Who do you particularly admire?
Hilary Clinton and Angela Merkel because they are so gutsy and intelligent.
What is your most prized piece of jewellery?
I am particularly fond of pearl rings Annoushka conceived with sculptor Manuela Zervudachi. The collection they collaboratively produced was inspired by nature and the rings resemble clam shells with pearls suspended from chain. So the pearls move and lend a very pretty extra dimension to the rings. Pearl is my birthstone and so I am always looking for beautiful pearls.
I also have a few great pieces by Luigi Scialanga. He is an exceptionally gifted Roman artist who designs extraordinary jewellery. Every piece is one-of-a-kind and, in the field of art jewellery, Luigi is acknowledged as a visionary.
What is your favourite recent discovery?
Ivanka – a collaborative design brand from Budapest which I discovered at Tent London – an interior design fair which was held in Brick Lane back in October. Ivanka specializes in producing interior design objects from concrete until this year when the brand produced its first capsule fashion collection. The clothes are made of concrete-treated grey cotton. More than anything, I noticed that they were exceptionally cut. I tried on a jumpsuit. It fit like a glove and so I bought it.
What led you to work as a fashion historian/commentator?
Growing up in Toronto in the early 1980s, I was exposed to really great high fashion. My two best friend’s mothers had incredible wardrobes. One wore really groovy clothes by Courrèges, Kenzo and Krizia. The other flaunted Gucci, Chanel and Halston. So me and my friends would dress up in their mum’s clothes when they were out on Saturday nights and the baby sitter was off somewhere watching TV. We’d walk out of the house in Gucci heels and Chanel jackets. That got me interested in fashion. Studying history and journalism allowed me to develop a knack for research. And when I worked at British Vogue (1998 – 2003), I spent a lot of time in the incredible Vogue library digging around. This led me to write historical fashion stories for the magazine and then my first two fashion history books.
What are you currently reading?
I always have a few books on the go because I’m usually researching some sort of project. One of them, currently, is a short book about Coco Chanel which Vogue will publish next year as part of a series on iconic designers. So I am reading Chanel biographies written by Axel Madsen, Edmonde Charles-Roux and Justine Picardie. Meanwhile, I always have a book reserved as an escape zone – one that I can read for pure pleasure. That one, right now, is Searching For Beauty: The Life of Millicent Rogers. She was an heir to the Standard Oil fortune who became a fashion icon and also a gifted jewellery designer. She had a folkloric flair and would flaunt dramatic Charles James couture with turquoise jewellerey which was made for her by Native Americans in Santa Fe, where she spent her final years. I visited the Millicent Rogers Museum which honors her appreciation of Native craftsmanship and displaying her sculptural jewellery. It is on the outskirts of of Santa Fe and I recommend it to anyone passing through.
Favourite restaurant in London?
J Sheekey. I love the atmosphere. It is always buzzing with theatre people but the service is excellent. So is the food. It is a fish restaurant and I actually don’t eat fish. So I order steak. I usually celebrate my birthday there and other special occasions.
Favourite piece or pieces from Annoushka and how you would wear them.
I love Annoushka’s pearls and how she embellishes a classic strand with a diamond charm or a drusy stone pendant. The adornment seems simple yet it is really an imaginative touch which lends a completely modish twist to a timeless jewel.
Favourite Designers
For interiors, it is Francis Sultana. His style is flamboyant. He has an extraordinary instinct for colour and for contemporizing classical inspirations. His first collection of furniture – which he produced this year – is Art Deco-inspired but is strikingly modern and sumptuous. For fashion, I favour female designers simply because I like feminine clothes. I love Roksanda Ilincic’s evening wear because it looks effortless, uniquely alluring and fashion-forward. Rosella Giardini – the designer of Moschino – is a long-time favorite of mine. Her clothes are luxuriant and capture an of-the-moment feel in an understated elegant manner. For shoes, I love Manolo Blahnik because his footwear is flattering, fabulous and built to last.
