98 ELLE.COM/UK^ April 2020ne summer in my teens, I bought a crochet table cloth
and turned it into a poncho with a belt. That’s how
inventive growing up in rural Suffolk forces you to be. Car
ot sales were the best of a bad situation, given our nearest store
not so fashionable M&Co) was an hour away. Shopping
came a fun challenge, and the extreme lack of options led
to work within the constraints I had, mixing men’s pyjamas
h granny silk gowns and turning jumpers into dresses. Fashion
gazines were my only point of access and, looking back, I can
e the influence they had on my style.
Aged nine, I remember pairing my mud-covered field boots with
repe floral dress and thinking it was the coolest thing anyone
d ever done. I thought I was a style maverick, rebelling against
sar torially conser vati ve family. I ’ve kept this idea of st y ling sof ter
pieces with something a bit tougher
into adulthood, although over time
I’ve become more minimalist.
For my first day as a fashion
assistant at ELLE, I wore vintage leather
trousers, a white shirt, black ponyskin
loafers and a pink coat. The aim was
simple and understated, which is
always my go-to if I feel nervous.
Being a fashion editor means
ex perim enting, especiall y wit h w here
you find inspiration. Part of your job
is to find st yle in unexpected places.
I used to wear PVC leggings bought
for next to nothing from a sex shop long before wet-look leggings
were everywhere. I still love to shop in unorthodox places and my
most complimented piece last summer was a satin lace-trimmed
slip skirt from the lingerie section at M&S, which was a steal at
£2 in the sale. I wear it as clever layering with oversized men’s
shirts to create a more office-appropriate look, but still with a
feminine contrast.
I’m a lot less trend driven than I used to be. The coolest thing you
can do right now is have a more conscious approach
to fashion, and I’m definitely proud of wearing the
same items repeatedly. My late mum’s leather pencil
skirts are timeless and I’ve been wearing the same
men’s vintage blazer for the past six years. If I can’t
get eight outfits out of a piece of clothing then I won’t
buy it: it wouldn’t be working hard enough for the
money and its impact on the planet.
Last December, I got married in an Ellery dress
I already owned – it was £3O in a sample sale. Our wedding was
three weeks after my boyfriend proposed, so there wasn’t time
to agonise over what to wear. If you’ve never imagined yourself
in a bridal gown, try Cecilie Bahnsen, Simone Rocha, Shrimps
or The Vampire’s Wife for a dress you can wear more than once.
My first pair of Céline shoes, gold-plated knee-high brogue
boots, are the only thing in my wardrobe that I feel guilty about
not wearing enough. But my general attitude is that if I love
a piece, I’ll wear it to death.The look
LEFT: FELICITY
WEARS JACKET,
TROUSERS AND
SANDALS, ALL
BOTTEGA VENETA.
TOP, H&M.
EARRINGS, LOEWEO
Th e
TA S T E M A K E R. ..
FELICITY KAY, 31, IS
ELLE’S FASHION EDITORoat,
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ENDIC
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ARIA
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GERARD DAREL£Trainers,
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Elle RE ADS