My dream? A house in the countryside with a bedroom big enough for the whole family to lounge in.
I have felt my bravest giving birth, facing uncertainty and getting through it.
My favourite day in London? Has to be the V&A with my family. I find adventure through discovering anything new, be it getting lost in a museum, London or the countryside.
I define friendship by being there no matter what and when.
The outdoors. Colour. My children. These parts of life inspire me.
The shoot day was a wonderful experience, new friends, inspiring women with an aspirational brand. I love The Emma, because she’s just like me!
My handbag essentials? A wallet, purse, lipstick and phone.
Love,
Lou.
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I would absolutely love a career where I could be off out adventuring and exploring the wilderness every day but since finishing my degree, my health hasn't permitted a lot of that. My adventures are slightly more tame these days but my love for the outdoors is no less! If I have even an ounce of spare energy on a good health day you will absolutely find me outside, appreciating nature :).
My ultimate dream is to have an old abandoned farm deep in the countryside somewhere, where we convert the outhouses into rooms and run it as a B&B. It’d have a lovely old farm kitchen with a big old pine table for us to have nice slow breakfasts around with the family and so I can do lots of baking at and we’ll have two scruffy lurchers lazing in front of the Aga. If it’s got old servants’ quarters too that’d be great because I was always desperate to explore somewhere like that when I was a kid and it’d be so fun to play hide and seek around. I’d love to be somewhere rugged and remote where we can let the dogs zoom for miles and go on picnics with a good flask of tea.
Bravery, I feel, comes in many forms and oftentimes it’s silent and invisible, and only the person being brave knows about it. It’s the standing up to that wee voice saying you’re no good or you could be better or you’re worthless. It’s stepping out of your comfort zone, it doesn’t have to be a big step, it could even be just a tiptoe but the very act of taking that step is the bravest thing you could do.
I think I recently felt brave when I spoke up to a doctor whilst I was in hospital, very unwell, and they were not being very understanding or helpful in terms of my treatment. I was incredibly shaky afterwards because I hate any hint of confrontation but I’m really glad I was brave enough to speak up because the doctor went away and read up on my condition that evening, and came back the next day much more caring, understanding and proactive with treatment.
Without a doubt it has to be Autumn is my favourite season! And then Winter is a close second for me. It’s socially acceptable to hibernate and stay tucked up under a blanket, drink hot chocolate and watch movies, which is one of my favourite things to do, and of course, all those lovely wooly jumpers and coats you get to wear when venturing into the outside world! You can’t beat it!
I think because I spend a lot of my life inside the house or in bed due to my illness, when I do get to go outside I really appreciate the outdoors a lot more than most people who are so used to going out every day, it tends to just get taken for granted. There’s nothing better than standing outside and smelling the fresh air, seeing the leaves changing colour, feeling the cool breeze and even the damp drizzle on your face that you get in Autumn. And I promise you’ll find me kicking through those stunning fallen leaves no matter my age, I will never stop loving autumn leaves!
One of the signs of a true friendship is the fact that you can pick up right where you left off the next time you speak or see each other. And also, despite not being in touch for a while, just when you know they’re going through a tough patch or they know you are, you send a message of love and it means the absolute world to you both.
When I first saw the new collection I was speechless, the shape and design of the new bags is so beautiful, keeping the signature curvature of the Bloomsbury but bringing more to the table, literally! The Bloomsbury will always hold a special place in my heart because I tend towards smaller shoulder bags but the additional room and space means The Alicia and Emma are a lot more versatile and usable in a variety of circumstances which I know will appeal to so many.
I also love the new CE branding, the logo is simple and classy, and the gold tone hardware really ties everything together. The pink suede lining is such a beautiful addition to the bags too, it definitely makes them feel all the more luxurious and it compliments every shade of the collection perfectly. Charlotte has such an eye for detail and I’m so proud of what she’s achieved!
The #FriendsofCE shoot day with Charlotte Elizabeth could not have been more perfect! The weather was just right, it was a great temperature and although there were some clouds, the light was good, it stayed dry, and the leaves stayed crunchy - essential for a perfect Autumnal day in my opinion!
We met all the girls in St. James’ Park and were able to chat and catch up at the cafe whilst we each took turns doing our individual shots. Meeting everyone, and Emma and Amy, Charlotte’s sisters, was actually so lovely, they’re such friendly humans and we got on so well, it genuinely felt like I’d just bumped into some of my girl friends! After individual shots we did a few group shots and then celebrated the success of the day over some delicious lunch.
I had great fun on the shoot, it was so nice for me to feel more confident in myself again - I’ve not modelled in a long time but it felt natural and comfortable, and I really enjoyed it, especially working with a brand whom I’ve loved and supported for so many years.
What I really appreciated about the shoot day was that CE managed to bring together women from all different walks of life with different tales to tell, of different ages and with different achievements, and yet we all got on so well, came together and bonded over the beauty of the brand. It felt really empowering and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to take part.
The fact I can relate to Charlotte in terms of having multiple chronic illnesses, makes what she has achieved even more impressive. I aspire to be a successful business woman like her. Supporting her brand is easy, she is such a lovely human being, always approachable and easy to chat to and not only does that make for us being friends but it’s also a fantastic quality for a business to have because it allows the customer base to feel connected to the brand, having spoken directly with the creator. Not only that but the quality of the handbags is incredible, the difference to other bags of equal pricing is remarkable, and the step up from high street to Charlotte Elizabeth is truly luxurious.
Love,
Jess.
]]>CE First things first, you are known as ‘The Shoe Loving Stylist’, tell me about your favourite pair of shoes (you can say a few if it’s difficult!)
GC I will always love my wedding shoes from British brand ‘Gina’ They are bespoke, very sparkly and I still have the box with my maiden name on it! Completely opposite but I love a cowboy boot too and have a few pairs and I have been wearing my black suede keen high boots from Nicole Farhi for 15 years!
CE Did you hold a strong desire to be in the fashion industry from a young age? If so, did you feel supported by the education system to follow this creative industry when you left school?
GC I have always loved fashion and following trends. At school I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and I remember a school questionnaire told me I should be a librarian. Definitely not me! I would say school wasn’t particularly helpful as they didn’t acknowledge other interests such as fashion.
CE What was your initial job within the industry? How did you get there?
GC I began as a wholesale assistant at Patrick Cox shoes. I gained a good degree in French and Italian from Bath university so they wanted me to talk to the factories and European accounts. Before Patrick Cox, I did fashion work experience at Aurelia PR. I think there are a number of ways to get into the industry, I used my languages but there are many other ways and work experience is always a great place to start.
CE You worked in the designer footwear industry for 20 years, working for brands such as Lulu Guinness, Nicole Farhi, LK Bennett and See by Chloe. What were your greatest highlights of this time, and for anyone wishing to go into this field, what does a typical week in the job look like?
GC I started the wholesale for LK Bennett but then left to head up the designer division at Concept LH a company that had the license to design, manufacture and distribute Lulu Guinness and Nicole Farhi shoes. I managed the wholesale, design, logistics and pr teams so everyday was full on. There was always a lot of planning before showing the new collections: booking client appointments, checking samples were perfect.. The selling seasons were the most fun travelling to Paris , Milan, New York and Vegas twice a year to show the next collections. Opening shops in Japan and Russia was also really exciting.
CE You went on to run your own designer Boutique, nestled in the countryside of Amersham. Through your time of assisting customers in your store, what did you learn from them and about how women want to feel through fashion?
GC I helped people step out of their comfort zone and understood everyone needs advice and assurance. Women want to feel confident and empowered and finding the perfect pair of shoes can really make an outfit and make you feel fabulous all day.
CE You now work as a stylist, specializing in making your clients feel re-energised, positive and excited about life again. You offer Colour Analysis services, where you assess your clients features to know which colours compliment them best, so that they can build a wardrobe that truly suits them. What are the best parts of your job, your stylist secrets (the great no’s in dressing) and how transformative is it to a clients life when they find a wardrobe that makes them feel more themselves again?
GC The best part of the job is definitely making someone feel confident and happy knowing they have a new found clarity in what they’re going to wear everyday. I love taking the journey with them, so a colour analysis will usually result in a wardrobe edit and personal shop to really nail that perfect capsule wardrobe that results in a stress free morning getting dressed. I would say the key to dressing your best is knowing your body shape and how to dress it to create a flattering silhouette and wear the colours you are most suited to near your face. You won’t look back!
CE Why is fashion and what we choose to wear an important part in our life? Would you say it is an act of self care to invest in what we wear?
GC It is definitely self care. If we feel we look our best, and have developed a solid style personality it boosts our self esteem, we’re happier so perform better in work and life in general.
CE How do you work with a typical client on creating their new wardrobe?
GC I would perform a colour and body shape analysis and then refine their wardrobe taking out pieces they haven’t worn for a while, probably because they knew deep down they didn’t suit them! I would make fresh looks from their existing items and then add suggestions of pieces that will make a lot more outfits to suit their style, body shape and colourings. This would either be done as an online shop or a personal shopping experience. The key is to create a capsule wardrobe. That is a set of clothes that you can mix and match. Everything can be worn multiple ways.
CE Over the past few years I have watched and admired the growth of your Instagram through your lovely photos and videos. I love your content because you choose such bright, happy clothes and encourage other women to dress in a way that makes them feel most confident. When did you recognise that your Instagram could become a business in its own right? How did you begin to work with other brands?
GC Thank you! I began with just shoes and then moved onto clothing and ways to wear and how to wear. I started accepting gifted items from brands I admired, I always choose sustainable pieces I would wear myself. I think as my following grows brands are happy to pay for me to promote their collections. I love to do fun reels and this is a great way to see pieces in motion.
CE If you could go back to your younger self and give her advice on getting to where she wants to be, what would you say to her?
GC I would say you have to put the work in, keep doing what you love and remain positive and be flexible to an ever changing world.
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