How would you describe your personal style?
It’s a little bit ramshackle, a bit unexpected, and there are definitely no rules. For me, it’s all about being humorous - I like to make people smile and not take clothes too seriously – and I like to keep it colourful, like a rainbow.
What is there too much of in your wardrobe?
Everything! I have a massive chest stuffed to the brim, a giant rail that’s nearly collapsing, and a room full of about 100 pairs of shoes. If there’s one thing I definitely buy too much of it’s sparkly things – anything that’s a little bit Studio 54.
What are your go-to labels?
Terry de Havilland is my favourite shoe maker – he is the rock and roll cobbler. He’s been making shoes for 50 years and his studio in East London is the most joyous place; I love going there and hanging out. He’s full of crazy ideas - he has a thing called a springulator in the shoes, so you don’t get the ‘tranny bend’ when you walk! For RTW I’ve been obsessed with Ashish ever since I was an assistant stylist. I wept the first time I saw his collection.
What are you happiest wearing?
A floor-length mermaid iridescent dream of a dress by Ashish. I bought it second hand and I love it so much I’d love to put it in a display case above my bed. I don’t get many occasions to wear it but when I do it’s amazing – I wore it to my birthday last year in a country manor and I swanned around the place in bare feet and this fabulous dress – it was perfect.
Whose wardrobe would you love to steal?
Rihanna's entire selection of outfits from the Rude Boy video in all its animal print, green, red and gold glory.
Where do you look for inspiration if you don't know what to wear?
I feel that with blogs and Pinterest, we’ve moved on from simple ‘style icon’ inspiration. I’m inspired by lots of different diff visual references – architecture, film, another city, colour, cartoons – I once wore an outfit to an awards ceremony inspired by the Moomins, a childhood cartoon that I used to watch. That was fun!
What has been your career highlight?
It’s hard to pinpoint. Every time i play a really good song I feel like that’s another moment of a sheer high, and I honestly can’t believe it’s my job. Apart from that, winning the Sony award with Trevor Nelson was one of the best nights of my life. I wore blue lipstick - very Avatar. Trevor called me the weirdo with the blue lips in his speech which made me laugh and cry at the same time.
What have you done for the love of fashion?
When I was 12 we moved house and there was an old Victorian piano. And I really wanted to get these PVC shiny lace up knee high boots from Barratts. My mum wouldn’t give me the money so I got a bit entrepreneurial and sold the piano. My mum was shocked. The guy I sold the piano to really got a good bargain!
If there is one label we should watch out for in 2012, what should it be?
I hope Fred Butler's accessories continue to reign. Her collections are incredible, who ever knows what she'll do next!?!?!!
What’s your sartorial guilty pleasure?
I guess it's rooted in Twitter. Scrambling to find out what the world is posting? Twitpic, twitpic twitpic. Click, click, click.
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