- I admire stylish women
- Nearly one in five readers of the blog is female
- In considering the topic of style, men can learn from women and vice versa.
Emma is a former model who is now a style consultant and writer. I shall leave it to her to tell us more:
Emma Davison wearing top to toe Dior |
GF: Please introduce yourself. What’s your name, where are you based and what do you do?
ED: Well, this is fun. It’s usually me asking the questions. My name is Emma Davison. I’m based in West London and I am a personal stylist - which means I rummage around in other people’s wardrobes and then take them shopping. It’s the perfect job.
ED: I love tailored clothes mixed with soft, fluid lines. The neat, structured look suits both my slim build and tidy character. I wear mostly separates during the colder months and lots of layers to keep me warm but dresses come out in the summer. I’m quite minimalist with jewellery but never leave the house without earrings and a signature ring.
ED: I got to wear a lot of couture when I was working for the top houses in Paris but I could never afford to buy it. Couture is a very niche market. My wardrobe is a mix of high street, designer and some vintage.
ED: Well, this is fun. It’s usually me asking the questions. My name is Emma Davison. I’m based in West London and I am a personal stylist - which means I rummage around in other people’s wardrobes and then take them shopping. It’s the perfect job.
Vintage Zara suit, suede boots bought New York years ago, ME&Em silk pussy bow blouse |
GF: When and how did you first become interested in style, in clothes and dressing well?
ED: I have always loved clothes though as far as style is concerned, I was a late developer. My earliest memory was the huge dressing up trunk in my grandparent’s attic. My grandmother was a glamorous model and my step-grandfather a well known actor so the trunk was a treasure chest. I have memories of me dancing with the sheep in a neighbouring field aged about 5, wearing a long pale blue chiffon dress (way too big for me but what did I care) and my grandfather’s heavy crown made for his role as Becket in Murder in the Cathedral.
As a model, I spent most of my time wearing other people’s clothes, so I developed an easy, anonymous uniform; I wore a lot of black. But that’s not to say I wasn’t paying attention to the fashion going on around me.
GF: How would you describe your style?
ED: Classic with an edge.
ED: Classic with an edge.
Max Mara pinstripe navy blazer, Uniqlo cashmere V neck, ME&EM trousers. White Converse. |
GF: What sort of clothes do you wear and where do you find them?
ED: I love tailored clothes mixed with soft, fluid lines. The neat, structured look suits both my slim build and tidy character. I wear mostly separates during the colder months and lots of layers to keep me warm but dresses come out in the summer. I’m quite minimalist with jewellery but never leave the house without earrings and a signature ring.
GF: Do you buy mainly ready to wear, tailored/couture or vintage?
ED: I got to wear a lot of couture when I was working for the top houses in Paris but I could never afford to buy it. Couture is a very niche market. My wardrobe is a mix of high street, designer and some vintage.
GF: Please describe the main style influences in your life - past and present.
ED: Oh gosh. With so much influence everywhere, constant new trends, it’s difficult not to become a magpie, but you learn, with experience and age, to absorb only the bits that work for you. Madam Lanvin always wore elegant clothes but with surprising combinations. I have some pretty stylish friends who inspire me and we’re always talking about fashion. Social media is another influence, shop displays, magazines, people I pass in the street. T.V and films - most recently series 3 of Succession. There’s inspiration everywhere.
I know you won’t use this one, [GF: I have] but it’s very me, the tailored, structured look married with the fluid |
GF: What are your favourite brands and stores?
ED: I don’t have a favourite brand. Different brands do it for me at different times. Because of my job, I’m always shopping for clients so there are constant temptations but I’ve learned to resist them. I’ve built up pieces over the years, buying from the high street, private sample sales, preloved designer boutiques, even charity shops, though these days the real gems are harder to find. My last spot was a beautiful unworn cream cashmere Ralph Lauren jumper with a pierrot collar and layered fluted cuffs. Think I paid £12 for it. Yes, I know.
GF: What is/are your favourite individual item(s) of clothing?
ED: Hands down the blazer. I have more blazers in my wardrobe than any other item of clothing. They make me feel held together and strong. They’re also brilliant for finishing off any kind of outfit. A blazer can be part of a structured suit (I bought a divine cream Dolce & Gabbana trouser suit at a private sale last year) but works equally well worn over a plain T-shirt and jeans. If you’re looking to invest in just one blazer (this goes for men as well as women), opt for navy. It will take you many places and you’ll have it for years.
GF: Would you say that your style is still developing? If so, how?
ED: I think it’s fairly well established. I could be more adventurous with colour and am working on that, but I know what suits my shape and that won’t really change. Having said that, It’s never good to stand still. I like to follow the same advise I give my clients; don’t be afraid to experiment.
GF: What skills would you say you have that help you in your search for style?
ED: This might sound counter intuitive but knowing what doesn’t suit me and therefore what to avoid. That’s a learned skill. It means being able to enter a shop and focusing only on the colours and styles you know work. Saves a lot of time. I mostly stick to the timeless, classic pieces. The basics in plain, neutral shades may not sound sexy but they never date and make mixing and matching easy.
GF: What are your top tips for others on a search for style?
ED: Learn what suits your body shape, that’s key, and only wear what makes you feel comfortable. From that comes confidence. It’s great to get inspiration from others but just because you love it on them, doesn’t mean it will work for you. Same with trends. Lime green might be flavour of the month but is it a colour that makes you sing? Trust your instincts, spend time in front of the mirror playing with the clothes you have; we don’t do enough of that. If they don’t work, let them go. Ultimately, keep it simple and you won’t go wrong.
GF: Where can you be found on Instagram and other media?
ED: My instagram page is @emmadavisonstylist. I’m also on Facebook Emma Davison, Style Consultant and my website is emma-davison.co.uk. Thank you for the questions, David.
GF: Many thanks, Emma for taking the plunge as the first woman on Masters of Style.
Top Shop silk shirt, white frill trousers from Paris |
Click here and scroll down for more Masters of Style (men and women).
*The title Masters of Style is being used for a series featuring men and women as the verb or noun 'master' refers to anyone of any gender who succeeds in a skill.