Inside My Wardrobe: Hannah Strafford-Taylor
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I DO MOST OF MY SHOPPING online at brand sites and the likes of Net-a-Porter and MyTheresa. Due to work, I spend a lot of time browsing sites for fashion inspiration, and creating edits for the brands I work with, so I’m always faced with temptation. I go to stores every so often, but often I’m just popping in and collecting – I can’t remember the last time I had time to just browse…
I AM VERY LUCKY to be sent and gifted a lot of pieces. I tend to buy the bulk of my pieces at the beginning of the season which hurts. For example, for spring-summer I might buy a Celine jacket, a pair of Hermès or Chanel sandals and a selection of resortwear. I’m mad about with Pippa Holt’s kaftans as they’re so easy to style. And then there are my Kalita dresses – they are beyond comfortable to wear on holiday and totally timeless.
MY MOST TREASURED ITEM is my grey mini Hermès Constance. I bought it with some money my dad left me after he died. I had been trying to find one for so long and finally one popped up on Vestiaire Collective. It was expensive, but there was 10% off, so I went for it. It's the most special bag and I now always think of him when I wear it. I also have an Hermès Birkin (25cm) in black which I adore. I was in Selfridges buying a tie for my husband and mentioned it would be my dream bag. Hermès called me an hour later and said they had one available. I’ve never run so quickly back to a store before. I have worn this bag non-stop and I know it will be with me until I pass it down to one of my girls.
WHEN IT COMES TO BAGS, I’ve always followed a very strict one-in-one-out rule. I also tend to buy bags that will hold their value – like a Hermès or Chanel – so when I resell them, I either profit or don’t lose much. I recently bought the sparkly Cleo Prada bag, which is a bit outside the box for me, but I just fell in love with it.
I HAVE JUST BOUGHT a mini black bag and gold heart-shaped bag from Chanel. It felt extremely extravagant to buy two, but I loved the idea of wearing them together. I immediately sent two bags and a few other pieces to Sellier Knightsbridge to make up for it.
TOP OF MY LIST THIS SEASON has to be the Celine Chasseur cardigan and jacket. Chanel also has a striped, button-down skirt which I love and I can’t wait to wear my Chanel bikini – it’s black with white piping.
RIGHT NOW I AM ALSO LOVING Khaite, Totême, Tove and Celine. They all create quite timeless pieces, but with strong and simple silhouettes that can be worn for years to come.
MY BIGGEST FASHION REGRET happened about five years ago. I stupidly sold my Celine Madame boots. I have been constantly looking on re-sale sites ever since, but I have never managed to find a pair in my size. They have been on my wish list ever since.
I HAVE A FEW GO-TO DRESSES which I rely on for big events, although I haven’t been to one in ages. I have a vintage Alexander McQueen dress which I got when I was modelling with him around 2001. It’s a black chiffon dress with black leather detailing, and it’s just so simple and chic. I also love wearing my Khaite Beth dress to big events. In terms of shoes, my Amina Muaddi Begum sling backs are super flattering and current.
FOR WORK AND MEETINGS I either opt for a Chanel jacket, bodysuit and high-waisted trousers, or jeans if it’s slightly more casual. I also love wearing my oversized Magda Butrym blazer with leggings and heels for any important meetings.
LAURA BAILEY ALWAYS LOOKS effortlessly chic and wears Chanel in such a cool way. I love that she also wears vintage pieces and manages the perfect combination of dressed up and dressed down.
IF I AM GOING TO SPEND A LOT, I try to buy timeless pieces I am going to wear over and over. My Khaite cashmere knits are probably my most indulgent buys. I know they are crazy expensive for knitwear, but the quality and thickness of the cashmere is incredible. I wear them again and again, so actually the price per wear is better than some dresses I have bought.
MY GIRLS REALLY LOVE my jewellery. I have a Cactus De Cartier ring that was my gift for having Winter – though I’ve always thought it’s such a silly idea getting a gift when you have a child – the baby is enough. And Soleil loves my engagement ring. I’ve been wearing my Tiffany gold chain earrings and necklace on repeat for the past few years, and they are probably the pieces I get asked about the most on my Instagram. I wear them both almost daily – I love how simple and versatile they are.
I DO BUY HIGH STREET PIECES but not as much as I used to. I like Arket for its great quality cashmere. Its leather pieces are wonderful too, as the leather is butter-soft. I have some of its leather skirts and jackets. I also buy the odd piece from Mango – it’s another favourite for pieces that are a bit more seasonal and on trend.
I LOVE THE SEARCH when it comes to vintage, I like to hunt things down. I remember spending hours trawling stores and always found some incredible hard to find pieces. I still look online to find some bits, especially on Ebay, Vestiaire Collective and Rebelle. Luxury Promise in Mayfair has a great bag selection and a physical store in Knightsbridge so you can actually view things in real life. I recently found some Hermès Chypre sandals there.
I LIKE EVERYTHING TO BE USED AND WORN OFTEN so I don’t like to keep excessive amounts. I also don’t have that much room at home. That’s why I use re-sell platforms – this also gives someone else the chance to purchase something they might have been searching for. As well as using Vestiaire Collective, I work with Sellier. They don’t charge me commission – instead we donate a percentage to charity. I would never sell my Hermès Birkin or my Constance though, as they are pieces that I’d like to hand down to my daughters. When they’re old enough to appreciate them, of course.
MY FAVOURITE PRE-LOVED PIECE has got to be a Chanel black jacket I found on Vestiaire Collective. Chanel makes perfect jackets, but they are quite hard to come by. This one was from a 2008 collection and near impossible to find. I eventually found one that was way too big, but I took it into Chanel and begged them to tailor it for me, which they did. It fits perfectly now and goes with everything.
I DONATE ALL OF MY WARDROBE RENTALS to Spread A Smile. It’s a charity which aims to bring laughter to seriously ill and hospitalised children, as well as their families. One of my eldest daughter’s friends heartbreakingly passed away of neuroblastoma when she was just eight. Spread A Smile really helped her during the most difficult years, and her mum is a dear friend who now works for them. I worked with Kalita on a limited colourway of the Brigitte dress with a percentage of sales going to Spread A Smile. Anything I can do for them, I will.
Follow @HannahStraffordTaylor on Instagram
Photography by Jonny Cochrane <br> Hair & Makeup by Rachel Singer Clark
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