My Style: Minnie Mortimer
Photo: Courtesy of Minnie Mortimer
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
It can’t be copied, it can’t be bought and nobody will appreciate it unless it comes from within.
Please describe your style in three words.
East coast meets West coast.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Trying to copy someone else’s style.
Do you believe in role models?
I believe in striving to emulate elements and aspects of other’s lives, but I think it is dangerous to worship a person in their entirety.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Canvas, cashmere, cotton jersey.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
No.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
Paris.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Can’t I be both?
What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
What I am wearing has to feel true to who I am and what I want.
Celebrities and style...
Don’t interest me much. Style of the past, teenage style, urban style is far more interesting.
One garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Sunglasses.
A woman should always look...
Put together when they leave the house. You never know what kind of a chance meeting the day holds.
Who taught you what you know about style?
My mother, my brother Peter Davis, my schoolmates, so many people — I take a piece of style from nature and structures. It comes from everywhere.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
I select based on my mood. Fun, serious, playful and so on and so on…
What is your biggest regret?
Not taking school seriously, or that’s what I should regret but to tell you the truth most of my regrets are fleeting.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
No. I’m very impulsive; no time for rituals.
We will never see you wearing...
There is nothing I would rule out wearing. There is a way to wear just about everything.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
Right now I am into Joy Cioci. I think she understands how to make pieces flirty AND stylish.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
Amanda Brooks.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her attitude.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
My mother’s collection of Yves Saint Laurent jackets from the 70s and 80s, and the first dress I ever designed.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
An image of Jane Birkin in jeans and a t-shirt. The comfort with her own figure is so striking.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Miuccia Prada and her use of irony.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
Her shoes.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Often, but not always.
Who would you like to see next in My Style?
Young girls.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Keep moving.
