One of the country’s most respected beauty journalists, Anna-Marie Solowij is well known for interviewing some of the industry’s leading names, not to mention her knack for discovering beauty’s next rising star. It’s partly why, after six years at British Vogue, she decided to team up with Millie Kendall to create BeautyMART, a cosmetic mecca offering a dynamic mix of cult classics and up-and-coming brands.
We spoke about how her approach to workwear has evolved from working in magazines to now running her own business. She walks us through how she gets dressed in the morning, the items she buys in bulk and the career defining dress with Tom Ford’s approval.
One of the country’s most respected beauty journalists, Anna-Marie Solowij is well known for interviewing some of the industry’s leading names, not to mention her knack for discovering beauty’s next rising star. It’s partly why, after six years at British Vogue, she decided to team up with Millie Kendall to create BeautyMART, a cosmetic mecca offering a dynamic mix of cult classics and up-and-coming brands.
We spoke to her about how her approach to workwear has evolved from working in magazines to now running her own business. She walks us through how she gets dressed in the morning, the items she buys in bulk and the career defining dress with Tom Ford’s approval.
The evolution of her approach to workwear I used to have a ‘Vogue’ wardrobe: fashion pieces, the latest bags and shoes, vintage items I’d collected over the years, and a few high-street hits. I hardly ever wore casual clothes. That was 10 years ago. Now, my working wardrobe steers towards jeans, work shirts, sweatshirt and sneakers. I walk my dog to and from work every day through a muddy nature reserve and turn up at work looking like I’ve been on a hike – which I have. Of course, there are days when I’m at meetings, or being photographed, or filmed, in which case I’ve still got a fashion wardrobe, but it’s much smaller than it used to be.
I tend to wear similar clothes at the weekend: in fact, my former weekend wardrobe has become my work wardrobe; the aberrations are meetings, shoots, filming and events, in which case I’ll wear a dress, or skirt and top.
The evolution of her approach to workwear I used to have a ‘Vogue’ wardrobe: fashion pieces, the latest bags and shoes, vintage items I’d collected over the years, and a few high-street hits. I hardly ever wore casual clothes. That was 10 years ago. Now, my working wardrobe steers towards jeans, work shirts, sweatshirt and sneakers. I walk my dog to and from work every day through a muddy nature reserve and turn up at work looking like I’ve been on a hike – which I have. Of course, there are days when I’m at meetings, or being photographed, or filmed, in which case I’ve still got a fashion wardrobe, but it’s much smaller than it used to be.
I tend to wear similar clothes at the weekend: in fact, my former weekend wardrobe has become my work wardrobe; the aberrations are meetings, shoots, filming and events, in which case I’ll wear a dress, or skirt and top.
On ‘forever’ pieces Like most women, I can easily justify a high price tag by telling myself that a piece is ‘forever’. The dress I’ve kept and worn the longest is from 1988 by John Galliano – and I still occasionally wear it. The bag I own with the greatest built-in longevity is a Hermes Kelly Bag (bought in the late 80s second hand for £70, though the repairs over the years have cost £00s…). What I tend to do is buy, wear and then re-sell through a dress agency or online at Vestiaire Collective. I think that’s more my mindset when I’m buying an expensive piece: it’s re-sale value.
On ‘forever’ pieces Like most women, I can easily justify a high price tag by telling myself that a piece is ‘forever’. The dress I’ve kept and worn the longest is from 1988 by John Galliano – and I still occasionally wear it. The bag I own with the greatest built-in longevity is a Hermes Kelly Bag (bought in the late 80s second hand for £70, though the repairs over the years have cost a lot more). What I tend to do is buy, wear and then re-sell through a dress agency or online at Vestiaire Collective. I think that’s more my mindset when I’m buying an expensive piece: it’s re-sale value.
For both style and comfort, Anna-Marie opts for the FitFlop leather cross slide sandals.
Anna-Marie swears by Chanel’s Le Vernis 634 nail polish to brighten any outfit.
A career-defining outfit… A long, black silk Kenzo evening dress that I bought in New York to celebrate the launch of The Fashion, a magazine I worked on in the early 2000s. I was working with the US art directors in New York prior to the launch and needed a dress for the party. I remember standing on the terrace at Somerset House chatting to a group of people, one of whom was Tom Ford, and him saying ‘great dress’.
For both style and comfort, Anna-Marie opts for the FitFlop leather cross slide sandals.
Anna-Marie swears by Chanel’s Le Vernis 634 nail polish to brighten any outfit.
A memorable outfit… A long, black silk Kenzo evening dress that I bought in New York to celebrate the launch of The Fashion, a magazine I worked on in the early 2000s. I was working with the US art directors in New York prior to the launch and needed a dress for the party. I remember standing on the terrace at Somerset House chatting to a group of people, one of whom was Tom Ford, and him saying ‘great dress’.
Her picks from our collection I love the patterned dress I wore in the shoot – I’m always drawn to the freshness of blue and white. The cape sleeve jacket is clever as it works for day, night and with bare arms or a long sleeve – it would work with so many things in my wardrobe.
Her picks from our collection I love the Somerby patterned dress I wore in the shoot – I’m always drawn to the freshness of blue and white. The Chiltern jacket is clever as it works for day, night and with bare arms or a long sleeve – it would work with so many things in my wardrobe.
Interview: Naomi Mdudu
Photography: Kate Booker
Accessories: Anna-Marie’s own
Location: The Fold store in Chelsea
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