My Style: Barbara Atkin
Photo: Courtesy of Barbara Atkin
Q: The one image that defined your approach to style…
Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys; if she walked into a room today her style would still be relevant.
Q: Please describe your style in three words.
Modern classic, timeless, slightly irreverent.
Q: What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Trying too hard and wearing too many trends at once.
Q: Do you believe in role models?
Yes.
Q: What are your favourite fabrics?
Season-less.
Q: Are there any style combinations that you object to?
No. I believe in individualism, personal dress codes, and knowing who you are.
Q: Which city has the best-dressed women?
Paris, because they put themselves together with effortless style.
Q: Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Neither conservative nor bold, more eclectic. I like to keep it simple in an interesting way.
Q: What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
Be comfortable, dress appropriately for the occasion, and invest in the best.
Q: Celebrities and style…
Have a powerful impact on what you choose to buy.
Q: One garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Shoes.
Q: A woman should always look like…
She didn’t work at it.
Q: Who taught you what you know about style?
My mother — her style mantra was simple, chic, and classic.
Q: How do you select your clothing every morning?
I think about what I’m doing that day and instinctively pick clothing appropriately for the occasion and who I am meeting.
Q: What is your biggest regret?
I don’t have any.
Q: The three essential things a woman should know about style are…
Perfect fit, quality, and invest in the best.
Q: Do you have any shopping rituals?
My shopping ritual starts well in advance of the season as I am fortunate to see the clothes on runways and in showrooms. I usually flag what I want early with my personal shopper.
Q: We will never see you wearing…
Tiny miniskirts, short shorts or mid-drift bearing tops.
Q: Which new designers do you follow and why?
Peter Pilotto for their digitally inspired prints and colours. Alexander Wang for democratizing fashion to many and always taking a look at the athletic world — bringing it into his collections. Raf Simons and Hedi Slimane, who are not necessarily new, but I believe they are two designers who will change the way we view clothes in the 21st century. They take risks, and design with forward thinking.
Q: Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
Jewellery designer and part time actor Waris Alhuwalia because of his eclectic mixing of eastern and western clothing. A mix of tradition in an irreverent way; he is not afraid to take risks and makes great style look so easy.
Q: What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her nails.
Q: What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
All of my Manolo Blahnik single sole pumps — they never go out of style. My Alexander McQueen dress from the late 90s, a classic piece but always modern. An Yves Saint Laurent clutch bag from the 80s, another timeless piece. And my diamond heart necklace which was a mother’s day gift when my son was born.
Q: Which designer never fails to impress you?
Miuccia Prada for her inventiveness — she takes you on a journey that you never would have imagined and yet the world follows.
Q: One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is…
Her shoes.
Q: Is comfort an enemy of style?
Comfort is the one thing that differentiates great style versus being a slave to fashion. Comfort means confidence and it is confidence that gives one enduring style.
Q: Who would you like to see next in “My Style”?
Quentin Jones, an artist/illustrator from London.
Q: The best words of advice you have ever heard?
When in doubt, leave it out.
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