Know Your Style with Alyson Walsh

Today Alyson of That’s Not My Age launches her eagerly awaited second book Know YourStyle. I have known Alyson for many years now and it is great has been wonderful to follow her success as an author and with her blog. In fact it was Alyson who told me about blogging and giving me a voice and platform to show my work too. Never underestimate the importance of a good friend. Her is her story.

D: Tell us about yourself and your journey in fashion so far.

A: I’m a northerner. Born in Blackpool, I studied my degree in Manchester and then moved to London after graduation. I’ve worked in the fashion industry and the fashion media industry  - online and on women’s magazines for many years. I’m now a freelance fashion journalist, author and founder of the popular blog That’s Not My Age. I  write for the Financial Times and the Guardian – and one of my recent highlights was being described by the Daily Telegraph as one of the ‘women over 40 influencing the internet’.

D: That’s Not My Age, I have always thought this was a brilliant title for your blog what inspired the title and the desire to do it? Do you think the career path you took from Fashion Editor at Good Housekeeping to fashion journalism helped steer you in this direction?

A: That’s Not My Age started nine years ago – because I felt that women over-40 were being ignored by the fashion industry. All the emphasis was on youth and being young and yet I was seeing all these wonderful, older people everyday. Whereas, I have always believed that it’s not about age, it’s about style. After working on a magazine and writing all those prescriptive style rules, I just wanted to talk to women in the way that I talk to my friends. I hope That’s Not My Age is empowering and fun and offers style advice in a down-to-earth way. I’m lucky to have a loyal following who I am eternally grateful to because without them my two books wouldn’t exist.

D: You have just published your second book Know Your Style tell us about it.

A: For my second book, the aim was to talk less about age and more about style. To try to figure out what goes with what (and that was the tentative title of the book at commissioning stage). How do we know what to buy when our lifestyles are constantly changing – today more people work remotely from home than ever before – and there’s so much on offer? How to colour match or mismatch? How to wear flat shoes?

My conclusion is that with a little bit of practice, any woman can be stylish. That looking good is not about buying loads of new stuff but spending time figuring out what makes you feel chic and comfortable. I enjoyed gathering thoughts and style tips from the women who inspire me, including: Lucinda Chambers, Caroline Issa, Linda Rodin, Pat Cleveland, Sarah Jane Adams, Michelle Ogundehin (editor-in-chief Elle Decoration), Lyn Slater and many more.

D: What is it like to sit down and write a book? Do you have any tricks you employ to keep you going, other than the deadline, of course.

A:   It’s quite intense and not as easy as you’d imagine. I’ve written for years  - features for magazines and websites, I write for the FT’s How To Spend It and the Guardian, as well as shorter blog posts for That’s Not My Age - but writing a book is a totally different experience. You’re on your own and just have to keep going, to keep writing a certain number of words everyday. Some days I felt like I was really having to dredge anecdotes and stuff up from the depths. At times like these I’d take short breaks to give my brain a rest and head to my favourite local coffee shop, or go for a walk around the park.

D: After the book launch and tour, what’s next?

A: I want to focus on That’s Not My Age; to continue providing interesting, informative, well-written content about age and style and to continue to engage with my lovely, loyal followers.

D: Who or what inspires you?

A: I’m inspired by other women, of all ages – and the best thing about being the author of That’s Not My Age and two books has been meeting and interviewing lots of fantastic women. These are role models, industry experts and women of substance who I admire like. I loved interviewing them all.

D: Describe your own personal style.

A: It’s what I call Casual Glamour, a blend of day and eveningwear and flat shoes or trainers.  I often wear jeans or a jumpsuit but I do like to mix things up. I have a sort of Split-Personality Style: half minimal, menswear-inspired dressing, half bohemian, hippy-punk - with the occasional Advanced Style moment thrown in. And I think as we continue to reinvent ourselves throughout our lives, most women have become more comfortable with this high-low, pick and mix approach.

D: You are in great shape what exercise do you do?

A: Not as much as I used to do. I was very sporty when I was younger. Now I ride my bike, swim a couple of times a week and do Pilates. I really want to start running again, I did my back in a few years ago and have to be careful. Add this to my list of things to do after the book tour…

D: What advice would you give your 16 year old self ?

A: Get a pension!

D: Movies or the theatre?

A: Cinema.

D: Favourite city?

A: London. But I love Manchester, New York, Paris and Stockholm, too.

D: Tell me something surprising about yourself.

A: This is not my entire globe collection!

Clothing credits –

Shot 1, 3 and 6 - House of Khadi, blue shirt, Gap jeans and New Balance x J.Crew trainers.

Shot 2 - H&M Pyjama-style top, Me+Em posh track pants, and Common Projects trainers.

Shot 3 – French workwear brand bought from MHL, black jumpsuit, Vans trainers and earrings from Brixton market.

Shot 4 – APC denim jacket, Me+Me striped t-shirt with Gudrun Sjoden khaki trousers.

 

Both of Alyson's books can be bought here and here.

Focus On Giorgia Cantarini

I am very lucky to be able to travel as part of my job. It gives me the wonderful opportunity to meet great people from all over the world. I first met Giorgia in Georgia (the country) during one of my favourite fashion weeks MBFashionWeekTblisi. She always stands out for me, I love the way she dresses. Not only does she look great she is also very good at what she does. There is something very special about Giorgia as you will see from our interview. Working and living in Italy, I was pleasantly surprised to see from her insta stories that she was in London and as luck would have it everything fell into place for our story to unfold.

D: Tell me a bit about yourself and your journey in fashion so far.

G: I started styling for fun at the age of eleven when I was happy to create the look for my three year old sister, who was my model. I was organizing fashion shows in my house, whose audience was my mother, it was just a game for me. I turned my sister into Queen of Atlantis, flamenco dancer, witch, princess, harlot, all using my clothes or family ones, my grandmother's jewellery, carnival costumes, doll clothes, and whatever I could make work. 

I started working during university, interning in a small editorial department where I was doing everything from writing the newspaper to styling photo shoots. 

A very interesting experience I had was at the BBC in London during a summer when I was only 17. I also did summer courses there at Central Saint Martin's School for fashion design and styling. I was in London for most of my teenage years. It is the city that holds a very special place in my heart.

Then I landed a job on the editorial staff of an independent Magazine called Made05, the first free press, where I was guided by Stefano Guerrini. He is an important professional figure in my career and over the years has become a great friend. 

Then a bit of freelance styling from Glamour, Rolling Stone, Joy, Verve. At one point I chose to try digital and for almost three years was the Fashion Editor of yoox.com. I was writing for the webzine The New Yooxer, taking care of the site image, following special projects, working alongside giants such as Nicola Formichetti, Nick Knight, Simon Foxton, Terry Jones and all the crew at i-d. However I missed the magazine world so I went back to work for Glamour with a role of fashion and web editor. While also continuing to contribute for Vogue.it for the Talents section under the guidance of Sara Maino, who is a very special person to me. 

After a brief return to e-commerce in a digital society, I found my true calling as a freelance writer and stylist: I have a blog on the website of d.repubblica.it where to talk about accessories, I act as Managing Fashion Editor for the online magazine manintown.com, I write for the Italian daily Le Repubblica and contribute for Vogue.it (also styling for them) Hunger Magazine, Whitelies magazine and recently highsnobiety.com. My collaboration with Diane Pernet on asvof.com it’s also a very important side of my work as a scouter, I also consider her as my mentor and one of the most important people in my personal life.

D: Your work allows you to travel a lot. Do you have a favourite city or country you like to be in?

G: I love Georgia and its capital Tbilisi. It’s been the place where I rediscovered myself as a stylist two years ago. I love the vibe there, the Soviet influence and aesthetics. I also found very good friends there and designers that will be truly promising in the fashion scene.

D: What do you like most about your job?

G: The idea of creating something that people can enjoy discovering and they can mirror themselves in it, saying “yes I would dress like this” or yes I enjoying reading this story because it gives me something.

D: How do you go about building your team (or tribe as it is referred to a lot these days) for a shoot?

G: I start with the concept and the type of shoot I have to do, if it’s in the studio or if it’s outside and then I match them with the photographer I think will fit the story. Generally every photographer also has a team of grooming people he/she likes or we both feel confident in working with.

D: Who or what inspires you?

G: I’m always attracted by the new, by the cultural and artistic contaminations of the countries I have visited. There is always something beautiful, a detail that intrigues me, a feeling that impresses me when I observe the creations of the up-and-coming designers. My latest discovery is POAN, Peoples of All Nations, a new London based brand designed by GeorgWeissacher.

I examine the style (if it is edgy), the creativity of the item, the presentation of the look. I’m mostly inspired by the people I meet, diversity is the key to finding inspiration. I have no particular muse, I follow my instinct.

D: Describe your own personal style.

G: I don’t like to be a fashionista and follow any specific look. I find it really easy to look good in total looks as they come out from the runway, I’m more interested in personalizing the outfits and give them a new twist. I like refined sportswear at the moment, always with a feminine vibe that is part of who I am. I often mix vintage with high-end, emerging designers with established brands. I like to promote new brands because it’s related to my work as a scouter and also because it’s exciting and never boring to go for new forms of expression that make your style unique and not a copy of someone else.

And Finally 

D: Tell me something surprising about yourself.

G: I was a professional gymnast for 4 years. I also did ice skating to a senior level acting in competitions when I was young. I have also won lots of medals for running races.

I love dogs and animals in general, I feel I have a great understanding with them, I try to support causes to help animals in need around the world.

A very special thank you to Georg Weissacher  the brilliant designer behind People Of All Nations for allowing us to shoot in his amazing home.

Credits:
Shot 1 - Giorgia is wearing a vintage leather jacket and cap, Nosomnia T-shirt, Levi jeans, Iro shoes and Givenchy sunglasses.

Shot 2 and 3 - Giorgia is wearing a vintage Squad body with POAN denim shirt and leather boots.

Shot 4 – Total look POAN.

Shot 5 – Shirt and dress by POAN with Iro shoes.

Focus On Arabella Greenhill

Arabella has lived most of her life in London (except for a 3 year stint in NYC). After leaving art school her path towards a career in fashion started as a model. Her school careers advisor (bless them, have they changed at all? They all seem to have a very narrow repertoire of what we all should do), told her she should either be a journalist or a fashion designer, as the only routes into the fashion industry. Modelling however opened the young Arabella’s eyes to the many other different and varied ways of working in fashion. After modelling, Arabella moved into the world of magazines working for Sky, Vogue, Tatler, Marie Claire, then a stint at Spring Studios and then InStyle, before her latest role as a freelancer. Each role moving her forward from Junior Fashion Editor to Senior Fashion Editor to Art Director and on to Fashion Director.

D: As a model, when you were working on set and absorbing all the sights and sounds and ways of working of the people around you, what drew you to the styling role over all the others? At what point did you think that’s it, that’s actually what I want to do?

A: I knew I wanted to work on magazines and in fashion from around the age of 14, I just didn’t realize the job existed. Having the opportunity to model exposed me to how diverse the fashion industry is and how many opportunities there are.

D: Do you think that maybe being a model 1^st gave you a greater understanding of the clothes and the story they tell?

A: It definitely gave me more of an understanding of how clothes move and feel and the mood they can create, plus how hard modeling is.

D: Once you had decided you wanted to work in magazines and in a styling role did you set your sights on the role of Fashion Director or did you happily just move through the ranks without much thought of an ultimate goal?

A: I always thought I would like to become a Fashion Director. I have worked hard to get where I am today but I also feel very lucky and privileged to have been given so many great opportunities over the years.

D: What advice would you give your 16 year old self? Or others who are 16 now looking at following the same/similar path as you?

A: Apart from wearing a crop top while you can, work hard, do lots of work experience, assist as many different people as possible and say yes to every opportunity. You don’t know where it will lead.

D: You have a brilliant CV and have worked with so many great people in the industry. What would you say is your favourite part of your job?

A: Working with a great team creating amazing pictures and the chance to travel.

D: What’s next? Having worked in both traditional magazines and in eCommerce would a role on an eCommerce magazine be tempting?

A: The landscape of magazines and fashion is changing fast and I am excited to pursue a new role in a different capacity, whatever that may be and look forward to all the opportunities and challenges this brings.

D: Who or what inspires you?

A: Travel inspires me but I also love photography, film, books and art. You never know where the next idea will come from.

D: Describe your own personal style.

A: I was described recently as chic but cool so I am going to go with that.

D: You like to exercise and have a great series of exercise videos on your website. How do you manage to keep fit during fashion month? Does it all go out the window or do you manage to keep up a routine?

A:  I always take my trainers (they are the first thing I pack) so I can either run outside or in the hotel gym first thing in the morning before the shows. It helps me clear my head and burn off all the pizza and macaroons.

And Finally 

D: Tell me something surprising about yourself.

A: I hate chips!

Arabella is wearing - 

Shot 1 - Sitting on Floor – Gestuz red top, Current Elliott jeans, Zara shoes and Maria Black earrings.

Shot 2 -  Standing by the book shelves – EDIT top, M.i.h jeans with Aeyde shoes.

Shot 3 - Standing by the fireplace - A.W.A.K.E top and skirt with Bally shoes.

Shot 4 – Sitting on chaise longue - &Other Stories dress with Jimmy Choo shoes.

Out and about....London

Natalie Hartley is the fashion director of UK Glamour and also has her own blog. She is a really lovely person and it is great to see her career going from strength to strength. Here she is wearing a leather jacket by All Saints, trousers by Atea a denim top by Marques Almeida, Balenciaga boots and Thierry Lasry sunglasses.

Out and about....Milan

Maria Kolosova fashion editor Harpers Bazaar Russia. Wearing Palini glasses, Sergevi Teblov dress and Laurance Decade boots.

Out and about....Blue Belle

Oxana Ong is the Fashion Editor of Russian Glamour. But she is also a designer and don't know if this is one of her's or not, but it is likely that it is.

Out and about....Jermyn Street

From Fashionistable

Yomi is both a model and contributing editor for Italian Vogue. She is wearing a vintage coat, Rag and Bone trousers and shirt and is carrying a Prada bag.

Out and about....Gabriele Hackworthy

From Fashionistable

From Fashionistable

Gabriele is the Fashion Director for Harpers Bazaar UK. I photographed her at my 1st ever fashion week and have managed to catch up with her at every one ever since. She is always chic and sleek in black. I very rarely see her in colour and if she does venture in that direction it is usually in a muted way. The coat she is wearing in this shot is by Carven.

Out and about....mellow yellow

From Fashionistable

J.J.Martin is a Harpers Bazaar editor. Here she is wearing a vintage dress and belt, Pizzan gilet and Balenciaga shoes.

Out and about....Oxana On

From Fashionistable

From Fashionistable

From Fashionistable

Oxana is the senior fashion editor for Russian Glamour.She is very sweet and special in her own right as she designs her own clothes. This beautiful gossamer dress is one of her own. Her shoes and headband are Prada.

Out and about....Bermondsey St

From Fashionistable

From Fashionistable

Laura is an acting Fashion Editor Elle UK. She is wearing a vintage coat, a Margaret Howell dress and carrying an American Apparel clutch.