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by Andrea McVeigh in Style & Interiors on 10 April 2013
What key piece in your wardrobe could you not live without? My parka in winter and my fave maxi dress in summer. I'm quite obsessed with parkas, I buy a new one every year. It's like wearing a warm duvet all winter long. In summer I slip into my colourful cotton maxi dress, which I picked up cheap in TK Maxx a few years back. It's the perfect holiday staple - I can wear it to dinner, to the beach and when I'm sightseeing, it's easy to pack and I can wash it on the go. In fact I'd probably sleep in it if I could get away with that too.
What new fashion trends are you looking forward to wearing? I’m loving the 1990s revival, but that’s possibly because I lived it the first time around. I’ve bought a mini back pack and I’d love to get a rave-style T-shirt, something with a smiley face or in neon maybe, and wear it with jeans and a bomber jacket and go clubbing again. I like the body con look too, but you need to have an amazing figure to carry it off and I eat too much chocolate to care about that!
What’s your most prized possession? My jewellery. My wedding ring and my engagement ring are both quite minimalist and simple, but very chic. My other ring, which I call my bling ring, is a Tiffany Circlet ring of diamonds in platinum from Tiffany & Co. Apart from those rings I rarely wear any other jewellery, I’m quite unadorned really.
What’s on your interiors wishlist? How long have you got? It’s a long list! I love the 1950s-60s mid-century modern look and the whole pop look of the 1960s. My home has been decorated with a lot of retro and vintage items but I’d still really love an Egg chair, by Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen. It was designed in 1958 but sums up the pop art vibe of the 1960s. I also love the Eero Aarnio Ball Chair, designed in 1966. I actually looks a bit like an egg. I’d have either in my house, or both!
Favourite thing about your job? All of it. I’m a freelance journalist and I’m lucky to be able to indulge my passions - fashion, design, interiors and travel. Being freelance means that I’m always meeting new people and I’m always open to new experiences and opportunities - such as blogging for Sliderobes. I’m not stuck in the same office all day (although often I’m stuck in my home office, so thank goodness for Facebook) and if an opportunity arises to write about something I love, I jump at the chance.
Best storage tips for your home? A place for everything and everything in its place. I get a great deal of satisfaction from having a tidy bedroom with all my clothes hidden away neatly out of sight. I was lucky in that, when I moved into my current home nine years ago, the previous owners had installed Sliderobes, so there was plenty of storage space. I like having a shoe rail at the bottom of the wardrobe. Also, I’ve recently discovered those storage vacuum bags which you can fill with stuff (we use it for surplus duvets and duvet covers) and then suck all the air out of with a vacuum. We have several of them stored in the attic.
Dream wardrobe? I really admire Vivienne Westwood, she’s in her 70s now but she always dresses so dramatically, with her orange hair and tight dresses. I don’t think I could get away with her look but I’d love a Vivienne Westwood dress. I also really like the way pop star Gwen Stefani combines a punky edge to her outfits while still remaining chic and stylish. She’s always stayed true to her look - bleached blonde hair and red lips - which shows dedication. She’s in her early 40s now and I think she’s a good inspiration for women in the over-30 age group who might be afraid to have fun with fashion as they get older.