Elle UK - 04.2020

better. My love of clothes comes

from being a curvy woman – the

more you learn how to dress your

body and find flattering styles, the

better you feel. It’s a self-love thing.

I’m not a loud person, so my outfits

enhance my presence.

If someone raided my wardrobe, they’d be surprised by how

many sunglasses I have – more than 4O pairs, most of which are

oversized and clear, so I can wear them at night and inside. I have

Versace shield shades in red, green, blue and black – and I would

get another colour if they released one. They’re the same ones that

Aaliyah used to wear and I’m heavily influenced by music videos.

I watched MTV for hours and hours when I was a child, and

I remember thinking what a special moment Beyoncé’s neon

orange and fuchsia pink dress was in the Crazy In Love video.

I wasn’t used to seeing such black confidence on

mainstream music TV channels, but equally, I was

mesmerised by the sense of contrast; the dress that

didn’t conventionally ‘match’. It’s had a lasting influence

on my own style.

ELLE.COM/UK April 2020 99

The look

LEAH (ABOVE)

WEARS: JACKET-

DRESS, MIU MIU.

BOOTS, MAISON

MARGIELA.

JEWELLERY,

STYLIST’S OWN

Jacket, £298,

SAKS POTTS

Bag,

£1,350,

PRADA

g

GENTLE MONSTER

Earring

£

hen I first moved to London

from Bristol, I was 18 and

took a job as a sales

assistant in a vintage shop on Brick

Lane. Working there made my style

louder and taught me to embrace

contrast and clashing prints. Every

morning, the team (with varying

tastes, from 196Os pin-up to full

tracksuits) would go through the clothes delivery and play dress-

up. For a while, my uniform was bright jumpsuits. Funnily enough, it

was while I was wearing one that Jorja Smith (who was recording

her first EP at the time) approached me about helping with her style.

I still mix vintage with new, and expensive with cheap. For my

last birthday, I bought myself a new-season Prada bag, which is

definitely the most expensive item I own, but I get an equal number

of compliments on my newspaper print ASOS bag.

I prefer to dress slightly scarily rather than conventionally

‘sexy’. True sexiness comes from personal swagger.

If I’m unsure about an outfit, I go brighter, which is why

I live in my bright green Saks Potts coat. People tend to

hide behind black, especially if they’re self-conscious

about their body, but I think a loud coat or jumper works

W

Sunglasses, £273,

Bag, £1,950,

FENDI

CHANEL

Th e STYLIST...

LEAH ABBOTT, 25, IS A STYLIST

FOR MUSICIANS

SUCH AS JOR JA SMITH

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