Lifestyle

Amelia Gregory

Who is your style icon and why?

I don’t really have a famous style icon: I am most inspired by non-famous individuals who are not afraid to experiment with unusual and colourful style.

What’s one piece of clothing every woman needs in her wardrobe this season?

I would say that depends on what you look like! There’s no avoiding pleated skirts for instance, but I’ve yet to be convinced that they look good on anything but the slimmest of creatures. If I were going to pick one key trend for this season I would say that you can’t go wrong with colour blocking: different brightly coloured individual pieces worn together. But whatever you do avoid the all over bold one colour look, unless you want to look like the Queen…

Describe the best outfit you’ve ever worn.

Oh cripes… I don’t know that I can single out any one best outfit from my entire life. But I do recall with fondness the short 1980s playsuit that I wore for the first launch party of Amelia’s Magazine back in 2004. It was black with big white polka dots and batwing sleeves… in fact it’s quite on trend for 2011. Maybe I should dig it out…

What look do you love but doubt you could pull off?

Quite a lot of things: I’ll never be able to wear anything skinny. Just not built that way I’m afraid! With big boobs and a butt you have to maximise your assets.

What do you DO when nobody’s looking?

Pick my nose. Actually, I probably do that when people are looking as well. In fact I think I did it in the front row at Fashion Week Poland last weekend. I kind of go off into a dream world sometimes and forget that there are other people in the room. And then I snap back and realise my finger is halfway up my nostril.

What was your most memorable fashion faux pas?

Oh I am sure there have been many: I’m not known for being a coy dresser: I like bright colours and clashing prints, and I’m sure my clothing choices are not to everyone’s taste. I did once have what I term my Ronald McDonald haircut: when I was a chalet girl in the mid 90s I had my hair cut in a severe bob with a short fringe and then dyed it a strange shade of orange. It wasn’t a good look, and even I knew it at the time.

What is your most treasured piece of clothing or jewellery?

Lots of things: I find it very hard to throw anything away. For instance I have some wonderful pieces from cult 80s brand Clothkits, famed for selling kit clothing that you made up yourself at home. I still wear some of my mother’s old Clothkits dresses, and I love them an awful lot.

What’s your favourite style blog?

I don’t really read style blogs… is that bad? It might explain why my style is like no other… Of course I occasionally check in with the likes of Susie Bubble, but I’m more interested in the other things that she is covering.

Where do you shop?

I don’t really shop that much: and when I do it tends to be second hand. I am very lucky that I live within spitting distance of Beyond Retro in Cheshire Street. You really can’t go wrong in that place, there’s so much to choose from.

What is your most extravagant sartorial purchase?

I bought a wonderful metallic designer dress from a Brazilian designer when I visited Sao Paolo for issue 9 of Amelia’s Magazine in 2008. I also bought some matching sky high shoes. I don’t think I’ve ever worn either… probably not the most sensible sartorial purchase ever.

Describe your style in five words.

Colourful, mish-mash, eccentric, 80s, flouncy.

Amelia Gregory is currently on tour with her new book, Amelia’s Compendium of Fashion Illustration, featuring profiles of up and coming fashion illustrators and the very best new eco fashion designers. You can catch her in London, Brighton, Oxford, Bristoland Edinburgh between now and the 7th June 2011.

For more details visit: www.ameliasmagazine.com

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