm a grunge kid
but climbing up pretending to be Glam at the minute party where
our PJs party where Trend or Style Style hundred percent
color or monochrome. I'm a bit of both but that's
sake. Monochrome at the minute I'm
feeling monochrome today pattern or plane.
Plain Kashmir or cotton cash order or editor.
I'm, I want to be an editor, but I have to, I'm going to come
clean, and say I'm a hoarder shapewear or sexy lingerie.
She put tights or stockings. I'm a tight scale.
Come on. I've got them on today.
Bikini on one piece. A one-piece 11 13.
And finally any tehrani is one last question.
What do you or don't you wear in bed?
Oh that would give it away. I'm just going to leave that to
the listeners imagination. Anita, thank you so much.
Thank you. What a fun Journey with you
today, honestly, we are now going to carry on with our glass
of champagne but thank you very much.
I've loved it. Thank you so much.
What a tree? What fun.
I hope you're enjoying the podcast.
If you are please leave a review and hit the Subscribe button.
Next week, I'm joined by Paula Sutton the woman behind my
favorite Instagram account Hill House, vintage