One of the many perks of working here at My Fashion Life is the fact that we don’t only mingle with some of the hottest names in fashion, we get to chat to them, too. 

We came away from some interviews this year feeling motivated, humbled and grateful, and others feeling ever so slightly jealous at just how much they’d achieved. And when we interviewed Elle Macpherson, add ‘being in awe of her utter perfection’ to the list, too.

But in case you missed any of the secrets they shared, we’ve rounded up our favourite five interviews of the year. Believe us, it was a tough choice.

Diane von Furstenberg

Meeting and interviewing Diane von Furstenberg was like meeting royalty – which isn’t so far from the truth, as it happens.

We felt like we got a real insight into what it’s like in the world of the great Diane, as she talked us through her favourite wardrobe pieces, colours (note: she loves them all) and, of course, her brand new collection for H.Stern. We even got to try a piece on – drool!

She could totally be our new BFF.

Mulberry’s Emma Hill

A design genius if ever there was one, our interview with Mulberry’s Emma Hill didn’t disappoint.

Not only did we get an insight into Mulberry (the book), we also got an insight into Emma’s personal reading tastes were. We love how she was partial to the odd cheesy romance novel every now and again too!

A bit surreal having a chinwag with the visionary behind some of the most lust-worthy bags of our time, but a moment we’ll treasure forever.

Lungta de Fancy designer Mai Marimoto

Who wouldn’t want to interview a designer whose client list boasts the likes of Lady Gaga, Victoria Beckham and Rihanna? We loved interviewing Mai Marimoto who, despite being on the verge of celebrating Lungta de Fancy’s 10th anniversary, was one of the most humble designers with the same dedication to her customers as when she first started out.

Having a chat inside her swish Bond Street store was dangerous for our bank accounts, though – we wanted virtually everything we clapped our eyes on.

Elle Macpherson and the BINTM judges

There were both good and bad sides to interviewing Elle ‘The Body’ Macpherson. The good was, of course, the opportunity to chat to the world’s most perfect woman, but the bad was having to see her flawlessness in person… if there’s one model that doesn’t need an ounce of airbrushing, it’s Elle.

Not only did we get the chance to pose our questions to Elle and fellow BINTM judges Julien Macdonald, Grace Woodward and Charley Speed, we also got to see the very first episode new series from the London Soho Hotel’s very glamorous cinema room – thanks!

Valerie van der Graaf

On the other side of the spectrum was Valerie van der Graaf, a stunning 20-year-old Dutch model who just landed one of the most coveted jobs in the biz – a place on the cover of Lavazza’s 20th anniversary 2012 calendar.

We caught up with her at the launch in Milan and could totally see the appeal that landed her the gig.

We love how fondly she spoke of London and were pleased with her adoration for the high street and vintage shops – a girl after our own hearts!

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Despite Lungta De Fancy designer Mai Marimoto being on her way to celebrating the 10th anniversary of the brand, penning a book and branching out into lingerie in the next coming months, the Central Saint Martins graduate remains a humble and fuss-free designer with a true passion and talent for her work – and a desire to please every one of her shoppers.

And, since we mention it, those shoppers happen to include some of fashion’s most famous faces from Lady Gaga to Victoria Beckham and Rihanna (and even a royal, too).

The appeal, it seems, is her ability to meet every girl’s needs.

You can find Lungta De Fancy in London’s New Bond Street, Knightsbridge and St Christopher’s Place, which is where we caught up with the designer last week as part of the fabulous Thank You Thursdays shopping event.

Find out what Mai Marimoto told us about her inspirations, her plans for the label, and those Lady Gaga shoes…

How do you manage to balance getting the maximum out of your creativity and keeping the prices down to (relatively) affordable prices?

I understand that every customer is special so I wouldn’t mind if someone came up to me and said ‘I love this’, but it needs to be a bit different here so each item can be individual if that’s how a lady wants it. Every lady is something special and everyone has different figures. For three of our stores we do free alterations so we like to make sure it fits the client perfectly before their special event. Like this client that’s come in today – she thinks the dress is a little too long so we are fixing it to how she likes for no extra cost.

London isn’t the only place you have a store, so where would you say you get the most clients?

In London there’s lots of different cultures – Arabic clients, English clients. I’d say my clients are about 50%. 50% live in London and the other 50 are from the rest of the world. Obviously with Arabic ladies they like their arms covered so I add the sleeves, so it gives everyone the chance to wear the designs, which is why maybe they come here.

Do you show at fashion week?

We did presentations in Paris and New York last season… next season we are going to do New York.

Where did you get inspiration for everything in this store?

Everywhere. The collections have always been different to the last collection, every collection you can see the signature. If you look through, I do things very structured, classic, feminine, girly, ruffles. It’s very feminine and romantic.

Many items are custom-made – where are they manufactured and are they of a limited quantity?

They are made in Italy. My stores carry one-off pieces and there are very limited quantities because if I go to a party I don’t want to see another girl wearing the same dress.

So lets talk about the shoes that Lady Gaga wore…

These (pictured) are versions of the ones Lady Gaga wore, she wore the boot version, and they were made in Italy. They’re very comfortable, they don’t look comfy but they actually are. Obviously for the days you run around town you wouldn’t wear these but for a party, these are fine. These are £455, and the ones Lady Gaga bought were £750. She drove past our Knightsbridge store the other night and told her PR that she wanted them.

What other famous women have you dressed?

In the past we’ve had Rihanna, she wore an oversized cardigan, then we had Victoria Beckham, who wore a dress just before she got pregnant, and we had Princess Beatrice who wore my dress the day before Prince William’s wedding. It looks so much better on, obviously. She’s been a good customer for many years, she wears some of my stuff for Ascot.

The other day we heard Victoria Beckham saying that she’d only design something that she’d wear herself – is that your sentiment?

Mostly. I think it makes it more personal. I think there’s something for everyone but I like everything that I design.

Are you branching out into anything else?

I am doing a book, and I am working on a lingerie brand under the same name. We are aiming to launch in February, and if not, the second line will be out in July. We do a silk pyjama set – Japanese kimono style – and we’ve done all the sketches already. It’s always nice to wear something pretty underneath because if you have a lovely dress on it definitely makes a difference. We’ve used some really amazing silks and lots of bold colours like you see in the store. We try to make them match the dresses.

Click through our gallery below for highlights from Lungta de Fancy…

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Speaking of Harper’s Bazaar, here’s this month’s US issue, starring a bare-faced Lady Gaga. You might be surprised – disappointed, even – to see her without spiked cheekbones and wigs, but this, she says, stripped back and natural, is as much her as her 12-inch platforms.

“I don’t really view it as ‘natural,’” she says of the Inez & Vinoodh lensed shoot. ” Whether I’m wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I’m always the same person inside.”

All the same, it’s not what her monsters would expect. Though that, she says – expectation – is the driving force between her and her fans.

“I think what has been lovely about my relationship with the public is that they expect something unexpected from me.”

She’s right, of course. Though her love for Mugler, impossible heels and vintage Versace are well documented – “I’ve been dreaming of seeing those outfits my whole life,” she says of having access to the latter’s archives – her support of young, undiscovered designers is just as strong.

“There are some amazing emerging kids from Parsons. I’ve been wearing a lot of young designers,” she says, adding that without McQueen, “I’d be naked.”

And whilst she’s not being literal, she may as well be – her sense of ease over her body is really quite refreshing.

“I’m very free-spirited,” says Gaga. “Even when I was a kid, I used to run around naked with the babysitter, driving her crazy. I do yoga, I do Bikram and I run, and I eat really healthy. You know, my work sort of feeds me. I keep in shape by working hard.”

Harper’s Bazaar‘s October issue hits shelves on September 27th, but in the meantime, check out the full interview here and click through our gallery below for more images.

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They might be making waves in the music industry right now, but it’s more than just their dulcet tones that are making us fall in love with The Pierces.

Already knocking up gigs at Glastonbury in the midst of their UK tour, the sister duo are fast becoming a dominant force in the music scene after a decade of underground sounds under their belts. But more than that, these girls have got serious style credentials to boot.

An artful blend of folksy boho and Sixties insouciance, Allison and Catherine’s signature ethereal look is catching the eyes of some of the most discerning fashion fans, too.

And when they’re not swaying in floor-sweeping maxis on stage, their flouncing between festival garbs and big name designers (their newest video, It Will Not Be Forgotten, features looks by Oscar de la Renta, Elie Saab and Temperley).

With two festivals in the bag and another on its way, we caught up with Allison and Catherine as they prepare to support Coldplay at London’s iTunes to quiz them on their style inspirations, their festival wardrobes, and the trick to staying stylish on the go…

How would you describe your style?

Comfortable, Sexy, and Piercey

Who are your music style icons?

Debbie Harry, Stevie Nicks, and Melanie Safka

Does fashion play an important part of who you are and what you do?

On a certain level I suppose it does. We enjoy fashion and it plays a part in everyone’s life whether you embrace or reject it. It says something about who you are or how you want people to perceive you…so yes, we put some thought into it.

How does your music influence your style (or vice versa)?

These songs are quite dreamy and mystical and I think our wardrobe has followed suit.

In your new video, In Will Not Be Forgotten, you both wear some beautiful pieces. What’s your favourite look?

I love the black dress with the cape that Allie wears in the beginning!

Oh dear….I loved all my looks…I can’t choose just one!

What are your favourite labels?

We are mainly vintage and high street girls. We love finding unique pieces at vintage and charity shops that you can cut up and recreate. We mix those pieces in with things we find at All Saints, Topshop, and ASOS. They all have amazing stuff and it’s affordable! We do love some designer pieces as well like, Isabel Marant, Alberta Ferretti and Anna Sui.

You’ve been hitting the festival circuit this year – what’s inspiring your festival wardrobe?

Versatility! One minute it’s hot and sunny then the next it’s pouring! I love a stretchy little knit dress with a nice flowy shawl or kimono top over it. You get the best of both worlds and it’s practical to layer up with the ever changing weather. Throw on some boots and load on bracelets and necklaces and you are set!

As girls on tour, what are your top tips for looking stylish on the go?

Dry shampoo, Johnson & Johnson face-wipes, hats, and great accessories!

What’s on your summer playlist?

Lykke Li, Florence & The Machine , Adele, Laura Marling, Alice Gold, & Lissie. This Summer is all about the ladies!!!

What item of clothing can you not live without?

BDG black, highrise, cigarette jeans! They are stretchy, comfy, and awesome.

Visit Thepiercesmusic.com

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It’s 11.37pm on the night before D-day (that’s D for Diane (yes, Von Furstenberg, keep up)), and so far I’ve successfully managed to throw four fifths of my wardrobe on the floor in elimination. That’s the problem when you’re going to meet an icon.

After deciding that panic buying a wrap dress wouldn’t be the best idea if I want to be able eat for the rest of the month, I settle on a vintage shirt with an abstract leopard print in the hope she’ll appreciate my colour effort.

I tug at my denim skirt the whole way on route the next morning. Is it too short? No, DVF loves a bit of leg, right?

Right. I arrive at Harrods‘ Penthouse and immediately spy Diane, dressed in a lime silk piece with an oversized blazer and legs that shoot mine right out the room and back onto the tube.

“You look incredible!” I gush. As far as opening lines go, it’s not the worst, but it sure as hell isn’t the coolest. She smiles, appreciatively, and gives a look that might have been shy if it wasn’t for her assuring confidence.

We’re here at the launch of her new jewellery collection for H.Stern, and after looking at the line and gushing some more, I catch Diane on the sofa.

“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” She says, as I ask her about her new jewellery collection. “It’s all about these beautiful rock crystals.”

She points to the ring on her finger and offers me her hand. The large mirror-like crystal set in polished gold is indeed beautiful.

“Look,” she says, “I’ll show you the bracelet,” and reaches for a fabric pouch that looks like a pencil case. Great! I’d seen her reaching for that earlier to show someone else and I’d wondered all morning what was in it.

She gets out the bracelet that I’d been admiring through the glass earlier and takes my hand to put it on. I spy her glance at my Mawi ring. It catches her eye for a second, but she doesn’t say anything. Did I commit the cardinal sin of wearing another designer to meet the iconic Diane Von Furstenberg? I realise she’s still clasping my wrist. Phew, I think she just wants me to take my ring off so the bracelet will fit over my hand.

“I want you to get an idea of how it feels,” says Diane. She just about eases the bracelet over my wrist – God, have I got fat wrists now, too? – and fastens the clasp.

“It’s so light!” I exclaim. Diane nods and smiles. “Oh, it fits so nicely!”. I twist and turn my wrist this way and that to see how each of the three stones catch the light and how the chain strap moves. Diane reaches for my hand to take it off and flips it over. “Look, it’s got my mantras enscrawled all over the back, too.”

The characters are based on Diane’s own handwriting, and it’s core to the new Sutras collection. She’s been working on jewellery with H.Stern for several years now, but this packs a powerful message.

“I was inspired by India, its mantras and 18th century art,” she says of the eight-piece collection. “It’s about beauty and strength and empowerment.”

There’s eight pieces – pendants, bracelets, earrings and rings – which all feature insirational words from Diane’s personal sutras: love, life, laughter, freedom, harmony, confidence, truth.

They’re precious pieces, but there’s a statement strength that’s apparent in each item. I wonder what type of woman Diane thinks can carry them.

“In anything I do, whether it’s perfume or jewellery or clothes, it’s to make the woman be the woman she wants to be.” She notes that they’re expensive – a polite way of saying not everyone can afford them – but her answer is inspiring nonetheless.

She’s so passionate about her jewellery I’m surprised she doesn’t have her own collection sitting in her accessories line, but she’s more than satisfied with what she offers with H.Stern.

“Well, the reason I chose H.Stern – I’ve wanted to work with them for 20 years – is the fact that it’s very rare to find such quality in fashion jewellery,” she says. She explains that the design process is different for jewellery, and I get the impression that their collaboration is very much a mixture of Diane’s design and H.Stern’s craft.

“Anything that’s trendy, the quality suffers. The quality of these pieces is beautiful,” she says, stroking the stone in her ring. “I mean, you can swim in them.”

I’m not sure whether she’s serious about the swimming part, or whether it’s one of her clever metaphors, so I laugh, shyly and nod. But it doesn’t matter – I feel so comfortable around Diane that I’m not embarrassed if I fumble, which I seem to be doing quite a lot, as it happens. It’s that sense of female empowerment that runs so central not only to Diane’s designs but her way of living that creates an air of calm.

“It’s about being the woman you want to be,” she says, when I ask her what femininity is to her. “I think what symbolises femininity is strength. Sometimes women can face things in life, from someone else – their mother or their father – or in nature. Something happens that creates an insecurity that you forget from time to time, but that makes you go like this [she indicates sadness with her head in her hands]. But then, gradually, it fades, and you move on and overcome it, and I think it’s the power of her mind that creates strength.”

I could sit and listen to her forever, but I’m aware that time is precious for Diane, who’s flown over from New York especially to launch her fragrance and jewellery collection in the UK. I press on, asking what her favourite piece is.

“This doesn’t leave my wrist,” she says, pointing to her chunky gold chain bracelet from a previous collection. “I wear it everywhere, so I think this is my favourite piece.” She’s not exaggerating, either – I recognise it from pictures, and it just so happens to be my favourite piece from the entire collaboration, too. It’s a bold piece, and I wonder if that’s how she prefers her jewellery.

“Well, I think jewellery is many things. I think jewellery is something for women to feel confident in, I think jewellery is also protection, I think it’s good luck – it’s many things,” she says. “And then I also like jewellery that I wear that can cause some damage!” She taps the ring on her finger and indicates something big and sharp.

Literal protection, and there was me thinking she was speaking about spirituality. We both laugh, and I move on to ask her about her love for colour. Big, bold shades are her signature, she must have a favourite this season?

She shakes her head. “I love every colour.” Every colour? Even murky greys and questionable-looking browns?

“When people ask me what it is I love about colour, I say this to them: ‘imagine looking out into a garden and only seeing black and white’.” She gives a knowing smile, like that of an angel or some other wise ethereal creature from a fantasy film, as though she’s just opened my eyes up to the beauty of the world.

And with that, my five minutes with Diane Von Furstenberg is up. I thank her for her time, we pose for photographs, and I leave Harrods with a strange sense of ease. I doubt Diane will remember me past our goodbye, but I feel as though I’ve just had a lesson in philosophy, and yes, the world’s a little brighter this morning.

Diane Von Furstenberg for H.Stern launches this month exclusively at Harrods.

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There’s a reason they call Elle Macpherson ‘The Body’, and when she walked into London’s Soho Hotel to introduce the all-new series of Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model this week, we saw first-hand why.

Trim and toned from tip to toe, towering over just about every person in sight as she stood, taught-armed, long-legged and plump-pouted in her Prada dress, she looked insanely perfect (and we mean insane).

She was in town on Tuesday to host an exclusive screening of the new series of BINTM (that’s not a typo, the show’s changed its name to include Ireland), and along with her panel of judges – Julien Macdonald, Grace Woodward and Charley Speed – Elle invited us to watch the first episode at Soho Hotel’s swanky cinema room.

We caught up with Elle and the others after the screening, along with London’s finest fashion press, to put a few questions to the iconic supermodel about the show, the industry and her success. Here’s what she and her fellow judges had to say…

What sets this series apart from the rest?

Elle: The most interesting thing is that there are actually three or four episodes that are live on the road so we see the elimination process. The girls are such amazing characters – some of those girls are so fun, they’re interesting, they’re beautiful – and so you really get to see the girls and learn about their personalities, and as we see them throughout the series we see how they blossom. I love watching the journey, and seeing the great landscape of this beautiful country – it’s a lot of fun.

There’s a lot of rivalry between judges in shows like this. Do you ever find yourselves not being able to come to a mutual conclusion?

Julien: The great thing is the four of us are all completely different, so we’re all actually looking for different things from the models. We tend to agree, and a lot of the time we disagree for various reasons, but I think all of us have different knowledge of the fashion industry and we can bring that strength to the programme. And it makes it fun – you get to see the real us.

So what happens if you can’t come to a decision? Does it get deferred to Elle?

Elle: Yeah! I listen to the replies. They’re great perspectives and that’s why having a varied panel is really good for the girls and the show – and for me, it helps guide my choices as well.

Julien: Elle’s the head mistress, she tells us all off.

Elle: I just play that role, it’s good for business.

Once the girls get in the house and the bickering starts, that’s usually the juiciest part of the show – is this year the same?

Charley: No, no, no! It’s not, though, really… actually, it is, isn’t it? They’re quite feisty this year, I think they all live in very close proximity to each other so it’s bound to get heated – it’s definitely worth watching.

You’ve got some great guest judges this year. Do you have any highlights or a dream guest judge?

Elle: We had some really interesting people – we had Tyson, who was a supermodel in my era; we had Sophie Ellis-Bexter who was really interesting for the girls to see because she’s successful in being unusual – she’s not a stereotypical beauty, and she gave great feedback.

Grace: Jasmine Guinness rocked! Some of the stuff she said about her experience working with models over the years, I think the girls were really like, ‘wow, she really knows what she’s talking about’.

Elle: I’d like to have someone like Lily Cole come on because she’s somebody who managed a career and also finished school – she’s just graduated from Cambridge. What I wanted to be able to say to the girls is ‘here is a girl who’s very successful, she’s unusual, but she didn’t give up her education’. I think she’s a good role models for girls, I’d like to have her on next year. It’s making sure they have a back-up plan – this is a really fun business, if we’re successful we get to travel the world and it’s great to learn about personal grooming, about the business and learn about yourself, but I think it’s really important that girls have a back-up plan as well.

Julien: Also we don’t just pick typical models. This time there’s a variety of shapes, sizes and ages. I think for me, definitely as a fashion designer, this has changed the way I perceive and see women – it’s a fantastic learning curve for all of us.

As a fashion designer, Julien, would you consider using any of the girls from this series at your catwalk shows?

Julien: I would, actually. I think last time it would have been no! The superwoman [one contestant] is very, very interesting. I think you’ll follow the journey of that girl through the entire programme, and she is really special. She actually broke all of our hearts at the end, it was a very emotional rollercoaster, and you see a real woman competing against young girls. Jessica’s a real woman, she’s of a certain age, her body is really athletic, she’s not a stereotypical model in terms of the fashion industry, and she’s somebody that changed the way that we perceived things. You’ll be enchanted and engaged with her, she’s a really special person.

Elle, you’re a very successful business woman, have you ever thought about opening your own agency?

Elle: For the moment I’ve just really loved this experience of executive producing and hosting the show, and I have a lot going on. Elle Macpherson Intimates is 25 years old this year, and I’m really running my business as I keep it today, hoping to expand within the business that I’m doing. So more television – hosting and producing – expanding Elle Macpherson Intimates so that it’s really, truly a global brand, which it’s fast becoming, and working on my other projects. So opening up a modelling agency? I don’t think so – but I’ve loved scouting for girls in this competition.

Often one of the funniest bits for viewers is watching the contestants give you a bit of back-chat – how much does that influence your decision?

Elle: Has anyone met Naomi Campbell? [Laughs]. I think it’s really important to remember that we’re also making a television show, so having girls that are beautiful, that have a personality, or have an attitude, or a sense of humour is really important because she [the winner] needs to be watchable. You want to tune in to see her week after week, and [watch her] go through the challenges with courage, with a sense of humour, with imagination. So yeah, I look for girls that are ballsy. She needs to stand out in the casting, and she needs to carry the show, from a producer’s point of view.

As a supermodel who’s stood the test of time, what’s the key to longevity in this business?

Elle: I think it’s sound business choices, choosing partners that really resonate with you. For example, I am global spokeswoman for Revlon, and working with a company like that, their brand values and my brand values are very similar, so we carry each other and help each other in business. Having great management I think is very important – people that I trust, that I can run ideas by, who are supportive, that can help guide me in choices that I’m making. I can’t do it by myself. It’s a real team effort, in the same way that the show’s a team effort. I couldn’t do it without my fellow judges, and I certainly couldn’t do it without my producers and Sky supporting us, and you guys for writing about the show. So understanding that it is about cooperation and a team effort, for me, has been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in maintaining a business through 30 years.

Did you have a favourite challenge for the girls this time?

Elle: The makeover was really fun because we actually divided the girls into teams so Julien had three girls, Grace had three girls, Charley had three girls and I had three girls, and we weren’t allowed to tell each other what we were going to do with them. So there was a lot of competition between what girls we were going to have and what we were going to do with them, and that was really, really fun.

Julien: Elle did the most dramatic makeover, believe it or not. I was like, ‘I can’t believe you did that to that poor girl, Elle,’ and she goes, ‘well, she looks better now’.

All the girls in Glasgow were in bikinis and in London they were allowed to wear clothes – was that a deliberate decision?

Elle: Can I give the honest answer to that? We started off putting the girls in bathing suits, and when I saw the first lot come in – we’d already been filming – and I was just like, ‘I can’t do this to them, it’s not fair’. I’m really interested in the whole personality of the girl and often that’s projected in how they dress, and it just felt appropriate. It’s very uncomfortable for a girl to stand in front of people like this, naked and freezing cold, so we just said, ‘no, it’s not fair’.

What do you think is lacking in the modelling industry at the moment? Do you think there’s space for a particular type of girl that you’d like to see filled?

Grace: There’s lots of talk about more diversity, especially within the catwalk. In magazines you see all sorts of shapes and sizes of girls modelling, there is lots of talk about diversity, and I think that we cover that in the show.

Julien: To be honest, it’s like a model army. I’ll see 500 girls for my show and I’ll pick 20, and that is the harsh reality – all those girls are absolutely stunning but there’s 20 that shine out like superstars. I think what is missing is girls that are different and women that represent Britain and Ireland – I think this show proves that you can be different and be a successful model. It’s variety that is missing. Agencies just have pillars of girls and they tend to all be the same, or the same genre, so I think it’s time to see some real women on the catwalk. And that’s coming from me!

BINTM will hit UK screens on Monday 4th July at 9pm, exclusively on Sky Living. Heads up: it’s funnier, fiercer and feistier than ever.

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With wardrobes worth their weight in gold, and hairdos commanding very little to look perfect, it’s the makeup bags of these fashion doyennes we never get to see.

To find out the secrets behind their luminous complexions, catwalk replica bee-stung pouts and impeccably natural looking tans, we delved deep into Harper’s Bazaar’s newly-appointed fashion director Gabriele Hackworthy’s makeup bag.

Recognised for her cutting edge style and distinct fashion perspective, Gabriele has more than 15 years’ experience in the fashion industry.  

Having started out at Australian Vogue and promoted to fashion director at the impressive age of 26, Gabriele has also worked as fashion director-at-large for both Japanese and Chinese Vogue, when the latter publication launched in 2004.

We caught up with Gabriele for a quick chat about her beauty regime and the products she swears by to keep her looking camera ready in a stylishly hectic job…

What’s in your makeup bag?

Talk us through your morning makeup routine…

Wash, moisturise and apply sunscreen, then foundation and a little mascara.

You’ve travelled a lot in your career – which products do you swear by to preserve a fresh, jet-set look?

We’re currently compiling our holiday suitcase – what’s in yours?

Elta MD Skincare UV Shield SPF 50, which is a great oil free and sheer sunscreen that I wear every day.  I love the whole St Tropez range of products, particularly their Instant Glow Wash Off Body Lotion, which I use to top up or even out my tan, and the Instant Shimmer stick which I use as a blusher. Mac Face and Body foundation is the perfect light foundation for holidays. Lucas’ Pawpaw Ointment – I use it as a moisturiser on the plane and as a lip salve, and it’s great for sunburn.

For frazzled beach and sun damaged hair, I like Kevin Murphy’s Born Again hair treatment or Aussie’s 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner. I always take a bottle of Evian spray to the beach to freshen up, Zimmermann bikinis, Balenciaga sunglasses, YSL espadrilles, Prada banana print skirt, Acne T-shirts and shorts.

You’ve got more than 15 years’ experience in the fashion industry – what useful tips have you picked up along the way?

I always ask the models and make-up artists for the beauty secrets and tricks of the trade, but the two things I swear by are: always use an eyelash curler before applying mascara to help curl the lashes and widen the eye, and apply a highlighter to the inside corner of the eye and on the cheekbones to brighten your face.

Name one beauty product you cannot go without and why…

Dr Penna Jones Formula 2006, which I use morning and night as it acts like a toner, exfoliator and moisturiser all in one.

What’s in your capsule wardrobe?

Black, white and navy separates.  Balenciaga dresses, coats, and blazers; Acne jeans, T-shirts and leather jackets; Chloe and YSL silk shirts.

Summer’s here – what are your favourite trends and how will you be working them?

I love the white trend for summer because it translates well in the city in a more tailored way (white jeans a white shirt and blazer), and for the weekend in a more romantic and relaxed silhouette (peasant off-the-shoulder cheesecloth dresses) – both look great with a tan.  For evening, I love all the jewel tone silks.  I have my eye on an emerald green Lanvin dress.

What’s been your best purchase this season?

My Prada banana print mini skirt because it’s fun, frivolous and sexy.  I can wear it to work with a high strappy Azzedine Alaia sandal or on the weekend with a T-shirt and flats.

Tell us your fashion and beauty no-no’s…

My pet fashion hate is flesh coloured pantyhose which only nurses and the Queen should be allowed to wear.  The Only Way Is Essex brand of beauty sums up all my beauty no no’s – too much fake tan, fake nails, fake boobs and false eyelashes. I prefer “real” beauty.

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